Who are Angels: complete guide to their nature and mission
Angels, pure spirits and messengers of God, have always accompanied the path of humanity. The Bible, theology, and Christian tradition describe their presence, role, and mission: spiritual beings who guard, illuminate, and guide man in his journey of faith.
👉 PrayWITH USAngels in the Bible
The Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms that the existence of angels is a truth of faith. Numerous biblical passages testify to their presence and intervention in the history of salvation.
"The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary."
"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone."
Saint Augustine: the nature and office of Angels
According to Saint Augustine, angels are spirits, but they become "angels" when they are sent by God. The word angel indicates the office, not the nature. Their essence is spiritual and incorporeal, created before the material world.
They act as forces that reflect the light of the divine principle, operating both from the outside and from the inside of creation. Although they are superior to man in the cosmic order, they are accessible because they are creatures: their gaze upon humanity is love, tenderness, and purity.
Augustine reminds us that man can access the knowledge of God, but often gets lost without a guide: angels are the light that orients the spiritual journey.
Saint Thomas Aquinas: Angels in the Summa Theologica
Saint Thomas delves into the nature and action of angels: they are present where they operate, not as circumscribed bodies, but as forces that contain the place.
They do not know everything by nature: they receive images and reflections from God that allow them to understand things. The more perfect angels know through more universal images, closer to the divine light.
Theology of Angels
Christian theology describes angels as spiritual, incorporeal, and immortal beings, endowed with intelligence and will. They incessantly contemplate the face of God, glorify Him, and serve Him.
According to scholastic tradition, angels are divided into nine choirs, organized into three hierarchies:
- Seraphim
- Cherubim
- Thrones
- Dominions
- Virtues
- Powers
- Principalities
- Archangels
- Angels
Each name indicates a specific office in the divine mission.
Saint Francis of Assisi and the Angels
For Saint Francis, angels are companions and guardians to be venerated and respected. The Porziuncola was for him a privileged place, visited by angelic spirits and rich in graces.
Franciscan legends narrate the vision of Brother Pacifico: Saint Francis in ecstasy on a shining throne, originally destined for Lucifer before his fall. For this reason, the Saint was called "Seraphic Father", a sign of his humility and his closeness to the divine light.