Sources of Angel Theology

Angels. When we hear or read that word, our mind instantaneously invokes a multitude of images in our head. Everything from from cute little fat baby like cherub type creatures, to stoic creatures clothed in white garments with giant wings, to the images we have seen on icons of warrior like male figures holding all sorts of interested items from flaming swords to glowing balls of light. So what exactly does the Catholic faith teach about angels? Not just what they look like, but what they are, what they do, and why they exist. What is a 'fallen' angel? Where did satan come from? Do we really have guardian angels? All these questions pop into our heads when we think about angels. So let us take the first step towards knowledge, by learning where, and by what sources, we can learn about the Church's teachings on angels. (Click on links to their primary source).

Father Acervo summarizes the existance of angels as such:

They really do it all for us, serving as our guides, companions, protectors, and helpers... They are also citizens of Heaven who perpetually see and adore the face of God. They are present with us wherever Mass is celebrated.

Angels in Scripture

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So what does the Church officially teach? Actually, a lot. The first and most immediate place we can look is Scripture. There are loads of references to angels in scripture, everything from naming 3 Archangels, to their appearance on behalf of God, and even to their role in the cosmic battle between good and evil. But like many other things, the Blessed Mother comes to mind, Sacred Scripture only gives us a a starting place for a full theology on Angels. In fact, most of the information we have on Angels comes from St. Thomas Aquinas, aka "The Angelic Doctor." Dr. Peter Kreeft makes this point in his book: Angels (and Demons) What Do We Really Know About Them? He makes the point that most of what we know about angels really comes from St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, and the references in the bible. Because the bible treats them as real entities, they exist in Sacred Scripture and therefore we will look at them in a philosophical, or theological manner.

The Angelic Doctor

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The Angelic Doctor

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote quite a bit about angels in his masterful work, the Summa Theologica. In fact he wrote so extensively that he was given the Angelic Doctor moniker. (There is some question as to this, I am looking into it further). He wrote 14 "questions" and responses on angels, and much of what we as Catholics understand theologically about angels comes from this source. He outlines everything from the nature of angels in time and space, the knowledge of angels, to the way they interact with the human and divine. This is the first go to place for anything involving angels outside of scripture. His explanation and theology of angelic will and knowledge have very important relation to the understanding of good and evil in the world, and how it relates to the will of man. Aquinas' understanding and philosophical extrapolation of Sacred Scripture in regards to angels was the central source for what we believe as Catholics as it relates to angels.  Most of what is written in modern Catholic literature comes from Aquinas if it is not direct scriptural reference. (A brief summary of Aquinas' angelic theology).

Briefly, Aquinas says, about the existence of angels (ST, Q1,a1):

"Hence the perfection of the universe requires that there should be intellectual creatures. Now intelligence cannot be the action of a body, nor of any corporeal faculty; for every body is limited to "here" and "now." Hence the perfection of the universe requires the existence of an incorporeal creature."

Angels in the Catechism

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 The Catechism explicitly explains, with some brevity, the Catholic belief of angelic theology. CCC nos. 328-354 deal with angels. CCC 328 says:

The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.

The CCC goes on to further to explain the nature of angelic will, knowledge, and interaction with the created world.

Bl. John Paul II - Catechesis on Angels

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In 1986, then Pope John Paul II gave a Catechesis on the Holy Angels during his General Audiences from 9 July to 20 August 1986. Much of what he said was a compilation of the above mentioned sources. He injected into the faith a new understanding of how and why we should not only learn about the angels, but implement that belief into tangible action within our faith life. In 6 general audiences, he was able to distill and disseminate a plethora of information to the faithful, inviting them into a more intimate relationship with the angelic beings made for us, by God.

Other Sources

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There are loads of other great sources on angels, but as Dr. Kreeft says, most of what we know about angels has already been written. The following list is a compilation of sources that discuss angels in a way that is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church:

• Angelology - Fr. John Hardon
• Compilation of Catholic Teachings on Angels - Resources for Catholic Educators
• Directory of Links - Catholic Pages

There are also a ton of great books on angels, yet my two favorite, aside from the Summa, are:

By: Dr. Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press

Purchase

I plan to write more on these topics over the course of the "Blog Novena" in the next nine days. Please let me know if there is any topic that you would really like me to explore, as I have quite a few resources on this topic. I am no expert, but no one but God and Aquinas really are, yet I love reading and writing about this subject. I will also encorporate how angels have a huge role in spiritual warfare, and are the guardians and protectors of the Church Militant. Hopefully this post provides a starting point for those of you that have yet to discover the Guardians of the Church.

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