What would you ask an angel?

Susan Brown asks:

Here is what Texas preacher’s wife Susan Brown asked: “I always wondered what the real angels think of how they are portrayed. Did you ever think about that? What did the real angels think of the way you portrayed them?

“Well,” answered Downey, “I could only hope that – as I prayerfully prepared for that role that I could awaken the best aspects of myself, my kindness, my empathy and my compassion. I tried to learn to listen with my heart and not just with my ears. I can’t presume to know how the real angels are, but I would like to think that they listen and are guiding lights and that they’re loving and that they heal and hear us through their hearts. That was what I tried to bring to my portrayal of Monica. Indeed, it’s something I’ve tried to continue to bring into my life as a friend and as a wife and a parent.”

Connie Doss asks:

This is from Arkansas homeschooling mom and church administrator Connie Doss: “Do you ever wish that you could insert Monica or an angel into some of the reality shows that are so popular now, particularly the ones that thrive on conflict?”

“That’s so funny,” answered Downey. “Well, to be honest with you, you know my husband is a big producer of reality shows. We are always so pleased that our shows are not, you know, salacious in any way. We’re not in the business of humiliating people in the way that some of these shows do, which I don’t care for. I do know that I would have loved to have inserted Monica in my own life. There are some moments when I thought, 'Oh, I wish an angel would show up right now and help me or tell me what to do or show me the way.' Always I’m just reminded to close my eyes and to know that in fact, I have everything I need within me if I listen, I really listen that I can hear the Holy Spirit guiding me.”

From Patricia Potter:

Retiree Patricia Potter wanted to know: “Do you believe that your own spirituality, your own faith, helped you succeed in the role of Monica whereas somebody without the Lord might not have been able to pull it off?”

“Yeah that’s a great question,” answered Downey, “You know, I believe so. I think that as a believer, it was a privilege for me to be able to deliver the message each week that God loves you. I think perhaps it’s hard to fake sincerity and so Della Reese and myself, we used to pray that we would be channels for Him, that we would be used in some way that we could step out of the way and just let grace flow through us, flow through the characters and flow through the words. I think that in many ways that did happen. It had nothing to do with us. We were just smart enough to get out of the way.”

Nancy Chafin asks:

Grandmother and health care worker Nancy Chafin wanted to know: “Did you ever see a change in anybody on the set because of the message of the show?”

“Yes, absolutely. Many, many people come into the set a little closed to the faith message. By the time they left, the experience had opened them to the Lord’s will in their lives. That showed up in small ways and in bigger ways. I had the very same experience as we shot our new mini-series ‘The Bible.” People working on the set left with their hearts open and became very vulnerable while they were there with us. I think it’s the power of working on this kind of material. Scripture touches lives and opens hearts. With God all things are possible."

Roma continues:

Continuing her answer of Nancy Chafin's question:

“As we put The Bible project together," said Roma, "we just prayed for the right people to be sent, that they would come to us. That’s what happened with ‘Touched by an Angel.’ It was just the absolutely right people and the riht chemistry that Della and I were able to bring – the love that we were able to show for each other. It was a real love we had – and you couldn’t pretend that either. We were a good cast of good people who loved each other and respected each other and took care of each other. All of that energy ends up on the screen. I think that the message of faith which was essential to the show was essential to the actors and it was essential to the writers. That’s why the whole thing resonated with authentic truth.”