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| Angels dont have wings (catholic believe) |
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| Nurturing Faith At Home Angels Don't Have Wings?!? No, they do not. And that may be just one of a few misconceptions there are about angels. This article is intended to share the truth about these un-winged beings. Within our society, there is a growing interest in angels. They are portrayed in Philadelphia Cream Cheese commercials, they are pictured shooting arrows on Valentine cards, and some television programs are based on them. But what are angels – really – and how do they work in our lives and in our world? The Catholic Church teaches us much about their existence, their purpose, and their importance. And, indeed, angels are very intriguing. First of all, angels are real. They are not imaginary or 'pretend' creatures. Angels are spiritual beings, created by God. What may challenge our belief in them is that – as pure spirits – they are invisible. They have no physical body and, therefore, do not need to sleep, eat, or exercise. Nor do angels fly. They simply will themselves to be somewhere, and are wherever God wants them to be. Interestingly, angels are always in God's presence in heaven, and yet they are – at the same time – fulfilling their duties on earth. In other words, they bi-locate. Angels, then, are superior to humans but inferior to God. The bible, Jesus, and the Church all tell us that angels exist. In fact, there are hundreds of references to angels in the bible. For example, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God. An angel appeared to Joseph three times in dreams. Even Jesus was surrounded and ministered to by angels when he was being tempted by the devil in the desert. The word 'angel' comes from a Greek word meaning 'messenger'. One of an angel's primary roles is to bring messages from God to us. Angels do whatever God asks of them, and whatever power they have comes from their Creator. We cannot see angels unless they reveal themselves to us, and that is something they do only if it is necessary for their work. Often, they come disguised as a person, but disappear as soon as their mission is complete. Angels reveal what they are by what they do, and what they do is usually nothing short of miraculous. There are many amazing accounts of real encounters between angels and human beings. In the bible, Jesus says in regards to children, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 18: 10). Each of us, then, has a 'guardian angel' that God has assigned to watch over us. They are just another gift that God gives to lead us through life … and to heaven. They assist both God and humankind. We can more easily remember what angels do by way of an acronym: GASP (which is what we might do if we ever knowingly encountered an angel!) G … glorify God, guide and guard us A … announce the Good News, adore God in heaven, assist Christ in his work, aid humans S … serve God, surround Christ, suggest good thoughts to our imagination P … praise God, protect us The Catholic Church teaches that belief in angels is very important in our Christian faith. Angels can affect us by delivering the Good News, fighting evil spirits that tempt us, miraculously protecting us from harm, and inspiring us to do what is good and right and holy. Whenever we go to Mass, we join the angels in heaven in praising God. We pray with and to the angels. We believe that, at our death, an angel will lead us to heaven. The Church recognizes the angels and dedicates two days on the liturgical calendar to honor them: the Feast of Archangels (Sept. 29) and the Feast of Guardian Angels (Oct. 2). We can pray to our guardian angel, who is always with us (whether we believe in its presence or not). The following is a traditional Catholic prayer that you can teach your children and pray with them daily. 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, to rule and guide. My dear guardian angel, keep me from all danger and lead me to heaven. Amen. By the way, angels are usually portrayed with wings so as to symbolize their role as heavenly messengers. Because they are invisible, we can only use our imagination when trying to depict them. And so, they are often illustrated as having wings, halos, harps … and sometimes even bows and arrows. |
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| To add a comment to "Angels dont have wings (catholic believe)" |
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| September 28, 2009 |
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Good one. There are so many who believe that because the Bible discribes "wings" that it stands for the kind birds have. These are "Hebraisms" for different objects. example: the end of the shirt that has a long sleave. there are others. But, it is diffacult to explain to those who believe all they hear in many churches. We are made in the image of God and the angles. I know I don't have wings. I have not seen anyone with any as yet in my 62 years on this earth!! |
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