Angels are servants and messengers of God.
YOUCAT Catechism +
Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 54
Ave Maria series
54. What are angels?
Angels are pure spiritual creatures of God who have
understanding and will. They have no
bodies, cannot die, and are usually not visible. They live constantly in God’s presence and
convey God’s will and God’s protection to men.
[328-333, 350-351]
An angel, wrote Pope Benedict XVI, is “so to speak the personal
thought with which God is turned toward me”.
At the same time the angels are turned completely toward their
Creator. They burn with love for him and
serve him day and night. Their song of
praise is never-ending. In Sacred
Scripture the angels who have fallen away from God are called devils or demons.
For he will give his
angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest
you dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12
The existence of angels - a truth of faith
Who are they?
329 St. Augustine says: "'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.'"(St.
Augustine, En. in Psalm 103,1,15: Patrologia
Latina 37,1348.)188 With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because
they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" they are
the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his
word".(Matthew 18:10; Psalm 103:20.)189 --CCC
330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence
and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection
all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.( Compare Pius XII, Humani Generis: Denzinger-Schonmetzer
3891; Luke 20:36; Daniel 10:9-12.)190 --CCC
331 Christ is the center of
the angelic world. They are his angels: "When the Son of
man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him. . "(Matthew 25:31.)191They
belong to him 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."( Colossians 1:16.)192 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?"( Hebrews 1:14.)193 --CCC
332 Angels have been present since creation and throughout the
history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving
the accomplishment of the divine plan: they 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.( Compare Job 38:7
(where angels are called "sons of God"); Genesis 3:24; Gen
19; Gen21:17; Gen
22:11; Acts of the Apostles 7:53; Exodus 23:20-23; Judges 13; Judg
6:11-24; Isaiah 6:6; 1 Kings 19:5 .)194 Finally, the angel Gabriel announced
the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.( Compare Luke 1:11,26.)195 --CCC
333 From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate
is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God "brings the
firstborn into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship him.'"(Hebrews 1:6.)196 Their song of praise at the birth of
Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church's praise: "Glory to God in
the highest!"( Luke 2:14.)197 They protect Jesus in his infancy,
serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he
could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been.( Compare Matthew 1:20; Matt
2:13; Matt
4:11; Matt
26:53; Mark 1:13; Luke 22:43; 2 Maccabees 10:29-30; 2 Macc 11:8.)198 Again,
it is the angels who "evangelize" by proclaiming the Good News of
Christ's Incarnation and Resurrection.( Compare Luke 2:8-14; Mark 16:5-7.)199 They will be present at Christ's
return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment.( Compare Acts of the Apostles 1:10-11; Matthew
13:41; Matt
24:31; Luke 12:8-9.)200 --CCC
IN BRIEF
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, Summa Theologiae I, 114,
3, ad 3). --CCC
351 The angels surround
Christ their Lord. They serve him especially in the accomplishment of his
saving mission to men. --CCC
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