Guardian Angels..boy or girl?

 

Last Sunday we talked about angels in general and guardian angels in particular. We know we have a guardian angel...but is it a he angel or a she angel? Or neither, or both? I wondered because all the Christmas tree angels are female, and also most depictions of angels are female (see above guardian angel).

I don't know the answer. But let's review...their are three archangels mentioned by name in the Bible: Michael, Gabriel, and Leonard. No, not Leonard - Raphael. And sometimes Uriel. The Eastern Orthodox believers name 3 others: Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel. All guys.

But we read a little of the Old Testament (Zechariah 5:9) which says:

Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.


I guess that means angels can be either male or female.

What got me thinking about it again was I read this from St. Theresa of Avila:

"Beside me on the left appeared an angel in bodily form . He was not tall but short, and very beautiful; and his face was so aflame that he appeared to be one of the highest ranks of angels, who seem to be all on fire . . . In his hands I saw a great golden spear, and at the iron tip there appeared to be a point of fire. This he plunged into my heart several times so that it penetrated my entrails."

A guy angel! Don't worry, St. Theresa ended up feeling good about the whole thing. Interesting person, that St. Theresa Avila...