Since the earliest days of the Church, Scripture scholars have concluded that there are many more angels than there are people. First, everyone has a guardian angel. If guardian angels were the only angels, then there would be an equal number of angels and humans. But guardian angels are not the only angels mentioned in the Bible. The Bible also mentions cherubim (Gen 3:24), seraphim (Is 6:2), archangel (Jude 9), thrones, dominions and principalities (Col 1:16). Therefore, we can conclude that we humans, are the minority.
In the first part of our journey, we looked at what angels are. Today, let's find out how this invisible majority came about. In Genesis, we learn that God calls "light" into existence. St. Augustine proposed that the light God created at the "beginning" was angelic. It was his angels. "The angels are included in the works of God during these six days, they are that light which was called Day" (5-Book XI-Chapter 9). "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" (CCC 332).
God created the angels in a state of goodness for the sake of greater love and greater acts of service. They are an important part of a creation that is vast and awesome. Like God, angels are pure spirits, immaterial. Like us, they are creatures and they are finite. They had a beginning. Though they are mighty in power, their powers are limited. Like us, the angels were made with intellect and free will. God gave them, as He later gave Adam and Eve, the power to choose freely.
Each angel is an individual person with a unique personality. Just like humans, each angel has a distinct vocation from God as well as distinguishing traits and qualities. Each angel is a glorious and unique creation of almighty God, just like we are. And just like us, God gave the angels the choice to love him or not. Love cannot be pre-programmed or coerced. Only a being that is free is capable of loving.
The spiritual world is distinct from the material world, but not separate from it. Spirits can act upon physical bodies. In Acts 12:7 we see how an angel causes the shackles to fall from Peter's hands. From that incident we can conclude that spirits have certain powers that we lack. It may be that God has entrusted certain forces of nature to the angels. In the Book of Revelation (7:1) we see "four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree." In the Book of Daniel, chapter 10, we meet angels who are assigned to be guardians of nations. They are described as "princes" of their respective territories: Israel, Persia, and Greece. In Revelation, angels are identified with the churches entrusted to their care. St. Paul also spoke of "elemental spirits of the universe" (Gal 4:3).
So we can conclude that just like each individual human being has an angel guide and guardian, entire nations and societies are also given over to angelic care. Every person has a guardian angel, every church has a guardian angel and every nation has a guardian angel. We are spiritually outnumbered but I couldn't be happier to know that this invisible majority is continually watching over us. God created both the spiritual and material worlds to be mutually beneficial components of his one integral creation. We were made to share our home with angels just like angels were made to share their home with us.
Sources:
1-The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible
2-Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
3-"Entertaining Angels" by Mike Aquilina (Catholic Scripture Study International 2013)
4-"Angels and Saints" by Scott Hahn 2014
5-"City of God" by St. Augustine 426 AD
Each angel is an individual person with a unique personality. Just like humans, each angel has a distinct vocation from God as well as distinguishing traits and qualities. Each angel is a glorious and unique creation of almighty God, just like we are. And just like us, God gave the angels the choice to love him or not. Love cannot be pre-programmed or coerced. Only a being that is free is capable of loving.
The spiritual world is distinct from the material world, but not separate from it. Spirits can act upon physical bodies. In Acts 12:7 we see how an angel causes the shackles to fall from Peter's hands. From that incident we can conclude that spirits have certain powers that we lack. It may be that God has entrusted certain forces of nature to the angels. In the Book of Revelation (7:1) we see "four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree." In the Book of Daniel, chapter 10, we meet angels who are assigned to be guardians of nations. They are described as "princes" of their respective territories: Israel, Persia, and Greece. In Revelation, angels are identified with the churches entrusted to their care. St. Paul also spoke of "elemental spirits of the universe" (Gal 4:3).
So we can conclude that just like each individual human being has an angel guide and guardian, entire nations and societies are also given over to angelic care. Every person has a guardian angel, every church has a guardian angel and every nation has a guardian angel. We are spiritually outnumbered but I couldn't be happier to know that this invisible majority is continually watching over us. God created both the spiritual and material worlds to be mutually beneficial components of his one integral creation. We were made to share our home with angels just like angels were made to share their home with us.
Sources:
1-The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible
2-Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
3-"Entertaining Angels" by Mike Aquilina (Catholic Scripture Study International 2013)
4-"Angels and Saints" by Scott Hahn 2014
5-"City of God" by St. Augustine 426 AD
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