Chapter 4

 Angels are spirits (no bodies)  Angels are creatures (created from nothing by God)  Angels were created before man was created.  Angels are intelligent. They do all things with their minds. They are powerful—not limited by matter.

 Angels are depicted wearing white—to symbolize purity…they are pure spirits  Angels are depicted with wings—to symbolize that they move with the speed of thought  Angels are depicted in the air—to symbolize that they are of heaven  Angels can appear to have human form—Bible— “Do not fear”—to give messages

 Angels are not people. They are a different creation—pure spirit by nature.  When we die, we do not become angels. Our nature is both spiritual and physical.  When we die, our soul awaits the resurrection of the body.

SPIRITUALMATERIAL (PHYSICAL)  Divine Life  Angelic Life  Human Life  Animal Life  Plant Life  Non-Life

Fall of the Angels Angels are spiritual creatures. They have FREE WILL and intellects. God created all angels to be good. Some CHOSE to be bad— These bad angels are called DEMONS After God created the angels, He tested them. Those who loved God, chose to serve Him. Others refused to serve God, thinking only of their own perfection. They were ordered to leave the presence of God. 1/3 of the angels (demons) along with their leader, (formerly the highest angel) Lucifer (now called Satan), battled the remaining heavenly angels. St. Michael cast the devil and his followers into hell.

 We, too, have free will. We may choose God or turn away from Him.  Just as the fallen angels were judged by their choices, we are judged by ours.  Once the angels were judged, they could not change their minds. They are unable to go from demons back to being angels.  When our life is through, we will be judged. We no longer can say “I love God and want heaven” when our choices clearly showed that we had rejected Him and did not follow His teachings.

 Angels who did not want to be in God’s presence and did not care if they remained in heaven.  Now demons, they continue to reject God and want us to reject God too.  Miserable and unhappy because they have NO GOD and they want to draw us away from the source of true happiness found in God.  Active in our world today. (Angels and demons continue a spiritual battle to this day)

 Sent by God to be our protectors  Inspire us to be good  Guard our souls from danger  Guard our bodies from danger St. Michael is the guardian angel of the Church.

 Seraphim: closest to God’s throne--worship and adore God  Cherubim: share the perfect vision of God and the beauty of creation  Thrones: accomplish God’s judgments  Dominions: direct the Virtues and Powers to govern the laws of nature  Virtues: accomplish the ordering of nature  Powers: direct remaining choirs to carry out commands  Principalities: leaders in implementing God’s will  Archangels: carry out what needs to be done  Angels: God’s messengers and guardians to mankind

 There are 3 angels mentioned by name in the Bible: St. Michael—prince of the heavenly hosts—Cast Satan out of heaven St. Gabriel—appeared to Zechariah and Mary to prepare them for the births of John the Baptist and Jesus St. Raphael—healer, guardian, and messenger, of God to Tobit and his family