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Philosophy/religion

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Archangel Michael

18 replies

TheEmpath · 09/10/2018 20:49

Has anyone ever had experiences with this angel? Any mediums/Psychics seen him in person? I’ve always been drawn to him and completely fascinated by Archangels.

OP posts:
mostlydrinkstea · 10/10/2018 07:06

I used to work in a St Michael and All Angels and we had statues and paintings of St Michael defeating the dragon all over the walls of the church. The way that he was depicted through the ages was fascinating. A very activist angel is our Michael, all flaming sword and mighty arm!

bathsh3ba · 10/10/2018 14:14

I would be sceptical of psychics or mediums saying they have had contact since all the religious books that mention Archangel Michael also say that mediumship is wrong. So I seriously doubt it's really him contacting them. But then I think mediumship is very dangerous.

A Christian perspective to angels and archangels, which I subscribe to, would recognise their importance as subordinate to God. So, for example, it would be fine to ask God to send Archangel Michael to protect you, but not okay to pray directly to the Archangel. I have felt angelic protection after prayer and I have seen Michael's sword in a vision. But these days I prefer to go direct to God/Jesus.

TooManyPaws · 11/10/2018 00:37

What would be the difference between praying to an archangel or to a saint? Seriously. There seems to be some overlap at least with St / Archangel Michael.

Personally, I love Father Andrew Greeley's fictional take on the archangels with Michael being seen as a big, tall, handsome black man, built like an American footballer. He did incorporate a good deal of his theology into his fictional writing and it comes across very subtlely and persuasively.

IdaBWells · 13/10/2018 08:41

In Catholic theology (which is my tradition, I am not familiar with others) it is perfectly acceptable to pray to the angels just as we would the Saints. We don't consider them separate from God as they are in heaven and constantly in His presence. Praying to them is effectively praying to God because it is God's love and power that gives them existence.

As Bathsheba says approaching mediums or others would not be something Catholics and others Christians would do. St. Michael is in our tradition from Judaism and I believe is also revered in Islam. As all these faiths believe in the supernatural and a spiritual side to life we take the existence of heavenly beings seriously. By the same token we believe it is possible that spiritually evil spirits exist, we don't believe it is wise to try and "connect" spiritually to anything that possibly may not be God. To stay in a place of love, peace and light it is not necessary to involve mediums or any "third party". Just reach out directly to God it is very straightforward and simple. Catholics believe (because it says so in the Bible) that everyone has their own angel protecting them, which we call a "Guardian Angel". So you can talk to your angel and ask them to protect you and keep you safe.

The angels are messagers of God and always in God's presence. They are spiritual beings so for us to see them they take on an embodied form. If you feel the presence of angels ask them to care for you just like they did for Jesus in the Bible.

bathsh3ba · 13/10/2018 09:13

Ida, would be interested in any reading you can put me in touch with on praying to saints/angels.
I'm in the Anglican tradition so saints don't really figure much but aren't there fallen angels? If there are fallen angels then isn't it possible someone could be tricked by a fallen angel ie demon pretending to be a 'good angel'? I once had a very vivid dream where two beings who said they were angels told me to jump off a tall building and I'd be able to fly like them. In the dream I realised they weren't angels and I believe that was a God-sent dream to warn me because I had started to put angels above God at that time.
Not meaning to argue or sound critical, we share the same faith but interested in the difference between the traditions.

IdaBWells · 13/10/2018 09:34

Thanks Bathsheba I am in a different time zone so it's late here but I will look around and see what I can find. From your comments I think we are very much on the same page and my thoughts would be if you have any concerns spiritually don't dabble, stick with what you know and your familiar prayers that direct you to God in ways you are confident in.

If you don't mind me asking how would you describe your theology within Anglicanism? I find it very interesting as it is not a tradition I am so familiar with.

IdaBWells · 13/10/2018 09:48

Here is a general appeal to acknowledge the angels in our everyday spirituality

"Parental example in all these areas is essential, for the young need to see a living faith in those they love. Emphasis on fundamental elements of the faith - such as fostering a relationship with Christ and devotion to Mary, the angels, and saints, along with love and concern for everyone they meet - gradually forms the religious life of the young in a positive and creative way"

United States Catholic Catechism for adults: Chapter 28 Fourth Commandment: Strengthen Your Family; Parents' love for their children, p. 378.

IdaBWells · 13/10/2018 09:53

I missed the last part of your post: Yes, absolutely the angels are not above God and cannot be, of course it is impossible. If any devotion is getting in the way of or preventing us from deepening our relationship with Christ it should be abandoned. Spiritual practices should enhance our relationship with Christ and give us greater joy, if they cause anxiety rather than peace then they are not suitable or a good fit for our spirituality.

IdaBWells · 13/10/2018 20:06

Hello again Bathsheba here are some blog posts discussing the theology of angels and why Catholics (and others) pray to them. If this is something you would like to explore further let me know and I will find more practical resources of actual prayers and rituals. In terms of fallen angels, if you use the name of Jesus and talk about the Holy Spirit it's only those angels in the presence of God who are going to enjoy that topic of conversation!

shamelesspopery.com/6-biblical-reasons-to-pray-to-angels/

shamelesspopery.com/pray-to-angels/

Kewqueue · 13/10/2018 20:09

This post has reminded me of a strange time in my life when I got a bit obsessed with him. I was pregnant and it was a very hard pregnancy and I wanted to call ds Michael as a thank you. I didn't.

Flatasapancakenow · 13/10/2018 20:13

*I would be sceptical of psychics or mediums saying they have had contact since all the religious books that mention Archangel Michael also say that mediumship is wrong. So I seriously doubt it's really him contacting them. But then I think mediumship is very dangerous.

A Christian perspective to angels and archangels, which I subscribe to, would recognise their importance as subordinate to God*

^ This.

Any power an angel possesses comes from God.

bathsh3ba · 13/10/2018 23:17

@IdaBWells, thank you, I will have a read.

Anglican theology - how to sum it up?! I think we are quite a broad church but in general, there is a focus on a personal relationship with God through Jesus and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fellowship is important, rituals less so, very few formalised prayers other than the Lord's Prayer. I've really never heard the saints spoken of, there is no formal confession to a priest, you just confess/ask forgiveness in prayer when needed. No belief in Purgatory, no belief in transubstantiation and I think some of the Bible books considering canonical in Catholicism are not included in the Anglican versions.

bathsh3ba · 13/10/2018 23:20

*considered canonical.

I have no idea if Catholics still believe in transubstantiation, btw, my knowledge mainly dates back to Reformation studies in History, so hope I've not offended! I have a good friend who is Catholic though and I know there are Bible books our church doesn't recognise and she finds the lack of mention of the saints/Mary strange.

IdaBWells · 13/10/2018 23:39

You couldn’t offend me I find it very interesting! I know the C of E is a broad church and that’s why I was wondering what your personal theology is as I have met Anglicans of every stripe including those who are more Catholic than the Pope! The fact that you were interested in angels and incorporating them into your practice had me wondering if you were High Church or if your congregation/vicar was swinging toward the Anglo-Catholic wing. Again, I hope I haven’t offended you in anyway asking this at is definitely unintended, I am genuinely interested.

mostlydrinkstea · 14/10/2018 08:28

The C of E is very broad. At one end it looks very Roman Catholic with confession, loads of ritual, candles, smoke, vestments and (sometimes) only male priests. At another end it looks very Protestant with an emphasis on long sermons and a simple celebration of communion. Those are the extreme ends. Most of us are in the middle somewhere.

It is really hard to define Anglican theology but it does have authorised services which are the Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship and there are canons (rules) and bishops which shaped the authority structures we work within.

Jane Williams wrote an excellent book about Angels a few years ago which might be worth a look.

bathsh3ba · 14/10/2018 09:14

In terms of my personal theology, I have always gone to Anglican churches but as a child I went to quite High Church and there is a part of me that likes the incense, ritual etc. I love the Book of Common Prayer even though it seems very archaic these days.

Then I strayed off the path and got involved in tarot/mediumship and encountered angels as a means of protecting yourself. I got myself very scared on a few occasions and wound up asking for angelic protection a lot.

Then I had my epiphany, did an Alpha Course and returned to a church I love now which I guess is neither High nor Low Church, it tries to cater to a range of preferences. But personally I am wary of praying to angels because of my previous personal experience and my vicar also cautions against too great a focus on angels. They serve God, as we do, they do wonderful things in the world but their power comes from God.

IdaBWells · 14/10/2018 09:44

Yes after your experience bathsheba I think you are very wise. It seems you and I have some things in common as we have both have had conversion experiences which have deepened our faith and commitment.

Flatasapancakenow · 14/10/2018 16:31

There are two powers in this world; God who is all powerful and Satan who's power is limited by God.

When Satan/Lucifer fell from Heaven he took a third of its angels with him. These fallen angels are sometimes called demons.
^Revelation 12:4ESV

His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

Revelation 12:9ESV

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.^

There is no communication between the dead and the living. Nor can the dead or the living "cross over" to the other side.
^Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:19‭-‬31^

The devil and his demons are tactful and seductive. If a spirit isn't from God it is from the devil.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ... 1 John 4:1-6

So essentially anything heard from a medium is made up or comes from the devil. I wouldn't welcome that demonic influence into my life.

If you want to find out more about angels I can post you a brilliant book by Billy Graham if you PM me your address. It goes into a lot of derail. I would also like to encourage you to look towards the creator and not the created, and the ultimate source of the angels power.

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