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We hear about angels everywhere but are they real? What are they?
Angels, angels everywhere and not a feather found! You see them everywhere. Angels are on pins, cards, sweatshirts, depicted as figurines and nightlights. They’re in television shows, movies, books. But what are they? Are angels real? Are they like us? Is there really such a thing as a guardian angel? Do some do a better job than others? Should you pray to have your guardian angel replaced if you fall down the stairs? What’s the story? In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church tackles the subject comprehensively. Angels not only exist, they are a truth of faith. We are taught the angels are spirits, not merely angels. For example, if someone is an accountant, that is their job but they are really human beings. At all times, however, angels act as God’s servants. They are immortal. There are dozens of examples in the Bible of angels acting on behalf of God, from the proection of Lot to Gabriel's appearance in front of Mary. You may recall that during Mass, we join with the angels in praising God. In fact, there is some Church writing that speaks of seven angels acting as bishops to watch over earthly churches. Predictably, therefore, we also know that angels help the Church worship our Lord. Where do these spiritual creatures live? In heaven of course. So what do angels do? According to the Catechism, angels serve, protect, make announcements for God and in all things glorify Him. This includes acting as personal guardians. They were created for Christ and he is their center. Only three of Christ’s angels have been named, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Was Satan an Angel?Yes, he was. According to the Catechism, Satan was an angel in heaven. Angels, as humans, are granted free will by God. As such, Satan and some other angels chose to reject God. Because of their choice, they will forever remain in hell. Because he is a spiritual creature, the church teaches us that Satan does have power. While he may affect us spiritually, and as a result, physically, he does not have the power to bring about the end of God’s reign. It remains a mystery as to why God would allow Satan’s evil toe affect our world. Angelical RankingAccording to the Catholic Encyclopedia, angels are ranks as follows by St. Gregory the Great:
So there you have it. Angels surround us from the time we are born to the time we die, protecting us, helping us seek salvation from God.
The copyright of the article Angels and the Catholic Church in Catholicism is owned by Michelle Anderson. Permission to republish Angels and the Catholic Church in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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