Dr. Geraghty, re Laura's question on Guardian angels, was always a question of mine. I would marvel at people, one on EWTN, Johnnette Benkovic, from the Abundant Life. She lost her son after he was home from the war, she prayed for his protection there and then he gets killed in an accident. Her husband also died of a brain tumor. Her strength was awe-inspring although she said it only came from Jesus and Mary. I also believe in angels, have heard and believe stories from friends and people like Mother Angelica, that had experiences you can't explain away by coinsidence. "Feeling hands" isn't a quirk, being pushed out of the way of a car by "no one" isn't a figment of imagination, and so many more. But I still feel my faith waver when someone like a helpless child is beaten and killed, why couldn't she be saved? Why are serial killers not given heart attacks but a devoted Dad of 6 children is? How do you combat the sometimes constant barage of doubt when you are going through a weak phase? How do you reconcile that you will never know (on earth) why nothing seems to make sense?

Dear Debra,

We feel our faith waver because our emotions waver. That is natural. That is why it is good to keep in mind that faith is essentially an act of the will. Let the emotion waver. And say to yourself that still believe. The man is the Gospel said, "Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief." We will always go wavering around under the impact of some bad experience.

Dr. Geraghty

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