Posted on 10/03/2018 8:21:49 AM PDT by Salvation
Guardian Angel Protecting Child, Domenico Fetti (1615-18)
The Feast of the Guardian Angels, celebrated on Tuesday, seems an appropriate time to point out that the common practice of naming one’s guardian angel should be avoided.
A document authored by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2001 states, “The practice of assigning names to the holy angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael, whose names are contained in Holy Scripture” (Directory on Popular Piety in the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, # 127).
While the Congregation does not offer reasons for discouraging the practice, I would like to offer two of my own.
First, there is the understanding of what a name is. For most of us in the modern Western world, a name is simply a sound by which we are addressed. In the ancient biblical world, and even in many places today, a name has a far deeper meaning; it describes something of the essence of the person. This helps to explain the ancient Jewish practice of naming an infant on the eighth day. The delay gave the parents some time to observe the baby’s nature before deciding on a name. Most biblical names are deeply meaningful and descriptive. It is presumptuous to think that we can know enough of the essence of a particular angel that we can assign a name. Hence, naming our guardian angel seems inappropriate.
Second, assigning a name indicates some superiority over the one named. Parents rightly name their children because they have superiority over them. Angels, however, are superior to us. Even though we often speak of angels as serving us, they do this on account of their superior power and to act as our guardians. Thus, God commands us to heed the voice of our guardian angel (cf Ex 23:20-21).
Whenever I mention this admonition to refrain from naming guardian angels, it seems to stir up controversy. Nevertheless, naming an angel seems problematic and is to be discouraged. As for the name being revealed to you, let me respectfully offer that this is not likely the case. It seems unlikely that an angel or the Holy Spirit would act contrary to the directive of the Church herself, graced to speak for Christ. Further, I would be willing to bet that we could not even pronounce the true names of our angels because their names are mysterious!
Consider, too, the silence in the following Scripture passage, when Jacob asked the name of the angel who wrestled with him: Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him (Gen 32:29).
In other words, if you ask the name of your angel the likely response is a rebuke followed by silence. There are some things we need not know.
Interestingly enough, God entrusts us with His name and some of His titles. Enjoy this old classic, but notice that the actual name of God, יְהֹוָה, is not uttered.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
I looked it up, and the Hebrew is for Yahweh or Jehovah.
This Southern Baptist was going to name mine but I can’t decide between “Appalled”, “Shocked”, “Stunned”, “Bemused” or “Overworked”.
Msgr, you really lost it on this one. No one's nature can be observed in 8 days after birth (Baby's sleep, cry, eat, and void their colons and bladders. Who would want to be named for that?). The practice was to see if the child would live. Infant mortality was high and the ancient Hebrews believed that the soul was set after 7 days.
Since we don’t know how God’s Name was pronounced and Hebrew had no vowels, the closest we can get is YHVH, which stands for the phrase translated usually as “I Am Who I Am”.
This was God’s answer to Moses when Moses asked Him what is the name of the God, so Moses can tell Pharaoh Who sent him.
“Angel”, in Greek, simply means “messenger”.
I’ve recently heard a lot of talk on Catholic radio (”Relevant Radio”) of people, hosts/callers, announcing what the name of their guardian angel happens to be.
The Hebrew there, consisting of 4 letters (Hebrew only uses consonents) YHWH, called the “Tetragrammaton,” is translated LORD (upper case) in most bibles.
Orthodox Jews will not say it out-loud...for fear of taking God’s name in vain. In fact, when writing just the word “God” they use G_d or G-d....for the same reason.
It has never crossed my mind to ‘name’ my Guardian Angels.
I’ve always just been grateful to have them with me.
A name is usually meant to call someone to you.
From my understanding, as long as my faith in The Lord is alive and ever present, so too are any angels I may have around me.
A name is better than calling it “Hey, you.”
After my Adrenalin junky days of jumping out of airplanes, US Army Infantryman, car crashes, motorcycle rides on the autobahn; all filled with assorted escapes, near misses and “almosts” .... my sister insisted that my guardian angel was going to meet me at the pearly gates with a switch - for making them work so hard.
We’re not supposed to summon any angels or spirits. If God sends one to talk to you that is one thing but that would be a very rare occurrence. The Bible only tells us to call upon the name of The Lord.
Not something I would do, but if it is seen as a personal nickname, not a proper name, I don’t see the harm in it myself. Calling a friend a nickname is not setting oneself as superior, but just drawing a closer relationship.
“Orthodox Jews will not say it out-loud...for fear of taking God’s name in vain. In fact, when writing just the word “God” they use G_d or G-d....for the same reason.”
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Other terms used are “HaShem” (The Name) and “Adonai” (Lord) as in the basic, common prayer called the “Shema” - “Sh’ma Yisra’eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad” (Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.)
More info -
https://www.catholic.com/qa/is-gods-name-yahweh-or-jehovah
https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/angel
I think the big factor is that even though as the beloved hymn sings, “This Is Our Father’s World, sadly it got corrupted by the enemy.
Correction: forgot this” at the end title.
I once found myself in a time of need and a man named Gordon came to my assistance. When I looked for him to thank him, he was nowhere to be found. It was as if he vanished into thin air. As a result, I always thought that he was my guardian angel. So, I never asked to know the name, but believe I do know it.
The characters of both my sons were obvious at birth.
Lol. My wife chuckled, too. Especially at “Overworked.”
My priest got knocked down by someone as he started to cross a street amid oncoming traffic. Another time — similar situation, someone pulled him back to the safety of the sidewalk. He believes these were his guardian angel, since no one was around to thank.
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