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LLR4
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In light of today's Feast of Guardian Angels, and in the discussion that took place with the kids this morning following family devotion, I got to thinking about the appropriateness, or not, of giving a name to one's guardian angel.
Perhaps I am thinking too much into it all, but first I started wondering, who each of our guardian angel may be.
Is it any random angel? Or would it be the saint of our namesake type thing? If so, they would already have a name. If it is just an angel appointed to each of us by God, could one give them a name?? I would think they have a name anyway...we just won't know what it is.
It may seem silly for me to be asking such questions, but the kids started asking a few questions, just being fascinated with the notion of their very own guardian angel, and it brought up my own questions on top of it all.
So does anyone have any input on this? Have any of your children named their guardian angel? Any thoughts or facts welcome.
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JennGM
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Women for Faith and Family has assembled a wonderful page on the guardian angels including excerpts from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy.
Naming guardian angels is discouraged. I've highlighted the "deviations" part, but be sure to read the whole section, as there are such edifying thoughts on the devotions to the guardian angels.
Directory wrote:
217. Popular devotion to the Holy Angels, which is legitimate and good, can, however, also give rise to possible deviations:
- when, as sometimes can happen, the faithful are taken by the idea that the world is subject to demiurgical struggles, or an incessant battle between good and evil spirits, or Angels and daemons, in which man is left at the mercy of superior forces and over which he is helpless; such cosmologies bear little relation to the true Gospel vision of the struggle to overcome the Devil, which requires moral commitment, a fundamental option for the Gospel, humility and prayer;[/li
- when the daily events of life, which have nothing or little to do with our progressive maturing on the journey towards Christ are read schematically or simplistically, indeed childishly, so as to ascribe all setbacks to the Devil and all success to the Guardian Angels. 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.
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Helen
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JennGM wrote:
Women for Faith and Family has assembled a wonderful page on the guardian angels including excerpts from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy.
Naming guardian angels is discouraged. I've highlighted the "deviations" part, but be sure to read the whole section, as there are such edifying thoughts on the devotions to the guardian angels. |
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Thanks Jenn
I didn't realize that this teaching was in the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy I love that document.
I should leave a copy of it on my desktop and refer to it often. 
At the Franciscans of the Immaculate, we were told not to name the angels. Now I know why. (I was also encouraged somewhere else to name the angels.)
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Mary G
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This is interesting as Catie came home today remarking that many at her high school name their guardian angels (one girl even wished her GA, by name, a happy feast day).
Hmmm.....heresy blooming in the hallowed halls?  (just kidding y'all!)
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JennGM
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I remember discussing this practice with my cousins when I was younger. I think some of the practice originally came from Opus Sanctorum Angelorum.
In 1983 (see this blog post) and in 1992, some of those practices were prohibited. The 1992 decree was from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed by dear Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.
The organization was obedient and have rectified those areas, no longer having those practices. See Catholic Culture's review of their website.
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amyable
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This is sad to hear. I read (somewhere I trusted, but I don't remember now) that one *should* ask the name of one's guardian angel, and I did ... and it has had a lot of meaning for me for many reasons. I hope I haven't been doing something evil. 
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Mary G
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Amy -- I'm thinking it's one of those "taking it to the extreme" issues where you put your faith and trust in your Angel instead of in God .... to avoid that, the recommendation ("discouraged" as opposed to "denied") is not to name the Angel ... at least that's how I read it.
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This is interesting.
A friend of mine told me a story a long time ago about how she had named her angel Faith when she was young.
When she was a young woman she was stranded on the road (95 in NC) and a man and his family stopped to help her. She was frightened because she hadn't wanted to take this trip anyways because she feared something happening. It was extraordinary because this was on a holiday, he had 5 children and his wife in the van, and they were delayed hours in helping her. Right before he left, she asked his name, it was "Fidel", which in Spanish means "faith".
Just interesting...
I'll still tell me kids we aren't suppose to name them though.
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Oh and meant to add...(shouldn't post before breakfast, not thinking clearly)
...for Amy...
In my mind I would say it wasn't "evil" to name your angel, especially looking at the story my friend told me about hers.
Okay...I'm done and off to eat some cereal 
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Helen
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amyable wrote:
| This is sad to hear. I read (somewhere I trusted, but I don't remember now) that one *should* ask the name of one's guardian angel, and I did ... and it has had a lot of meaning for me for many reasons. I hope I haven't been doing something evil. |
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I was also encouraged to name my Guardian Angel, like you Amy, the source was very trustworthy.
The Document on piety is dated 2001. The practice of naming our guardian angels was probably discouraged after we both were taught to name our angels.
I guess this is why I love that document. It helps us to inform the mind and then we can train our hearts in practices that are pleasing to the Lord even to the point of giving up on our old piety.
Please don't worry Amy! This is something to be excited about. It is harder to change and give up something than it is to begin something new, so that means, more heavenly rewards.
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glinNC
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This is interesting ... and confusing. We taught at VBS this year to name the guardian angels. I don't see what's heretical about making the angels more "personal" to the children, especially since they are here to help us get closer to God. I need to ask our parish priest about this now. 
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Opus Angelorum Sanctorum has a helpful list of links on the angels, including the directory on popular piety. I've listened to several of their CDs and they teach against naming one's angels. They are also careful to advise against popular portrayal of angels as cherubs with wings. I can't say enough good things about the CDs I've heard from this movement of holy priests. The CDs on Silence and Confession are particularly good.
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glinNC wrote:
This is interesting ... and confusing. We taught at VBS this year to name the guardian angels. I don't see what's heretical about making the angels more "personal" to the children, especially since they are here to help us get closer to God. I need to ask our parish priest about this now.
glinNC |
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I don't think heretical is the right word for this. There are times when we need to adjust our personal opinions to that of the teaching of the Church. I think the church is recognizing that "angels" in our culture has a distorted meaning -- not necessarily a Catholic meaning. The teaching of the Church is looking forward trying to keep the meaning of angels clear to Catholics.
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Helen
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I wanted to add that I've had the benefit of time with this topic of naming angels. I've heard the conflicting information and to discover that the issue has been resolved is a great relief to me. For years I had a name for my Guardian Angel, it was hard for me to hear that one shouldn't name his angel. But now I'm used to it and very happy to have this document spell it out.
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It's not heretical, it's a practice that is discouraged. Like Helen said, the document Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy is so terrific, everyone should read it. The purpose is to help refine our popular devotions to make sure they are united with the Liturgy of the Church. Our pious traditions shouldn't become a paraliturgy in themselves or detract from the Church's liturgy but always bring us back to it. Jesus in the Eucharist in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacraments, the Divine Office -- this is the centrality of our Faith, and the focus needs to be directed there.
It's interesting to read the history of popular piety in the document. The Church has gone through many phases. One example of change was the medieval mystery plays. These began inside churches, acting out the mysteries of the faith (Biblical stories, etc.). But they got out of hand, and were no longer allowed to be displayed inside the churches. The focus had changed.
It's good to always do an interior evaluation on our pious practices. There are practices that might be losing the correct focus. Are they evil? No, they might just need to be refined and redirected.
I found that I did a few things that were discouraged in the document, also. At first I was a little indignant, because I loved those practices, and had found them mentioned in many books. But after I licked my wounds, I could see why I needed this refiner's fire to give up these personal preferences so that I could grow deeper in my Faith. (I'm not saying I'm there yet...I'm such a work in progress)
I found a few other discussions elsewhere, I think on EWTN and a few other forums where a priest elaborated on the reasons why naming the angels is discouraged. It's considered a New Age practice, which surprised me (because I always heard it from very traditional Catholics)! But I can see how it's putting human characteristics on the angels. It's hard for us to sift through how spirits are so different from corporeal beings, and naming them is tying them down with human aspects.
Some other priests said it's like naming a pet, and our guardian angel is more than that. We don't own the angel, or have rights to name him (God didn't give Adam the right to name angels). So it can be too familiar and irreverent.
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While I was typing, I see that Helen answered much more succinctly but in the same veing.
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glinNC
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JennGM wrote:
I found a few other discussions elsewhere, I think on EWTN and a few other forums where a priest elaborated on the reasons why naming the angels is discouraged. It's considered a New Age practice, which surprised me (because I always heard it from very traditional Catholics)! But I can see how it's putting human characteristics on the angels. It's hard for us to sift through how spirits are so different from corporeal beings, and naming them is tying them down with human aspects.
Some other priests said it's like naming a pet, and our guardian angel is more than that. We don't own the angel, or have rights to name him (God didn't give Adam the right to name angels). So it can be too familiar and irreverent.
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I can see the "tying them down with human aspects" and "not having rights" as a reason not to name them. But isn't it encouraged to teach children to have a personal relationship with their guardian angel? To have them call upon their guardian angel throughout the day, knowing that they are a personal helper from God? I think giving them a name is an easy way for a young child to have that ability to "make the angel theirs."
So, out of curiousity, how do you explain guardian angels to your children? I guess once I can understand this better, I can undo what I've done! After 15 years ...
Thanks,
glinNC
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Thanks for all of those links. Here's another one who was encouraged to name her guardian angel.
I've got a bit of reading to do and then some discussion with the children.
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glinNC wrote:
But isn't it encouraged to teach children to have a personal relationship with their guardian angel? To have them call upon their guardian angel throughout the day, knowing that they are a personal helper from God? I think giving them a name is an easy way for a young child to have that ability to "make the angel theirs."
So, out of curiousity, how do you explain guardian angels to your children? I guess once I can understand this better, I can undo what I've done! After 15 years ... |
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A personal relationship doesn't mean it has to have a formal name. There is a closeness and familiarity with the guardian angel as a constant companion, just no name.
I base my teachings on the Catechism, also St. Joseph Baltimore Catechsis for the Q&A facts.
For the young ages I supplment with books like Little Stories about God, an old copy of My Guardian Angel, My Jesus and I. Angel in the Waters by Regina Doman and The Angels Alphabet by Hilda von Stockum. Then Marigold Hunt's Book of Angels is great.
For adult reading, this is what I used to form my knowledge of the angels. I don't have time to link, nor do I know if they are all in print:
The Angels and Their Mission According to the Fathers of the Church by Jean Danielous, SJ
My Angel Will Go Before You by Georges Huber
The Angels by Pascal Parente (A few of the chapters are on Catholic Culture. In particular, see The Common Names
All About the Angels by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P.
Send Me Your Guardian Angel" Padre Pio Fr. Alessio Parente, OFM Cap.
But none of these, even Padre Pio's, mentions naming the guardian angel. But these are all rich in devotion to the angels, helping foster our relationship with our guardian angel, who aids us to getting to heaven.
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Sarah M
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Oh shoot. Seriously- just yesterday I told my kids we can name our guardian angels because I recently read that we could. Should have checked here first!! 
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Topic: Naming Guardian Angels?
