An evening in 1997—Fr James E. Cantler was presiding at the Holy Eucharist at the Church of the Holy Communion in Charleston, South Carolina, celebrating the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. I was assisting in the sanctuary. My wife Christine was in the choir. Near the conclusion of the liturgy, Christine saw (yes, saw) an angel (yes, an angel) standing behind Fr Cantler at the altar. Its face radiated with delight and pleasure in this man who had faithfully served as a priest of the Church for over forty years. She describes the guardian angel as simultaneously terrifying and beautiful, massive yet human-size. I have never seen an angel, but I do not doubt that my wife saw one that evening. She is open to spiritual realities in a way that I am not.
I thought about this event while reading the four chapters devoted to angels in…
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