If I remember correctly, one of the first prayers I memorized was "My Guardian Angel". I think it was my favorite prayer then as it was recited every day before dismissal. Being in a catholic school, we were taught about the concept of angels, specifically guardian angels.
A guardian angel is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity. The concept of tutelary angels and their hierarchy was extensively developed in Christianity in the 5th century by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. More here
The term angels, or guardian angels, is often used as metaphors too. It can be a stranger, a family member, working children, prostitutes and or even pets. Angel can be a title to anyone, depending on the term and intent.
A few years ago, I watched a documentary about angels, or women living inside the cemetery. Some parts of it you might think that it's impossible but it's actually happening. A sad dose of reality.
Cemetery Angels
Three angels from different generations
make the cemetery, their own kingdom,
a place to fulfill their special missions .
Lorena, archangel, the gray-haired one,
gathers and dissolves left-over candles,
reforms and sells, despite a hurting palm.
Lisa, seems angelic in all angles
she dances at night on top of the grave
show’s only for money, not free whistles.
Lorna, the cherubim, does always crave,
seeks for food, cries, begs for penny and gold
no time to play, two old angels to save.
Past midnight, they'll pray, that night's not too cold
and tomorrow, new kingdom will unfold.
/totomai
Lots can attest that angels really do exist. But lots of people don't believe in the existence of angels too. Debates and discussions about this subject matter will never end.
But keep in mind that there are no wrong answers on this one.
/totomai
07/25/10
This is great. My childhood was littered with guardian angels, too. The entrance hall at my convent school was called "guardian angel" because of a huge statue facing the door.
ReplyDeletei think we were all brainwashed about angels when we were young :-)
ReplyDeleteI find the awareness of angels working in our lives very comforting. I believe, without a doubt, that my son is alive today because of angelic intervention. There just is no other reasonable explanation for his survival of a terrible automobile accident and his emergence without a scratch.
ReplyDeleteeveryone, anyone can be angels to us i guess Annie, thanks for sharing your story
ReplyDeleteI too got the angel indoctrination in grade school. Now, I have a tendency to see people as angels with invisible wings. On the other hand, one of my favorite movies is City of Angels and the theme song makes me cry, every time. But, then again, another favorite is Terminator II, where Arnie gets to play a guardian angel, of sorts. Go figure. I love your poem with all of its rich detail and especially that last line.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Your words bring introspection for me. I think of angels as a spirit. And I believe these spirits are at work in the world. In a similar way to the "Holy Spirit" of God. Well crafted.
ReplyDeletehi elizabeth,i like that, angels with invisible wings :-) actually, i saw a Korean Film last week (Closer to Heaven) and the girl was like an angel of sort to the guy
ReplyDeletehi Loch, thanks. i think they are everywhere
angels are everywhere for sure.. and i like in ur poem the last two lines especially..
ReplyDeletehave to love the angels....even the grevious angels...thanks for sharing this
ReplyDelete"Past midnight, they'll pray, that night's not too cold
ReplyDeleteand tomorrow, new kingdom will unfold."
I pray it will.
beautiful work.
@Leo, indeed, they are
ReplyDelete@Wayne, no exception :-)
@Harshad, everyday's a new beginning
Comforting to think Guardian Angels protect us.
ReplyDeleteMakes me think of a cemetery near here. Walking through it, I find the angels fill me with hope. Vague and mysterious, but real enough to hold onto.
ReplyDeleteHey kababayan, ang tagal mong nawala sa OSI,
ReplyDeletethis is a very nice post on angels, entertaining and both informative..:)
Welcome back Totomai!
Charming read! So happy there are no wrong answers - that says much about human growth!
ReplyDeleteAngels exist in us too.. let us find and meet with them..
ReplyDelete