About Angels
IN THE BEGINNING (Creation of Material and Immaterial)
1.
Creation
a. Heavens – Immaterial, Invisible.
b. Earth – Material, Visible.
2.
Heavens – Populated with created
immaterial beings (angels).
Angels - created, non-material,
rational.
3.
Earth – Populated with created
material beings.
a. Man - created, material, sentient, movable, rational (intellect &
free
will).
presence of rationality (spiritual faculty elevates man to
slightly less than the angels)
b. Animals - created, material, sentient, movable, non-rational.
c. Plants - created, material, sentient, non-movable, non-rational.
d. Stone - created, material, non-sentient, non-movable, non-rational.
4.
God presented a great sign (the
Mystery of the Incarnation – God becomes man). Rev 12:1-6.
a. Sign in the heavens meant for the angels.
b. Identified God’s plan.
c. God’s son unites all things in heaven and earth to lead all creation to
himself.
d. Christ born through Mary.
5.
Angels
a. Intermediaries between God and man.
b. Created, non-material, rational (Intellect + Free Will).
c. Free will allowed them the opportunity to choose God’s plan for his
creation.
1). Destined as participants in God’s plan for his creation.
2). Most angels accepted the mission and grace of Christ (God-man).
6.
Demons
a. Angels who rejected God’s plan to bring all creation to himself.
b. Refused to serve the God-man.
c. Refused to do their part in building up the kingdom of God in the created
world.
d. Declared, “I will not serve.”
e. Sought and still seek to destroy the effect of Incarnation (Birth of God-man
to the Virgin Mary).
d. Attempt to hinder the approach of humanity to God.
7. God’s response through the Angel Michael – “Who is like God?”
8. Luke 10:18 “. . . and Jesus answered, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.”
FUNCTION (OFFICE OF THE ANGELS)
1. See God "face to face."
2, Are servants (messengers) of God.
3. Serve as loving advisors/protectors of individuals and places.
4. Act as heavenly intercessors to Jesus
through Mary for humans.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ABOUT ANGELS
(drawn from the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
1.
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). Paragraph 350.
2. The angels surround Christ their Lord. They serve him especially in the accomplishment of his saving mission to men. Paragraph 351.
3. The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being. Paragraph 352.
4. God willed the diversity of his creatures and their own particular goodness, their interdependence, and their order. He destined all material creatures for the good of the human race. Man, and through him all creation, is destined for the glory of God. Paragraph 353.
5. Respect for laws inscribed in
creation and the relations which derive from the nature of things is a
principle
of wisdom and a foundation for morality. Paragraph
354.