Do You Believe in Angels?

Angels hold a fascination for many people, especially those raised with a belief in them. I was reading an article about a new book, called Angels in My Hair, written by a practicing Catholic on the subject of angels. The article was really interesting, and it got me to thinking. So many, many times in my life I have attributed the safety or other good outcome to the work of angels. What a world we could have if people just set aside doubt and did what their hearts cry out for, and just believe. People want so badly to have faith in something, most claim to adhere to one religion or another, and most major religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam all believe in angels.

When I was very small, my mother taught me the guardian angel prayer so many Catholic parents teach their children. She taught me that I had my very own guardian angel to watch over me.
Angel of God
My Guardian Dear
To whom God's Love
Commits Me Near
Ever this Night
Be at My Side
To Light, To Guard
To Rule and Guide
Amen
I really loved this idea, and would even scoot over in my bed to make sure my angel had room to lie down if she got tired. (Of course the angel was a she, who else would God send to a little girl?)  Many, many nights I prayed to my angel when I was scared. I had a big imagination, and that lead me to have what my kids have come to call "bad imaginations" - just scary images in your head before you fall asleep, usually evoked by the evening news. My angel, and the picture I had of her in my head, gave me great comfort.

As an adult, I have felt my angel praying for me in times of trouble. I have felt her arms around me when I needed her most. When my baby son was so sick and in the ER, I know she was praying with me for his safety and well being, and I am sure his angel was with him, too. I have asked my angel to follow my children into scary situations when I could not be with them, surgeries, tests, and other procedures. I love knowing I can call upon the angels of my children and ask them to keep a vigilant watch when I feel my children are going to need it.

I humbly salute you, O you faithful,
heavenly Friends of my children!
I give you heartfelt thanks
for all the love and goodness you show them.
At some future day I shall,
with thanks more worthy than I can now give,
repay your care for them,
and before the whole heavenly court
acknowledge their indebtedness to your guidance and
protection.
Continue to watch over them.
Provide for all their needs of body and soul.
Pray, likewise, for me,
for my husband,
and my whole family,
that we may all one day rejoice in your blessed company.

Amen.

I know there are angles around us. I know it deep in my heart. A year or so ago Elizabeth slept late, and had to be to work very early. As she raced down the winding road to the convent where she was working, she rolled her car. Rolled it, as in crushed the car. She walked away with only a few scratches. When I close my eyes I can still see that crushed car, and feel the sick, hollow feeling in my stomach. Pieces of the car were strewn about the field. It was bad. The other thing that will always stay with me is that she rolled the car, it was crushed, except right where she had been sitting. You can almost see her angel wrapping herself around Elizabeth so she would not be harmed. What an amazing angel indeed, and we are so very grateful!

My angel has been so good to me, guarding and guiding me my whole life. I was happy, and surprised to learn at a class for our Parish School of  Religion, that it was possible to ask your guardian angel what his or her name was. I, something of a skeptic at heart ( really, I am!) was uncertain for some reason, but decided to give it a try. I just sat quietly a few times a day, for a couple of days and just simply asked her what her name was. Her name is Evelyn. Several of my children have also asked their guardian angels names, and I love knowing what they are when I ask for their guidance and protection of  my little ones.

Do you believe in angels? Care to share an angel story? - You'd be surprised, most people have one or two!