In the Company of Angels
by Pat Gohn in Faith on Sunday, October 10, 2010 1:15 PM
Hebrews 13:2 comes to mind whenever I hear a knock at the front door… “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” It reminds me that there is a spiritual realm here on earth that I often forget or ignore. There are angels among us.
For the last several weeks, this series has focused on the first line of the Creed: God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of all things seen and unseen. Today we’re discussing one aspect of the unseen world: angels.
Our culture does us a disservice when it depicts angels as sappy harp-playing cupids on clouds. For what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) really teaches about these spiritual creatures is sublime.
So let’s talk about angels … who they are and what they really do.
The Bible traditionally uses the word “angel” to refer to these immortal non-corporeal beings (i.e. they have no bodies). They are pure spirit, plus they have intelligence and a will. The CCC tells us their perfection and splendor surpasses all other creatures.
St. Augustine taught, “ ‘Angel’ is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel.’ “
The office of angels – their “work” – is to be servants of God, and his messengers. A great example is the angel Gabriel meeting the Blessed Virgin Mary and announcing the good news of her being chosen to bear the Son of God. (See Luke 1.) The Angelus prayer is derived from that scene.
(Whenever someone rescues us, or comes through for us in a big way, ever notice that we compare them to an angel? Often I say to a friend who gives me timely help: “You’re an angel!” I’m not referring to their having wings or living on some celestial plane. Rather, I’m praising their service and help. And once in a while, in imitation of an angel, I do hear a godly message delivered by a friend.)
The proof of the existence and work of angels is all over Scripture. Since the dawn of creation, angels have played a role in the God’s plan. A few of them have famous names that we might recognize due to their important roles: Michael, Raphael, and the aforementioned, Gabriel.
CCC 332:
[The Angels] closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples. Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.
What’s more, it can be said that Christ is the center of the angelic world. Scripture tells us they are his angels.
Matthew 25:31: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.”
CCC 331:
[Angels] belong to [Christ] because they were created through and for him: “for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him [Col 1:16.]”
They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? [Heb 1:14.]”
Angels personally attend to Jesus. And again, we draw on the Gospel to uphold these ideas. From the Incarnation and the time of his birth, and through his Resurrection, and ready to be present when he comes again, angels have been in the Lord’s service.
An angel choir sung at Christ’s birth. They protected his life through infancy when threatened by Herod. They are seen ministering to him in the desert, prior to his public ministry, and came to strengthen him in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prepared to die. Someday angels will announce when the Judgment Day comes, and they will, again, be tending and service Jesus Christ in his full glory, as they do in heaven.
(We’ll talk more about guardian angels, and the roles angels play in the Church, in the next article in this series.)
Want to know more?
Try CCC 350:
Angels are spiritual creatures who glorify God without ceasing and who serve his saving plans for other creatures: “The angels work together for the benefit of us all” (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I, 114, 3, ad 3).
—Pat Gohn is a wife & mother celebrating 27 years of Catholic family life. Her Catholic writing, podcasting, and ministry life are found at PatGohn.com.
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