IN THEORY:

A recent Baylor University survey showed that most Americans believe a guardian angel protects them. Researcher Christopher Bader said he was shocked to find that 55% believe in guardian angels. Do you believe in guardian angels, and what do you make of this trend of faith in the supernatural?

I believe in the existence of guardian angels for a few reasons. Jesus himself speaks of angels.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10 support the belief in angels, where Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

There are many other examples of angels not only appearing to people, but helping them. St. Peter was assisted by an angel when he was in prison, and he was freed from the chains that bound him.

In addition, for the past four centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has set aside a day each year to remember these angels, though devotion to the guardian angels goes back to the 12th century.

How does one explain the current trend in people’s belief in guardian angels? Perhaps it can be chalked up to personal experience. How many of us can recall an event in our life that could only be attributed to Providence?

Once, when I was on the freeway, I thought for sure I was soon to be involved in a major accident. The next thing I knew, I diverted it; or rather, it was diverted. To this day I know my guardian angel was working overtime. (Perhaps he wanted me to live long enough to write this column!)

It is experiences such as this one that cause us to believe that we are being watched over and guarded by our angel.

Father Stephen Doktorczyk

St. Joachim Church

Costa Mesa

I prefer to follow the example of the Buddha by remaining silent about such questions. Silence is not an evasion. It comes from the strong conviction that such speculations are a distraction. Will a guardian angel protect us from old age, sickness and death?

Thinking about the salvific powers of guardian angels, other deities, religious doctrines and practices also keeps us from realizing the perfection of our life, moment by moment. Our wish to be saved and protected already comes from our root delusion — that something is missing and must be restored.

When our ideas are finally dropped, we can eat when we eat and sleep when we sleep. This is the life of angels.

The Rev. Deborah Barrett

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

As rector/pastor of Saint Michael & All Angels, I am blessed to be surrounded with angels! Of course, I believe!

Rabbis in the Middle Ages said, “If we could but see, every human being is preceded by a legion of angels saying, ‘Make way for the image of God!’ ”

That’s a great definition of a human being: A person is, “someone who is preceded by a legion of angels saying, ‘Make way for the image of God!’ ” This isn’t sentimental or only poetic; it proclaims the dignity of every human being and is a declaration of how we are to be with one another. Our “guardian angels” are protectors of human dignity.

The angels of God are powerful signs of the enormous resources of God’s love available to us. They are the energies of love that come to us through our friends, colleagues and comrades. I sense and communicate with “angels,” those beloved who are with me through life’s challenges.

St. Augustine said, “There are legions of angels at your disposal to get you out of your binds.”

With all of our “binds,” don’t we need all the help we can get?

The Very Rev’d Canon Peter D. Haynes

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church