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Role of the angels
OSV.com ^
| 11-18-15
| Msgr. Charles Pope
Posted on 11/21/2015 9:00:16 AM PST by Salvation
Role of the angels While guardian angels can help guide our decisions, God gives us free will to choose sin or goodness
Msgr. Charles Pope November 29, 2015
11/18/2015
Question: How does the Church reconcile the role of our guardian angels with the fact that so many children are vulnerable today to things like pornography and other things contrary to the Faith? There are so many attacks, and children seem so vulnerable. Where are the angels in all this?— Name withheld, Boston
Answer: Your question is a profound one, touching on the deep mystery of evil, in this case moral evil (as distinct from natural evils such as disasters, disease and so forth). In terms of moral evil, the answer is focused on the reality of human freedom. The Lord is quite serious about permitting human freedom and only rarely steps in to prevent our free acts. Without freedom, there can be no love. But God seeks sons and daughters who freely love him, not slaves who are forced to obey him by being overpowered and overruled.
In terms of the angels, therefore, their care for us is a care that does not routinely veto free human acts. In the Bible, the Lord describes the work of the angels in the following way: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and obey him. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority is within him. If you obey him and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes” (Ex 23:20-22).
And thus we see that the main role of the angel as described here is to guide, lead and influence more than merely to protect us. The blessings we obtain from the angel is the fruit of obeying his voice. The protection is not some sort of automatic force field set up around us to keep out all trouble.
Thus, human freedom is largely reserved by God from direct intervention. Our own sins and abuse of freedom are the sad cause of the ills you describe. And while angels can help, their help is generally restricted to exerting good influences that touch our conscience and warn us of sin. We are summoned by God to obey the voice of our angel, but the choice to actually obey remains ours, and it is not something even God will force, let alone our angel.
TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: angels; catholic; msgrcharlespope
"See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and obey him. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority is within him. If you obey him and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes" (Ex 23:20-22).
1
posted on
11/21/2015 9:00:16 AM PST
by
Salvation
To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...
Monsignor Pope Ping from OSV column!
2
posted on
11/21/2015 9:01:26 AM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation; NYer; zot; xzins; Gamecock
Yes, we must listen to angels sent to guide us. And we must DISCERN whether the “voice” of guidance is from one of God’s angels or a servant of satan. How? Perhaps by asking: “Does this message align itself with what I know Jesus taught?” For me if, “yes,” then angelic, if “no,” then it is not. I don’t necessarily dwell on as to the ‘source’ if not in line with Jesus’ teaching, but know that whatever the source it is wanting to lead me astray.
And one must remember to listen and think about those ‘voices/thoughts’ that are not your own. Discernment!
3
posted on
11/21/2015 9:18:19 AM PST
by
GreyFriar
(Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
To: GreyFriar
This:
God gives us free will to ***choose sin or goodness***
4
posted on
11/21/2015 9:25:51 AM PST
by
raygunfan
To: GreyFriar
5
posted on
11/21/2015 9:37:56 AM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
6
posted on
11/21/2015 10:12:58 AM PST
by
Kolokotronis
(Christ is Risen and you, O death, are annihilated!)
To: Salvation
Role of the angels:
1. Laugh at me when I screw up.
2. Cry when I am in pain
3. Pray for me when I am falling
4. Kick my butt when I need motivated
Always remember, just as their is a hierarchy of Angels in the Light there is also a hierarchy of dark angels.
To: tired&retired
Ever since the Angels have started looking out for me they have never run out of humor!!!
To: GreyFriar
9
posted on
11/21/2015 10:43:30 AM PST
by
Bigg Red
(Keep calm and Pray on.)
To: GreyFriar
Thanks for the ping and your excellent post # 3.
10
posted on
11/21/2015 12:33:08 PM PST
by
zot
To: Salvation
Wonderful post.
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God's love commits me here,
Ever this day, be at my side,
To light and guard, Rule and guide.
Amen.
I’m surprised OSV believes in angels at all.
12
posted on
11/21/2015 3:46:15 PM PST
by
Zionist Conspirator
(The "end of history" will be Worldwide Judaic Theocracy.)
To: Zionist Conspirator
13
posted on
11/21/2015 3:48:23 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
Why do you say that?You know why. And if you don't by now, there's no need in our communicating at all.
I thought we had agreed long ago that it was best if we ignored each other's posts. Hence I didn't post to you.
14
posted on
11/21/2015 3:50:12 PM PST
by
Zionist Conspirator
(The "end of history" will be Worldwide Judaic Theocracy.)
To: Zionist Conspirator
Didn’t mean to offend you. Just trying to carry on a pleasant discussion.
15
posted on
11/21/2015 4:07:36 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation; Zionist Conspirator
16
posted on
11/21/2015 6:04:08 PM PST
by
af_vet_1981
(The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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