Angels
By
William F. Kuhn
"Angels are real. Even though modern materialists might deny
their existence, belief in angels is an article of our Catholic
Faith. One only has to read Matthew 10:10 for a clear affirmation
of the angelic world by Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Himself. THE TERM
"ANGEL" DENOTES A function message bearing not an
individual, a being, or an existence. it is like the modern 'quarterback"
"referee," or "tuba player," requiring a
person to substantialise or "embody" that function in
reality. Since angels are not phantoms of our imagination, we
have already suggested a characteristic of angels being,
existence, a persona fulfilling some function. Most of the
biblical references to angels conform to this concept, that some
being is in fact fulfilling a mission, and this of course is
loudly underwritten by the non-canonical, ancient writings
relating the human experience with and age-old speculation about
these ethereal beings, an-gels. Both the Hebrew and the Greek
scriptural tests use the word messenger ("Malak" and
"Aggelos" respectively). It is from the Greek that we
derive our "angel." These messengers are defined by
theologians as pure spirits, created intelligences, free from any
relation to matter in any essential sense.
Paul VI 's
Credo of the People of God affirmed our belief in "the pure
spirits which are also called angels.''
Not only
messengers Although the function of angels is generally presumed
to be in accord with the name, nevertheless angels have performed
functions quite apart from conveying messages. The Angel of God
went before Israel during the Exodus as a pillar of cloud by day,
a pillar of fire by night (Ex 13:21): there is the cherubim with
the fiery revolving sword guarding the way back into the Garden
of Eden (Gen 3:24); and the account in 2 Kings 19:35 tells of how
the Angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrians in one night
as they lay encamped in siege around the city of Jerusalem. Now
angels do not work miracles of their own power but they can
produce results that amaze men by their manipulation of natural
facts or forces like creating a plague upon the Assyrians by the
multiplication and spread of microbic or bacterial infection
within a few hours St. Michael has had several missions, too,
some of them outlined in non-canonical literature. He was "set
over the best part of mankind" ( Book of Henoch); he was
said to be Michael 'the great angel always interceding for the
human race (Testament of the twelve Patriarchs); be was
recognised as the commander in chief of the armies of heaven the
organiser of divine relations with the earth, and an intercessor
before God whose intercession was so powerful that he could even
rescue souls from perdition (Testament of Abraham - He is
described as descending to earth to receive the prayers and
offerings of men (Apocalypse of Baruch. Slovonic version. 11:4);
that he carries the souls of the righteous to God Testament of
Abraham, recension A, 20:10,11; and the Sybylline Oracles, 2:214219);
and he taught agricultural skills to Adam (Life of Adam and Eve,
Vitae). He is listed among the angels, "the first one is the
merciful and forbearing Michael" ( 1 Henoch 40:9) and that
he is an "archistratig" or great angel. Then he is
called "the Great Prince, in charge of the seventh heaven"
(3 Henoch Hebrew manuscript).
Creation of Angels
Angels, then, are "created intelligences with varied
missions. When were they created? Job 38:4-7 suggests that the
angels witnessed the creation of the world. Thomistic theology
leans heavily toward "simultaneous creation." But Gen 1
:1 -27 clearly suggests creation of the angels occurred within a
"period of time" during which the material world was
also being completed a concept which includes Job and Thomas: and
so, angels must have been created close to the beginning of time.
Just what act of God began time creation of heaven which must
have included angels) or creation of the formless universe (Gen 1:1)
we do not know. That the angels were created in time before man
is suggested by the composite modality of human kind, an
intermediate creation of matter and spirit, body and soul. This
concept is affirmed by the fourth Lateran Council ( 1 2 1 5) and
reaffirmed by the first Vatican Council (1869). Adam and Eve were
created singularly. as a single pair (Gen 2:7, 15 21-24) while
angels were created in the "thousands upon thousands" (Rev
5:11). Faced with this myriad of beings, the Athenian disciple of
the apostle Paul, Dionysius, the Areopagite, asserted that
Scripture supports three hierarchies of angels, each with three
choirs, in descending order:
The Supreme hierarchy:
Seraphim,
Cherubim, Thrones.
The Middle hierarchy:
Dominions,
Virtues, Powers.
The Lower hierarchy:
Principalities,
Archangels, Angels.
In spite of their numbers, angels are not carbon copies of each other; each one is an "original," and they are ranked in order of excellence and authority as Dionysius suggests. They surpass each other in virtue of their natures to which God may have added gifts accommodated to their hierarchic station. Obviously as such extraordinary creatures, the angels of each hierarchy understand clearly and express in their interrelations the respect and deference their rankings imply and their very natures demand. both from the lower to the higher and the reverse as well. So it was that the lowest of the hierarchies was awarded the task of overseeing the universe which God had created and to which they became messengers. The superior angels (Middle and Supreme hierarchies)- busied themselves about heavenly chores.
Michael the Prince
Scripture names only three angels, Raphael. Gabriel and our Michael, giving a title, archangel. only to Michael. Apocryphal literature offers some additional angels. Azazel, Samel, Raquel, Jeremial, Gadreal and Uriah, but use of these names in the liturgy' of the Church was forbidden by Pope Zachary (745). a prohibition which was reconfirmed shortly' after in the Aix-la-Chapelle synod of 784, for the reason that these names were found only in non-canonical material. But much in tune with the apocryphal approach to Michael. Daniel records an angel informing him of "Michael, one of the chief princes" and "Michael, y our prince" (Dan 10:13), and "Michael, the great prince. guardian of your people" (Dan 12:1).
Recalling the Dionysian hierarchic order in which these native "freeholders " are grouped, how is it that Michael, of the lowest hierarchy is now' one of the first angels in heaven? Why is a third level archangel now chief of the heaven's hosts? Clearly' it was not always so. Several layers of legend and ancient wisdom are briefly summarised in Rev 12:7-9 referring to the great "battle" in heaven between the "good" angels led by' Michael and the "bad" angels of Lucifer's revolt, a conflict which resulted in the defeat of Satan, witnessed to by Our Lord, in Luke 10:3. It has been proposed by theologians that initially the angels were created in a probationary state, a time of testing. They possessed a free will: during that test, Lucifer. The most brilliant angel in heaven (believed to be a Cherubim of the Supreme Hierarchy ) dissented to a plan of God when the angelic intelligence was presented with the necessity of recognising and accepting the future fact that at some time, a human being would be possessed of divinity. Lucifer could not accept this fact because any human being would be of a so much lower order of dignity and stature compared with an angel; Lucifer refused to give obeisance to such a being. Now the good order of heaven (as expressed by' Dionysius required that each level of excellence (hierarchies and choirs) would have some authority and influence over lower hierarchies and choirs which would be recognised and honoured by the lower ranked angels. Since the legends have it that Lucifer was a Cherubim, he manifestly had influence and power over lower ranking angels, and this explains his success in misleading "a third of the angels" into following him. But the good order of heaven also required that the angels respect and honour the word and the wish of God: Lucifer's defiance created such a resounding dissonance in heaven that Michael, an archangel of the lowest order, incensed by Lucifer's challenge to God and his rejection of God's plan, rose up to confront Lucifer with the rallying cry "Who is like unto God'?" Leading the remaining angels in this contest of wills. Michael forced Lucifer to leave the "third heaven" and no longer serve God in the honourable status he held before his rebellion.
Yet this
heavenly orderliness left deeply ingrained habits in the angels.
and we find this true even in Michael, according to the letter of
Jude. v9, wherein Jude tells the story of a dispute between Satan
and Michael over the body of Moses. When Moses died, the Lord
sent Michael to earth to take the body' of Moses to an ethereal
resting place. But Satan (Samael in the ancient apocryphal
account) was already at the bier and refused to surrender the
body' to Michael claiming it for himself because Moses had
committed murder upon an Egyptian. Michael, commander of the
hosts of heaven, did not rush upon Satan and strike him down nor
even shout insultingly' at him re minding him of his prior defeat;
but he was content to say. "May the Lord rebuke thee."
Even after his expulsion from heaven, Lucifer's rank was still
respected by a "good" angel. Such is the divine
ordering of things
For the Good of Mankind
These pure spirits then, which we call angels, are an integral
part of God's creation. And in addition to their role as
messengers, they have a part in assisting us on our journey to
salvation as article 336 of The Catechism of the Catholic Church
states: From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their
watchful care and intercession. "Beside each believer stands
an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life" St.
Basil. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith
in the blessed company of angels and men united in God."
THE FALL OF THE ANGELS
"Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a
seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death
out of envy (Gen 3:1-5, Wis 2:24). Scripture and the Church's
traition see in this being a fallen angel, called 'Satan' or the
'devil' (Jn 8:44, Rev 12:9). The Church teaches that satan was at
first a good angel, made by God: 'The devil and the other demons
were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil
by their own doing.' (Lateran Council IV (1215): DS 800).
Scripture speaks of a sin of these angels (2 Pt 2:4). This
fall consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who
radically and irrevocably rejected God and his reign. We find a
reflection of that rebellion in the tempter's words to our first
parents: 'You will be like God' (Gen 3:5). The devil 'has sinned
from the beginning'; he is 'a liar and the father of lies' (1 Jn
3:8; Jn 8:44.) It is the irrevocable character of their choice,
and not a defect in the infinite Divine Mercy, that makes the
angels' sin unforgivable. 'There is no repentance for the angels
after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after
death' (St. John Damascene , De fide orth. 2,4: PG 94, 877.)
Scripture witnesses to the disastrous influence of the one Jesus
calls 'a murderer from the beginning', who would even try to
divert Jesus from the mission received from His Father (Jn 8:44;
Mt 4:1-11). The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the
works of the devil' (1 Jn 3:8). In its consequences the gravest
of its works was the mendacious seduction that led man to disobey
God. The power of satan is nonetheless, not infinite. He is only
a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but
still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's
reign. Although satan may act in the world out of hatred for God
and His kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may
cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly,
even of a physical nature - to each man and to society, the
action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and
gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery
that providence should permit diabolical activity, but 'we know
that in everything God works for good with those who love Him (Rom
8:28)."
Who are the Angels?
"The angels are pure spirits, the mighty princes of Heaven, who stand before God, gazing on His unveiled presence, burning fires of love, filled to overflowing with the plentitude of happiness. The angels are the perfect images of God, mirrors of His divine perfections, reflecting His love, His beauty, His Holiness, His power, all His divine attributes and perfections each only in his own special way. No two angels are alike, no two are equal. God's perfections are infinite and countless millions of angels reflect this perfection in a divinely marvellous way. No two men, no two women, are identically alike, but the differences between them are relatively slight, whereas the difference between two angels is vast, complete. Every angel is specifically different from the other as one species differs from another all the millions of men and women who people the world, all those who have ever lived or ever will live are of one and the same species but each angel is a species all in himself! The angels are unspeakably lovely, they have no shadow of imperfection, no defects. Nothing on this earth can possibly give us an idea of their resplendent glory. No painter, no poet, no artist ever conceived anything like them. They are living replicas of God's beauty. Fra Angelico's pictures of the angels excel those of ant other artist so that Michael Angelo exclaimed on seeing them: "Angelico must have seen these angels in Heaven, otherwise he could never have painted them as he has done." But even Angelico's pictures do not give us the faintest idea of the real angels. St. Briget, who was favoured by God with Heavenly visions, tells us that were we to see an angel in all his beauty we should be so ravished with delight at the sight of him that we should die of love.
St.
Frances of Rome was favoured by the constant vision of her angel.
She says that were an angel to appear in all his splendour, the
light of the sun and the moon and stars would become dim in
comparison. After our Lord's Resurrection we read how an angel
descended from Heaven and rolled back the stone that had closed
the Holy Sepulchre. The Sacred Scriptures sat that the
countenance of the angel was like lightening with its raiment
white as snow. His appearance was so full of majesty that the
soldiers whom Christ's enemies had placed to guard the Tomb were
terrified and dared not look on him but fell to the ground as if
dead. When, therefore, angels appear to men they take a human
form so as not to overawe or confound those who look on them.
What must not be the ravishing beauty of the Heavenly Jerusalem
where these countless millions of glorious angels are not only
resplendently beautiful but all differ from each other so that
the perfections of one are completely different to those of
the other. The angels reflect God's goodness and sweetness no
less wonderfully. They reflect all His divine virtues and
perfections, they enjoy the vision of God's infinite love and
love Him back with all the mighty strength and intensity of their
natures. -Their happiness is perfect for they receive of the
ocean of God's happiness in a way that no human mind can fathom.
The happiness that an angel enjoys in one moment is so deep,
complete and all-satisfying that it exceeds all the happiness
that a mortal man could enjoy in a thousand years.
The Generosity of the Angels
What is of paramount importance to us is that the Holy Angels
seek inevery possible way to share with us this immense ocean of
love and happiness which
they themselves enjoy. their generosity knows no bounds. This is
a truth that we must do our best to understand fully and clearly.
Were a very rich man to say to us: "Ask me for everything
you wish and I will most readily give it to you." How happy
we should be! Certainly we would not hesitate to ask for all we
need. This is exactly what the angels say to us: "Ask us and
we will give you a share of all our treasures, all our graces,
all our happiness and we will give you some of all we have."
Their goodness and generosity are immense. Unfortunately, so far
from corresponding with their efforts for our welfare we
constantly impede them by our sins and imperfections. If only we
knew them better and loved them more, and were more docile to
their constant whisperings, our happiness would be unspeakably
great.
What are the Angels doing?
Millions and millions of Angels fill the Heavens, ministering
unto God, but millions and millions of Angels are also here on
Earth, ministering unto us. They are in our midst around us,
about us, everywhere. Their activity in our regard is unceasing
every day and every moment of the day, though we do not see them
nor even suspect their presence nor feel their influence. They
are watching over us with infinite care and love. Were it not for
their ever vigilant protection, the history of the World would be
far different, far more calamitous than it has been. The life too,
of each of us, had we not a mighty Angel guarding us, would be
sad in the extreme. What the life of a little child would be if
abandoned, forsaken, without mother, father, or friend, such
would be in great part our lot had not God in His mercy, given us
our holy Angel. These Angels are helping us at every instant,
doing us countless favours and saving us from dangers and evils
of every kind. God has given us into their charge: "For He
has given His Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy
ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up lest thou dash thy
foot against a stone". (Psalm 90)
Angelic Intelligence
The Angels like God have two great faculties: the Intellect and
the Will. The intellect of the Angels is incomparably superior to
the human intellect. The Angels are not only perfect in beauty,
mighty in strength, but they are full of knowledge and wisdom. Their manner of
understanding is likewise completely different from ours. The
human mind has to plod from truth to truth just as the human body
moves step by step, whereas the angelic intelligence grasps the
whole of a subject at a single glance seeing a principle it sees
at once all its consequences, seeing a truth it sees at the same
time all its possible aspects. The most notable servants of this earth
have amassed the knowledge of a limited number of subjects with
infinite labour and long years of study. Nor may they claim the
credit for all they know for they began where others have left
off. The knowledge, too, thus acquired at the cost of such labour
is frequently mingled with errors, mistakes, and doubts, whereas
the knowledge of the angels is clear, certain and free from all
possibility of
error."
ALL ABOUT THE ANGELS
By
Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.)
THE
FALLEN ANGEL /
BEINGS OF LIGHT /
DARK ANGELS.
"And no wonder,
for Satan
himself masquerades
as an angel
of light."
(2 Corinthians
11:14)
"Channelling"
is the new word created by the New Age Movement, meaning to
contact spirit entities by allowing oneself to become a "channeller"
allowing the spirit to forward messages. Putting aside the fact
that most messages could be man-made, the New Age channelled
messages are usually directed towards all humanity. The spirits,
or "beings" as the New Age prefers to call them, are
supposed to be loving entities helping humanity to reach
perfection through a 'spiritual' evolution. The messages
consistently tell us how we are opening up to 'spirituality' and
the 'spirit world' and how we are 'evolving' by becoming more
like them. Pantheism, which is one of the main tenets of the New
Age, explains how humanity and nature are in fact 'god'. This
would mean all of us are 'god' - this is referred to as the 'Cosmic
Consciousness'. All entities contacted by channelling belong to
the so-called 'Great White Brotherhood' or 'Galactic Federation'.
They are thus called the 'Ascended Brothers'. These beings could
be angels, saints, ETs and maybe anyone who belongs to a 'past
wave of consciousness' (old civilisation) who has at heart the
mission of helping humanity in these difficult times of
transition into the New Age.
The belief in
Pantheism is extrapolated to the point that everything and
everybody becomes 'one entity', due to the fact that the 'all' is
god. Then, both the good and bad forces become one, working hand
in hand for the benefit of humankind. Therefore in all honesty it
does not really matter from where the message originates. It
could be coming from a spirit calling itself 'Jesus' or even from
Lucifer himself. It would not make any difference. When a person
seems to be diabolically possessed and an exorcism
is ordered by the
Catholic Church, (when he is not diagnosed as being a psychiatric
case by doctors), the exorcist questions the diabolical spirit.
If the person under the power of the devil starts to prophesy or
pretends to be a good angel or a saint, the exorcist stops him
immediately and orders the spirit to answer his questions. One of
the questions posed asks for the real name and number of spirits
possessing the person.
"You belong to your
father, the devil, ......
for there
is no truth in him.
When he
lies he speaks his native language,
for he is a
liar and the father of lies."
(John 8:44)
Many times the
spirits giving the messages claim to be St. Michael, sometimes
Toth (an Egyptian god), some alien being, a native American
Indian, or a genius of the past for example the philosopher Plato
or the Italian inventor Leonardo Da Vinci. Other spirits can be
classified under certain New Age titles, for example: higher self,
elementals and nature spirits. Many books have been written
explaining how to channel messages and make contact with these
spirit entities, many of these books were financed by 'W.I.C.C.A.'
Witches International Crafts and Conjuration Arts. Channelling
occurs while one is engaged in meditational positions. Other
contacts may occur more abruptly, as though the spirit takes over
the mind of the person. These spirits are called 'Walk-ins' and 'Avatar'.
New Agers claim that having crystals around oneself or in the
vicinity, having a colourful environment and playing the right
musical notes all help to create the right 'energy' environment,
which consequently would attract many of these beings to your
room or house. Other books like 'The Emerald Tablets' give you
precise magical phrases (mantras) to recite repeatedly. This
helps the person to detach himself and be taken in the spirit to
these entities - beings of light like Lucifer.
"There shall not be
found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an
offering, any one who practises divination, a soothsayer, or an
augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or
a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to
the LORD; and because of
these abominable practices the LORD your God is driving them out
before you."
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
|
The Task of the Guardian
Angels
Milan,
October 2, 1993
First
Saturday of the Month
Feast
of the Holy Guardian Angels
The
Marian Movement of Priests
The
Blessed Virgin to Fr. Gobbi
Chapter 502 is found in the book "To The Priests Our Lady's Beloved Sons"
The Announcement of the Three Angels
Milan, October 2, 1992
Feast
of the Holy Guardian Angels
Marian
Movement of Priests
The
Blessed Virgin to Fr. Gobbi
Chapter 478 is found in the book "To The Priests Our Lady's Beloved Sons"
The Angels of Your Time
Onialia (Nebraska, USA.),
September 29, 1994
Feast of the Archangels, Gabriel, Raphael and
Michael
Marian Movement of Priests
The Blessed Virgin to Fr. Gobbi
Chapter 528 is found in the book "To The Priests Our Lady's Beloved Sons"
"Now war
arose in heaven,
Michael
and his angels fighting against the dragon;
and
the dragon and his angels fought,
but
they were defeated
and
there was no longer any place for them in heaven."
(Revelation 12:7-8)
PRAYER TO
SAINT MICHAEL
FROM
THE RACCOLTA
O GLORIOUS Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defence in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His on image and likeness, and redeemed at a great pricefrom the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of the LORD, together with the holy angels, as already you have fought the leader of the proud angels, lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist you, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or satan, whoseduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of his CHRIST, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.
Arise
then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the
lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory.
They venerate you as their protector and patron; in you Holy
Church glories as her defence against the malicious power of hell; to you has God
entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly
beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put lucifer
under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to
hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in
the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate
the mercies of the LORD; and
beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil
and lucifer, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he
may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
V.
Behold the Cross of the LORD; be scattered you hostile powers.
R. The Lion
of the tribe Juda has conquered, the root of David.
V. Let Your
mercies be upon us, O LORD.
R. As we
have hoped in You.
V. O LORD,
hear my prayer.
R. And let
my cry come unto You.
Let us pray.
O GOD,
the Father of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, we call upon Your Holy Name,
and as suppliants we implore Your clemency, that by the
intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and
of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, You would deign to help us
against lucifer and all other unclean spirits, who wander about
the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Leo XIII Moto Proprio 25
September, 1888
(The
Fatima Center - Philippines: P.O. Box 1395,
Quiapo
1001, Metro Manila Phone & Fax: (2) 734-3632)
"And I saw an angel
coming down out of heaven,
having the key
to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.
He seized the
dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or satan,
and bound him
for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss,
and locked and
sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving
the nations
any more until the thousand years were ended.
After that, he
must be set free for a short time."
(Revelation 20:1-4)
"And the devil who deceived them,
was thrown
into the lake of burning sulfur,
where the
beast and the false prophet had been thrown.
They will be
tormented day and night for ever and ever."
(Revelation 20:10)
RETURN |
DIVINE MERCY THE |
WHO IS LIKE UNTO
GOD?
