God created the angels 07 TIEPOLO, Giovanni Battista The Three Angels Appearing to Abraham Fresco, 4000 x 2000 cm Palazzo Patriarcale, Udine

Compendium of the Catechism 60. Who are the angels? The angels are purely spiritual creatures, incorporeal, invisible, immortal, and personal beings endowed with intelligence and will. They ceaselessly contemplate God face-to-face and they glorify him. They serve him and are his messengers in the accomplishment of his saving mission to all.

Introduction In Sacred Scripture we read about the frequent intervention of angels in human affairs. Some outstanding examples:  the archangel Rafael appears to Tobias;  the archangel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that God wishes her to be His Mother;  when Jesus is born an angel gives the Good News to the shepherds;  another angel releases Peter from prison. EYCK, Jan van The Ghent Altarpiece: Singing Angels Oil on wood, 164,5 x 71,5 cm Cathedral of St Bavo, Ghent

Main ideas

1. The existence of angels and demons is a truth of faith Angels and demons do really exist, they are not fables. We believe that angels and demons exist, because God has so revealed it to us. BRUEGEL, Pieter the Elder The Fall of the Rebel Angels 1562 Oil on oak, 117 x 162 cm Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels

2. Demons are spirits who sinned against God All spirits were created by God and were His children through grace. But Lucifer along with his band of rebel angels turned against God, saying We do not wish to serve God. God’s faithful angels responded, We shall serve God. Lucifer and his rebel angels were condemned to eternal punishment in hell for their sinful rebellion against God, their Creator. GIORDANO, Luca The Fall of the Rebel Angels 1666 Oil on canvas, 419 x 283 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

3. Demons tempt men The evil spirits hate God and all those who love Him. That is why they wish all men to offend God and to be condemned to hell. The habitual procedure the devil follows in tempting us is to entice us to give in to those evil inclinations which underlie our weakened human nature. Temptation is not in itself sinful; it is a sin only if we give in to the diabolical insinuations. BOSCH, Hieronymus Triptych of Temptation of St Anthony (detail) Oil on panel Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon

4. The protection of the Guardian Angels Tobias, who is obliged by circumstances to go on a long and dangerous journey to a faraway city. Not knowing the way, Tobias hopes to find a fellow- traveller and God, in his providence, sends the Archangel Raphael to accompany and protect him. Our life on earth is a hazardous journey to Heaven. God has sent to each of us an angel, our Guardian Angel, who is always at our side to protect and guide us on the way. GIMIGNANI, Giacinto An Angel and a Devil Fighting for the Soul of a Child Oil on canvas, 67 x 50 cm Private collection

5. Holy water The Church advises Christians to use holy water:  a sacramental  to implore pardon for our venial sins and protection from God against the devil’s snares. St. Theresa of Jesus said: Holy water frightens away the devil far more effectively than any other remedy. CAMPAGNA, Girolamo St Agnes (Meekness) 1592 Bronze Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice

Resolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward Learn the prayer to the Guardian Angel and say it in the morning, when you wake up: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love, commits me here. Ever this day, be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen”. Remember that we ask God in the Our Father to, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”. Our Guardian Angel will always be at our side, helping us to do our part in struggling against and warding off temptations.