Father Knows Best Show
Father Knows Best is a locally produced Question and Answer show on Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM. The show is hosted by Father Mark Stoll. He is a priest in the Sioux City diocese, canon lawyer, and trained media person on air. The program airs on Wednesdays at 9pm.
Father Knows Best Show
Father Knows Best—Episode 36: Angels; Life in Heaven; and the Holy Spirit
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Wednesday September 16, 9:00 pm on Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM
Episode #36 of Father Knows Best sponsored by St. Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, NE features Father Mark Stoll addressing questions about angels, life in heaven, and the Holy Spirit.
Tune in so we may discover, learn, and engage our hearts, souls and minds so we may be illuminated, informed and inspired. Please send your questions to fatherknowsbestshow@yahoo.com
I have questions. I don't understand. I'm confused. What's going on? That's not what I learned in school. What does the church really teach? Welcome to Father Nose Bush, the studios of 88.1 FM, KFH, Pankasu City, and K-O-I-A Storm Lake. Brought to you by the St. Augustine Indian Mission, Winnebago. We all have questions and the curiosity about manners of faith as it is normal for humanity to ask questions and seek answers in the timeless quest for understanding regarding matters of faith in the church. We believe that there is no such thing as a foolish or dumb question. And I say the only dumb question is the one that is not asked. And the reality is that the questions you have are like questions others have, and so it is good to ask. Sometimes an answer leads to more questions. Sometimes the questions and answers will lead us to insights we never considered. We at Sioux Lan Catholic Radio want to invite our listeners from Jackson, Nebraska to Elk Point, South Dakota, to Storm Lake, Iowa, and everywhere in between and beyond, send your questions to us at Father Knows Best Show at Yahoo.com. Or mail them to Father Knows Best, Sioux Line Catholic Radio, 701 West Fifth Street, Sioux City, Iowa, 51103. During this time, once a week, I or another guest will do our best to answer some of the questions I've received here at the studio so we may discover, learn, and engage our hearts and souls and minds, so we may be illuminated, informed, and inspired. So I thank you for tuning in. We invite you to open your mind, let the questions begin, and let your curiosity find its voice. I'm Father Mark Stowe, Priest of the Diocese of Zoo City, with you again this evening. And joining me again is Tim Zudine, Executive Director of Sioux Line Catholic Radio, presenting some of the questions I received from your listeners. And so, Tim, are you again ready this evening for another round of some questions?
SPEAKER_00I think we have another round of wonderful questions, but I want to remind the listeners out there we need your input. So please continue to send the questions in so you can find out more about your faith. It's an important piece of what we're trying to do here is education. So please try to.
SPEAKER_01I know they have questions out there, so don't be afraid to send them in. Yep. And again, Tim, we want to thank, of course, Ann here is going to get us on the air so people are going to hear the answers to these wonderful questions. So, Tim, what is our first question?
SPEAKER_00This four first question is probably going to be like a four-parter. Oh, yes. So it's going to be something that's going to be a little more involved. So, listeners, pay attention. A devoted listener and Siouxland Catholic radio supporter sent you four questions about the angels. We will address one at a time. First, I know each person has a guardian angel. Where do we find this fact in the Bible?
SPEAKER_01Thank you for that question. Again, uh, you know, a lot of people ask that where do you find this in the Bible? And so the guardian angel, of course, is first of all, kind of define who they are. Guardian angels are spiritual beings, possess no body. They're spiritual beings assigned by God to protect and guide each person throughout their life. And those guardian angels are assigned to us to help offer spiritual assistance, interceding on the person's behalf. Again, guardian angels never overrule, override a person's human free will. They're there to help us to grow closer to God. They're helpers to protect us from spiritual and physical dangers, and they're given to us to provide this subtle guidance through inspirations or protection from harm. So, regarding, where do we find them in the Bible? The Bible never states exactly that every person has one guarding angel. So you won't find that in any single verse. Yet, the Bible does clearly teach that God appoints angels to guard, to keep, and guide human beings. And Christ explicitly speaks of their angels, quote, their angels and their little ones, you know, which is again a main biblical basis. And here's the quote. In Matthew chapter 18, verse 10, Jesus says, See that you do not despise one of these little ones. Again, he's referring to children. For I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly father. This, of course, Matthew chapter 18, verse 10, is the most direct New Testament text used to ground the idea that persons, especially children, have guardian angels who are aware of God and is assigned to them. Again, Jesus is upholding again the high worth of the little ones, children, as they are being represented before God by these heavenly beings, the guardian angels. This belief, what Jesus talks about, again, follows Jewish belief in angels as guardians of nations and of individuals. And we see this in various places in the Old Testament. In Genesis chapter 24, verse 7, we see Abraham refers to an angel leading him from Ur to the land of Israel. In Daniel chapter 12, we hear the mention of angel, Archangel Michael. In Tobit chapter 5, we hear the reference to Raphael. Again, there are those cases are angels guiding those folks. In Psalm 90, verse 11, he says, For he'll command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. And again, we see throughout the Old Testament that angels are intercessors who are present there to help with prayers of human beings being offered to God. Catechism of Catholic Church, paragraph 336, says, From infancy to death, human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession. And that paragraph 336 mentions Psalm 34, Psalm 391, Job chapter 33, Zechariah chapter 1, verse 12, Tobit chapter 12, verse 12, and Luke chapter 12, verse 22, and Hebrews chapter 114 mentions angels. In fact, in Hebrews chapter 114 it says that these angels are ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation.
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SPEAKER_01Basil said that besides each beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. And so, in short, we're going to find in Matthew chapter 18, verse 10, Psalm 90, verse 11, and in Tobit. Again, those are some key passages where we have the most direct support of the church's belief that God appoints guardian angels personally assigned to each person to help and protect them. And thus the church definitively teaches that every baptized human being has a guardian angel. So let's go to the next part of that question.
SPEAKER_00Same presenter. What happens to our guardian angel when we die?
SPEAKER_01That is again a very interesting question. So when a person dies, Catholicism Catholic Church again, paragraph 336 says that the church's core teaching, the guardian's watchful care, and intercession is for the life of the wayfarer from infancy to death. And so the question is what happens, you know, when we die? What happens to that angel? St. Thomas Aquinas explained that the ideal of angels may be said to depart in the hour of death because of the end of the wayfaring state of the person. And so what the angel guardian the guardian angel does after death is not really clearly spelled out in Scripture in a detailed way, but the church holds that the general doctrine of angels guarding people during life with protection, guidance, intercession, and that this guardianship then changes at time of death because the journey of salvation ends at death when we are being then judged worthy of heaven or not, worthy of heaven. And so at the moment of death, it marks a significant transition for both the human soul and for the guardian angel. The church teaching holds that the guardian angel remains with their assigned person until the point of death, assisting them through this critical passage. Some theologians suggest that the angels may even help prepare the soul for judgment by offering spiritual support or protection against temptation. Others say at the moment of death, that moment is when the soul faces particular judgment. Again, that's when eternal destiny is determined. The guardian angels, then having accompanied the person throughout life, then are believed to maybe be present during this judgment. Again, their exact role is not defined. Perhaps they may intercede or bear witness to the person's life, but again, they're not going to influence God's judgment. We know that after death, the soul will enter either heaven, hell, or purgatory, and so then at that point the guardian angel's earthly mission with that person would then end. However, we know that the angel's presence at death highlights its enduring commitment to that person's spiritual welfare. The moment of transition in that time of death again really sets the stage of what follows for that angel. Now, since the soul no longer exists in the material world, the angel's role as a guardian in an earthly sense is no longer necessary. And so Catholic theology teaches that, well, actually, as I say not explicitly states, but we can speculate into some possibilities. There's one view that guardian angels then return to the full presence of God, where they may continue to worship and serve God just as they did while they're guarding the soul on earth. But there's also another perspective that suggests that angels may be assigned to new missions, possibly guarding another individual or serving God in another capacity. Again, this idea of reassignment is speculative. As scripture and the catechism does not confirm this, but it does align with the belief that angels are active participants in God's plan. So, regardless of the next task the guardian angel has after the person's death, again, they do always remain a part of the heavenly host. They're eternally always united with God. And so the end of the mission does not diminish their purpose, but again, it's redirected towards God's broader design. And again, this is kind of a view that highlights this dynamic nature of angelic service. So for souls to enter heaven, the question then may arise whether the guardian angel remains in contact with that person. We of course we know that in heaven, souls experience this beautiful vision, seeing God face to face, and there's no longer required any the same guidance, protection that was needed on earth. We find this in Catechism Catholic Church, paragraph 1023. However, some theologians propose that guardian angels may continue to have a relationship with the souls they guarded. Again, this is a belief based on that angels and saints in heaven remain part of the communion of saints, unite in love and worship of God. And again, while guardian angels no longer serve as protectors, they could share in the joy of the soul's union with God. Again, the church does not definitively teach this, but devotional writings often portray angels as companions of the saints in heaven. And Saint Thomas Aquinas suggests that angels rejoice in the salvation of those they guarded. For souls in purgatory, in the state of purgation, the souls, again, there are no longer face any temptations, there's no dangers of earthly life, and as a result, the guardian's angel protective role is likely unnecessary. However, there are some theologians and spiritual writers that suggest guardian angels may intercede for souls in purgatory, praying for their swift purification. Again, I'm going to share some more information on the Facebook page after this show, again, regarding what we believe about guardian angels when death occurs for a person. Let's go to the third part of that question.
SPEAKER_00Okay, further. What happens if we go to hell? Does the guardian angel stay with that person? Or where does the guardian angel go?
SPEAKER_01So this kind of continues that what we're just talking about. So the fate of the guardian angel and relationship of souls condemned to hell. Again, it's a difficult topic, Catholic theology, but again, we know that hell is a state of eternal separation from God, chosen by those who have freely rejected God. Again, this found in paragraphs 1033 to 1037 of the Catholic Church. Again, the guardian angels are tasked with guiding individuals towards salvation on earth. Then that damnation of a soul represents the failure of their mission, though it's not through any fault of the angel. Again, it's a person's free will that they choose. Because again, angels respect human free will, they cannot force a person to choose God. So there are some theologians who speculate guardian angels experience sorrow for souls lost to hell, as their love for their assigned souls is profound. Yet as spiritual beings, they are fully aligned with God's will. God, uh the angels accept divine justice and continue to serve God. Again, we find in Luke chapter 15, verse 7, it says, Angels rejoice over repentant sinners. Again, this implies an emotional investment in human salvation. Thus, after a soul's damnation to hell, the guardian angels' mission ends, and again, as with the case of person going to heaven or purgatory, their service ends, and they enter God's service in another capacity. Again, the church officially doesn't elaborate specifically on this scenario, but again underscores the tragedy of rejecting God's grace. So the angel's eternal nature ensures that their continued existence despite what happens to the soul. So let's do the fourth part of this question.
SPEAKER_00I heard on Catholic TV that we are not to name our guardian angel, as the devil could use our guardian angel to call or talk to you. Is this true?
SPEAKER_01This is true. So we believe that every angel has a name, uh and that name is given to them by God, and sometimes the angel will reveal its name to us. However, the church also teaches that we should never name our guardian angel, because when we name something, it implies an authority over others, over another. In regard to angels, only God has authority over them. So the church teaches that we should not even attempt to discover our angel's name, which again could unwittily open us up to evil spirits who might try to impersonate our guardian angels. There's a doc a document, uh Vatican document, entitled the Directory on Pop Popular Pro Piety and Liturgy, which states the following popular devotion to holy angels, which is legitimate and good, can, however, give rise to possible deviations, such as the practice of assigning names to the holy angels, which should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael, whose names are contained in Holy Scripture. And so the naming of angels is restricted to God. And so again, we are not to ascribe names to any angels beyond those that has already been veiled to us by the Lord, such as the archangelangels Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael. Those are the only three names mentioned in the scriptures. Those are only three names that we know. In each case, God has authorized these angels to reveal their names, but the humans that they visited did not ask them for their name. They just revealed it. My name's Gabriel. I'm Gabriel, for example. In fact, when we see individuals asking for the name of an angel in Scripture, the angel reproves the pr reproves the person. In Genesis chapter 32, verse 24 to 29, we see Jacob wrestles with an angel. He asks for the name, and the angel refuses to give it to him. In Judges chapter 13, verse 18, an angel visits Manoah and his wife, and they are promises that they will have a son. The son is Samson. Again, the name, the angel does not reveal the name to Manor or to his wife. Again, the practice of naming our guardian angel is discouraged because guardian angels are creatures of God. They have their own personal dignity and vastly superior nature and intellect. They guard us because it is the will of God that they do so, and thus we should not presume to know the name given to them by God, and should not presume to demand a name from them. However, maybe there's some cases where the name is revealed without our asking, without our initiative. This would then be a private revelation that should then really be vetted first, you know, for a supernatural origin, again by a trusted confessor or a spiritual director. But again, if we name our angels, it can open up to evil spirits who might again try to impersonate our guardian angels. And just a reminder the feast of our guardian angels is October 2nd. It's the memorial of our guardian angels. So that's when we honor our guardian angels, and we don't even know their names, but it's a wonderful celebration that we celebrate every year. If you're just tuning in, you're listening, Father Knows Best to Insert the Catholic Radio. As I answer your questions about faith and about the Catholic Church, I'm Father Mark Stowe, and I'm joined by Tim Soudin, who is presenting the questions I received from you, our listeners. So I hope that answered their questions about the angels.
SPEAKER_00That was a very involved question, but I think you answered one. Yes.
SPEAKER_01So let's go to our second question.
SPEAKER_00We're going to switch from angels to questions about heaven. Oh, sweet. A devoted listener and Sioux Lynn Catholic Radio supporter, and we do appreciate all of our supporters out there. Love you. We can't do this without you. Ask these questions about heaven. When we get to heaven, do we eat, sleep, travel to see things we missed when we were alive on earth? There's going to be second pieces to this. Or do we spend all of our time praising God, singing, praying for those on earth? Can we see people on earth and help them in any way? Are we all spirits without bodies?
SPEAKER_01Wonderful questions. You know, related to what's going to be like, what's heaven going to be like when we get there? Again, life in heaven is not like life on earth. You know, heaven is not a timeout with boredom. It's not a continuation of earthly biological life. Rather, when we look at what the church teaches, heaven is a finished, fulfilled life centered on God. Heaven is where we will see God face to face, where we'll live in communion with Christ, the angels, and the saints. Heaven is a life of service and worship in the presence of God, and that has a joy that overflows without the limits of time, fatigue, or need. So heaven is where we will need no sleep, no eating, and no drinking, because all those activities belong to our weakness and the conditions of this present world here on earth. The catechism of Trent and the Creed, Article 12, emphasizes that the body will be refined and spiritualized in the wood in and will no longer require corporal food, as the soul will be saturated, satisfied by the eternal food of glory. And again, while we speak sometimes of heaven in the terms of a heavenly wedding banquet, again, that's a great image that we use, but there is no even no need for the Eucharist for the celebration of the Mass, because on our earthly worship of the Eucharist or the Mass is a participation in the worship offered by angels and saints, giving us a foretaste of the heaven banquet, but in heaven we'll be in full communion, in direct communion with Christ the High Priest Himself. So while heaven may includes praise and worship, it's just not simply all about singing. And so the Catholic Catholic Church, paragraph 1720, summarizes that the goal is there, there we shall rest and see, we shall see and love, we shall love and praise. And so this is a way of describing the heavenly Jerusalem where God dwells with humanity, and tears are wiped away. In heaven, again, we're not cut off from the people on earth. In heaven, the blessed, the saints, all a part of the church of heaven, the church triumphant, and we will there be interceding for those on earth. Again, remember those on earth are the church militant, and we still be praying for those who are still on pilgrimage here on earth. Now, we cannot confirm that we will watch earth constantly and can always see everything happening on earth in detail. All we can say safely answers that we will intercede from heaven for those on earth. So, regarding whether we are spiritual bodies in heaven, the church teaches about and believes in the resurrection of the dead. This means that the human person is not meant to remain a disembodied spirit forever. In other words, the soul will be reunited with the body. Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches that at the resurrection, the saints' bodies will be incorruptible and wholly obedient to the soul, and thus the body won't hinder contemplation or a perfect union with God. And then we believe that the resurrection restores what is the truth of human nature, so that the person is truly the same human being, though renewed. That is, we will have glorified bodies in full, final fulfillment, and thus there will be no need for eating or sleeping. As just remember, as it was for Jesus. Remember, he rose from the dead, was resurrection from the dead, and we see again how Jesus appeared to his disciples, spiritual, yet had a body. In addition, we also recall what Jesus said, He said, quote, at the resurrection, they will neither marry nor be given. In marriage, but be like angels in heaven. We find that in the Gospels of Matthew chapter 22, Mark chapter 12, and Luke chapter 20. Because in heaven, we'll need nothing of what here is on earth. Even the things that we're not able to visit or see on earth, we don't need because we'll be with God, we'll be with the angels, we'll be with saints, we'll be in a finished, fulfilled life centered on God. And so, in summary, in heaven, we'll live in a supreme and definitive happiness marked by seeing God face to face, with with resting, loving, and praising, with no need of earthly necessities like sleep, eating, drinking, we'll be interceding for people on earth, and as we'll be resurrected, we'll be glorified bodies. Again, not in a permanent existence, as only spirits, because spirits, though those are the angels. So I hope that answers your question. It would be different, be very different.
SPEAKER_00But that was a very good answer. I think it really addressed each issue.
SPEAKER_01Let's go to the next question. Number three.
SPEAKER_00Why do we not pray that the Holy Spirit is consubstantial with the Father in the Nicene Creed? Isn't that in contradiction to the concept of three persons and one God?
SPEAKER_01And I believe that comes from another devoted listener. Love him. It does. So again, thank you for that question. So when we profess the creed, the Nicene Creed, uh, we actually are saying we do confess that the Holy Spirit is consistential with the Father, and that's is found in the Nicene Considential Creed. However, we do not specifically technically use the word consistantial in this part of that doctrine that we believe. Again, consistantial means of the same substance, of the same essence. So let's just look at this more closely. In the Creed of Constantinople in the year 381, we profess we believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified. And so this creed, also again later known as the Nicene Creed, does two things at once. It distinguishes the Holy Spirit as a distinct person, one who proceeds from the Father. It also expresses equality in the Godhead by standing, by excuse me, by stating that the Spirit is worshipped and glorified together with the Father and the Son. In other words, we are expressing that the Holy Spirit is consubstantial, even though the word isn't used there. In the Catholic Catholic Church, we find paragraph 685 it says, To believe in the Holy Spirit is profess that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Holy Trinity, consubstantial with the Father and the Son. As we say, with the Father and the Son, he is worshiped and glorified. Paragraph 263 states, with them, that is, with the Father and Son, the Spirit is one and the same God, with the Father and the Son, is worshiped and glorified. There's another book called the Compendrium of the Catechism that summarizes this doctrine and says again, the Holy Spirit is one and equal with the Father and the Son. Thus there is no direct contradiction in what the creed professes when we say the Spirit is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son. We are actually professing this key trinitarian doctrine that the Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son. So while we don't use the word constant, it does not mean that the Spirit is not constant. Again, it's clearly defined in our doctrine of the church, and we do confess again that we recognize again the Father is the source and origin of human divine of human and divinity. We confess that, of course, the Spirit is connected with the Son's origin. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, equal with the Father and Son. And again, in that creed, we profess that He that the Spirit is who is with the Father and the Son, glorified and adored. And thus, the Creed does, even though it doesn't use the word constant in regard to the Spirit, does clearly proclaim equality in worship and glory and equal and real personal origin, you know, with the Spirit. And so it's there, even though it's not directly mentioned. So I hope that answers your question.
SPEAKER_00I think that was a very good answer to that question. I do want to make sure that everybody understands that we're sitting in the middle of September right now. We will have our twice annual pledge drive coming up in November. So please put that on your calendar that in November we have a pledge drive, and we cannot do what Father knows best, all of our local shows, unless we have your support.
SPEAKER_01Exactly.
SPEAKER_00We need her. We need her. She tries to make us look good.
SPEAKER_01I said tries, just keep that in mind. More like uh sounds good because, you know, at least I got a face for radio. I don't know about you. I absolutely have a face for radio. So we have um, I think coming to the end of the show here this evening, but again, really thank you everybody for listening. So, how about next week? We talk about some questions, some very hot topics right now of what regarding socialism, continuism. Again, we're gonna talk maybe hopefully about talking about what happens if we're invited to a wedding when the Catholic party is divorced and Noah Norman's tempting another marriage, and we'll see what else we can uh cover. So, but again, we really appreciate you tuning in to Sioux Line Catholic Radio as we offer both national and local programs, including Faith in Action, Life Plan, Catholic Ministry Professionals, Divine Ministry Chaplain, and Sunday Morning Mass. Please check out the Facebook pages for Sioux Catholic Radio and Father Knows Best for more information about this show, including more information about questions and answers I've addressed, and more information of questions or things I've not addressed on the show. As you wrap up today's question and answer session, again, extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our listeners for tuning in, sharing thought provoking questions, your curiosity and engagement make the show possible. We're always inspired by an incredible range of topics you bring to the table. We hope that you have found the answers both informative and enlightening, and that you'll carry some new insights with you as you go about your week. And if your question was not answered today, you may hear the answer to your question next week or the following week. If you missed this episode, would like to re-listen to this or other episodes, please visit our website, Sudancath Radio.com, and visit the programs drop menu. Click on local programs and find this episode and other episodes of Father Knows Best and other local programs. Again, if you have any questions, please send your questions to me at fatherknowsbest show at yahoo.com or mail them to Father Knows Best, Sudan Catholic Radio, 701 West Fifth Street, Sioux City, Iowa 51103. And thank you to our sponsor, San Augustine Indian Mission, Winnebago. Please join again next Wednesday at 9 p.m. for another round of questions and answers. Until then, stay curious, stay faithful, keep your light shining, keep those questions coming. For now, I'm Father Mark Store, your host, Sign Off. Wishing a great week ahead. May mighty God bless you, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.