Angels, Saints and Ancestors

September 28, 2025.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the “shock and awe” politics of 2025. The sheer volume of “shocks,” each of which highlights the rise of cruelty, injustice, visible corruption, disregard for law, and so much more can make me feel helpless.

Prayer and other spiritual practices can reduce my feelings of helplessness and overwhelm. But sometimes I recognize my limitations and will turn to helpers from heaven. Angels, saints, “Holy Ones,” and wise and well ancestors.

I am not an angel expert and have only had a couple of periods in my life when I felt the need to ask for the help and protection from angels. I chose Michael and Raphael the Archangels. Both of these majestic beings were very helpful. In gratitude, and because my middle son's name is Michael, I've often made angel food cake on the Archangels' feast day, (September 29). While I'm not making angel food cake this year, I am writing today's blog in their honour.

Saints and “Holy Others” can also be strong allies from the other side of the veil.

Technically, Saints are people who have been canonized by the Christian Church, while there are non-canonized Holy Ones whose lives demonstrate intimate relationships with God, with Love.

Saints and Holy Others often begin life as very imperfect human beings who grow into holiness. Usually this happens when harsh life experiences lead them into connecting with the Divine. Their new relationship with God moves them into living lives of justice and compassion.

Because of their raw humanity and their spiritual growth, Saints and Holy Others can be wonderful role models for us.

Several Saints and Holy Others have lived in times of suffering not dissimilar to ours. Julian of Norwich lived through a series of pandemics. Salvadorian Archbishop Óscar Romero died because of his vocal criticism of political violence. Howard Thurman lived through racial discrimination and segregation from U.S. Jim Crow laws. And Etty Hillesum, even while in Auschwitz continued to see the love and goodness in all people, including the Nazis who eventually sent her to her death.

Barbara Otero-López has studied and reflected on her indigenous ancestors’ experiences of suffering and resilience, and she suggests that we look at our own ancestors’ lives for inspiration and wisdom in living out the challenges in 2025, [1]. That we ask for the assistance of our wise and well ancestors, [2]. In particular those who have experienced times of suffering and injustice.

Today I'm offering two spiritual practices:

Spiritual Practice 1:

I invite you to consider moving into relationship with someone from the other side of the veil. It may be helpful to ask for the Spirit’s guidance by spending a few days in prayerful, holy listening before making your choice.

Once you’ve found your "heavenly" helper, you may want to research about, and reflect on them and their lives. Perhaps you’ll learn about angels, a particular Archangel or Saint, a Holy Other, or even one of your wise and well ancestors.

If there’s little information available about your chosen being/person, you may want to use your imagination and/or research their time and place in history.

Once you’ve found your heavenly helper—ask what they might want for you during this time. Are they asking you to name your sadness, pain, or trauma? Are they inviting you to tears? Do they want you to do an act of resistance? Might they be asking you to let go of negative thoughts such as cynicism, bitterness, or defeatism?

How do they want you to respond to this 2025 time of upheaval? What goodness are they inviting you into? [3].

Spiritual Practice 2:

You may want to sing along with this song, which is based on Julian of Norwich’s comforting words:

https://abbeyofthearts.bandcamp.com/track/kathryn-christian-all-shall-be-well-julian-of-norwich

All shall be well, all shall be well,

All matter of things shall be well.

All shall be well, all shall be well,

All matter of things shall be well.

Rest in my embrace, my beloved, all is well.

Sleep in safety,

Let your cares melt away.

Place your heart in my embrace.

1. Barbara Otero-López, Loving in a Time of Exile: Healing the Wounds of Exile, https://cac.org/daily-meditations/healing-the-wounds-of-exile/, May 7, 2025.

2. Ibid.

3. These are based on questions by Barbara Otero-López in the May 7, 2025 article above.

This blog is dedicated to the archangels and in the memory of Maureen Fowler, a beloved spiritual mentor.