Angels: An Article of Catholic Faith…

Angels: An Article of Catholic Faith…

As we approach the Feast of the Archangel St. Raphael on 24 October, we will  undoubtedly benefit from  taking some time to reflect on the importance of angels in Catholic belief.  I’ve seen more than one “celebrity Catholic” squirm in TV interviews when asked if they believe in angels, and the waffle answers are painful to behold.  Yet, belief in angels is an article of our Faith. Read more…

St Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of God.  You can read his story here

What about you – do you have a devotion to the angels – perhaps your Guardian Angel or one of the Archangels – Gabriel, Michael, Raphael?

Tell us more – your favourite prayer or hymn, or any story you’d like to share about how one of the angels helped you…

Comments (23)

  • Petrus

    What a great post!

    Yes, I did know that angels were an article of faith. However, I remember when I taught in a Catholic school one teacher laughing and saying, “Oh but angels aren’t real.” It was quite sad.

    Anyway, I have a devotion to my Guardian Angel. I think our angels are quite often neglected and our Guardian Angel is a powerful protector. I love the hymn “Guardian Angel”.

    I also with a devotion to St Michael the Archangel. In times of temptation I try to remember to say that prayer to St Michael. I just wish I had a greater devotion.

    October 22, 2013 at 5:10 pm
    • Josephine

      That is terrible that Catholic teachers would laugh at the doctrine of angels. Do they think the Gospels contain lies, the account of the Annunciation, for example? I wonder how commonplace such attitudes are in Catholic schools.

      I, too love my Guardian Angel – a friend of mine gave hers a name (she called him “John”). She would talk about John taking care of her when this or that happened. I laugh now to think of it!

      October 23, 2013 at 11:27 pm
      • Lily

        I’ve heard of people doing the very same thing – giving their Guardian Angel a name. I think it’s a lovely idea.

        October 24, 2013 at 4:47 pm
  • Thurifer

    I too pray to my guardian angel and to St. Michael. This motet is not strictly a hymn to the angels but I would imagine them singing it in Heaven. It’s called Laudetur Jesus Christus by a Czech priest, Fr. Cernohorsky.

    October 22, 2013 at 8:18 pm
    • Nicky

      Thurifer,

      Absolutely beautiful – thanks for that video.

      October 23, 2013 at 5:43 pm
  • pewcatholic

    Thurifer, I love it, and especially the visuals. Are they from the Hubble telescope?

    October 22, 2013 at 9:53 pm
  • Thurifer

    I have no idea; it’s not my video. 🙂

    October 22, 2013 at 10:02 pm
  • Lily

    I do have a devotion to my Guardian Angel but I can’t remember the last time I heard a sermon on the subject of the angels. I think it’s one of those teachings which the “educated class” find embarrassing.

    October 23, 2013 at 9:42 am
  • catholicconvert1

    Angel of God
    My Guardian dear
    To whom God’s loves commits me here
    Ever this day
    Be at my side
    To light and guard
    To rule and guide

    October 23, 2013 at 3:43 pm
    • Lily

      Here’s the hymn to the Guardian Angel – I just love it.

      October 23, 2013 at 5:31 pm
      • Nicky

        Lily,

        The hymn to the Guardian Angel is one of my very favourites. That is a beautiful performance. Thanks for posting it.

        October 23, 2013 at 5:44 pm
      • Maura

        What a beautiful blog!

        That’s a really beautiful rendering of my favourite him to the Guardian Angels.

        It prompted me to post another version which I think is also lovely. I hope that’s OK.

        October 23, 2013 at 7:23 pm
      • Josephine

        Delightful! Thank you!

        October 23, 2013 at 11:23 pm
      • Josephine

        I meant to say I really enjoyed both videos of the Guardian Angel hymn. Love it!

        October 23, 2013 at 11:24 pm
  • catholicconvert1

    The Mormons believe that Angels were originally the men of the Earth. Catholics believe that God created them, and that they have always live in Heaven as Immortal beings, is that correct?

    October 23, 2013 at 3:45 pm
    • Lily

      Catholic Convert,

      Catholic teaching is given in the article posted by editor at the top of this blog.

      Here’s an extract, with the link to the rest which is worth reading through – doesn’t take long – some minutes.

      “It is an article of faith, firmly established in Scripture and Tradition, and clearly expressed in Christian Doctrine from the beginning, that this spirit world, our Angels, began with time and was created by God. This traditional belief of both the Old and the New Testament was given a more formal and solemn expression in the fourth Lateran Council in 1215: [God] “by his almighty power created together in the beginning of time both creatures, the spiritual and the corporeal, namely the Angelic and the earthly, and afterwards the human, as it were an intermediate creature, composed of body and spirit.” [D. 428. A similar definition was given in the Vatican Council in 1869, D. 1782, 1801.]

      From this definition we learn that the Angelic spirits were created when time began and not from eternity. Like all other creatures they were produced by the almighty power of God, out of nothing. It would be heretical to affirm that the Angels are an emanation of the Divine substance. [Vatican Council [I], D. 1804] Spiritual substances do not divide or split or multiply in any form whatever, nor change one into another; their individual existence can only be explained by creation.” http://www.catholictradition.org/Angels/angels2.htm

      October 23, 2013 at 5:34 pm
  • editor

    Happy Feast of St Raphael, everyone!

    Thanks for all the comments so far and most especially thanks for the beautiful videos.

    Happy Feast Day!

    October 24, 2013 at 2:07 pm
  • Maura

    Happy Feast to all Catholic Truth bloggers! Love the angels on the website homepage!

    October 24, 2013 at 2:32 pm
  • Margaret Mary

    A very happy feast day!

    October 24, 2013 at 4:02 pm
  • Lily

    I wish a happy Feast of St Raphael to everyone.

    Today I was wondering whether any of the famous angels, like Raphael, Michael or Gabriel, are they somebody’s Guardian Angel?

    October 24, 2013 at 4:43 pm
  • Yorkshire Rose

    I have a great devotion to the Angels – particularly the Arc Angels. Some time ago, it occurred to me (whilst sitting on a bus) that it was full of Guardian Angels. It also occurred to me that most of the people there did not realize they had an Angel with them, and these Angels never get prayed to. How very sad for both! Over time, I tried to get into the habit of ‘greeting’ the Angels of other people. Needless to say, this is a private silent prayer, but it is a nice idea, I think. This can include the Angels of ethnic persons, e.g. Muslims. One can pray for these pagans and infidels to be given the grace of conversion one day. Who knows… they may do so, and we will have helped.

    October 24, 2013 at 7:49 pm
  • Leo

    “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14

    Maybe it’s better late than never to post this. In any case, such is the ferocity of the attacks by the forces of lucifer in these times, both inside the Church and outside, that, as much as ever, we need to turn to the guidance, protection and aid of the Angels, and in particular that of the Guardian Angel given to each and every one of us in order to help us achieve our salvation.

    And the forces of the enemy are out there alright.

    “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.” – Ephesians 6:12

    Surely it is a mark of the attacks made by the forces of modernism, materialism, rationalism, and humanism that all thought or talk of the supernatural is being marginalised in the lives of Catholics. Insofar as they do express an opinion about Angels, most theological illiterates in these times of diabolical disorientation are likely to start talking about tarot cards, séances, and ouija boards etc.

    Let’s be in no doubt about the great providence of God in sending the Angels to our aid. They are mentioned nearly three hundred times in the Bible. Church Fathers such as Saint Jerome, Saint Augustine, and Saint Bernard testify to their protection.

    Whether they realise it or not, the modernists, rationalists, skeptics, and anyone else who reject the Kingdom of Christ and his supernatural assistance are marching under the banner of the prince of darkness who fell through pride, a sin that St. Thomas Aquinas describes in the following terms:

    “The first sin committed by the devil was that residing in an undue desire to be ‘like to God,’ in that he sought as the ultimate goal of his happiness something to which he could attain by his own natural powers, without having recourse to God, nor wishing to wait, as did the holy angels, for his final perfection through divine grace.” – (De Malo, 16,3).

    As for the question of Religious Education and Catechisis concerning Angels, the Catechism of the Council of Trent leaves us in no doubt.

    “Their intercession, therefore, is to be invoked, because they always see God, and most willingly undertake the advocacy of our salvation assigned to them.”

    By the “providence of God”, Angels “guard the human race” and each one of us is “secured by their guidance against the devious wandering into which our treacherous foe might withdraw us from the way that leads to Heaven.” This special care and providence of God over men “is evident from the examples which the sacred Scriptures supply in abundance, and which testify that, by the divine goodness it has come to pass that angels have frequently wrought wondrous things in the sight of men…”

    Also, as is so often the case in discussions here, the Apparitions at Fatima have much to teach us.

    Before Our Lady did so, the Angel of Peace at Fatima appeared three times to the Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco. In later years, Lucia revealed: “The words of the Angel were like a light that made us realize who God was, how He loved us and wanted to be loved; the value of sacrifice, to what degree it pleased Him, and how it was rewarded with the conversion of sinners. From that moment, we began to offer to the Lord everything that mortified us, without trying to find any other ways of mortification or penance than passing hour after hour, bowed to the ground, repeating the prayer that the Angel had taught us.”

    On the Angel’s third appearance to the children he taught them a short prayer that proclaims the Church’s teaching on the Trinity, the Real Presence, and the Infinite merits of the Sacred Heart and the role of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the conversion of sinners, before giving them Holy Communion.

    Right now, we need all the help we can get, in the battle against satan. Let’s not forget that each of us has a very powerful and ever faithful ally at our shoulder, every moment of every day, as Yorkshire Rose has pointed out.

    October 27, 2013 at 10:15 pm
  • Lily

    Leo,

    Thanks for reminding me about the angel appearing at Fatima before Our Lady’s appearances to the children. I’d forgotten that momentarily. It shows how important the angels are, when God is still using them as messengers at such points in history as Fatima.

    October 28, 2013 at 12:16 am

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