ALL ABOUT ANGELS

o angels really exist, or is all the press they're been getting just a bunch of modern-day hype? The Catechism of the Catholic Church has an answer to this question: "The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal (meaning they don't have earthly bodies) beings that Sacred Scripture usually call 'angels' is a truth of faith." YES, ANGELS ARE REAL!

TOTALLY INFLUENTIAL

What are the angels? The word 'angel' means messenger. Angels are basically God's "go-fers" from Heaven, they relay his messages and perform his actions on earth. They're inventors of the phase "We're on a mission from God." But strangely enough, they primary purpose isn't to deliver messages --it's to offer praise and glory to God, their Creator in Heaven. There they sing God's praises night and day and bask in the glory of God's infinite love and light.

Are angels powerful? Because angels act with the authority and strength of God Himself, they are extremely powerful. St. Thomas Aquinas suggests that angels "guide the stars, sun, moon, planets-each has an angel." And St. John Newman says that "nature: seasons, rivers, etc. are moved by angels, God so directing."

Do angels ever punish? Angels often work out God's plan of justice. In the Old Testament, when Pharaoh refused to release the Jews during the time of Moses, God sent the Angel of Death to kill all the firstborn Egyptian sons. And the archangel Gabriel (who would later appear to Mary in the Annunciation) is said to have been the angel who destroyed the perverted city of Sodom.

Are there bad angels? God created everything in goodness, including angels. But the Catholic Church teaches that Lucifer (AKA "Satan" or just "The Devil"), once one of the highest angels in Heaven, led a revolt against God. (Check out Revelation 12 and you'll read about an epic war in which Lucifer and his cohort were driven out of Heaven by Michael the archangel and his angel comrades.) Lucifer and the other "angels who sinned" (see Peter 2:4) were defeated for all time, but for some mysterious reason, God still allows the Devil to act in the world (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, articles 391-395).

TOTALLY SPIRITUAL

What are angels made of? According to the Catechism, angels are purely spiritual creatures. Like us humans, they have intelligence and will, but unlike us, they "surpass in perfection all visible creatures" (Catechism, article 330). In terms of appearance, they blow us mortals away; they don't really have bodies (although they have appeared in human form), and they often appear to human eyes as beings of dazzling light.

ANGELS IN THE BIBLE

The Bible mentions angels 222 times. In the Old Testament, an angel talked with Abraham when he was about to sacrifice his son Isaac (see Genesis 22:11-13). Another angel wrestled with Jacob all night long (Genesis 32;25), and in Exodus, an angel appeared to Moses in the famous "flaming-bush" episode (Exodus 3:2). In the New Testament, angels appear to: Zechariah, foretelling the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1: 11); the Virgin Mary, announcing the coming of Jesus into the world through her (Luke 1:28); Joseph, explaining Christ's miraculous conception (Matthew 1:20) and warning him of Herod's plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:13); the shepherds who witness Jesus' birth, saying "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:9-15); Jesus, after his temptation in the desert (Matthew 4:1 1) and during his agony in the garden (Luke 22:43); Mary Magdalene and the apostles, at the tomb of the resurrected Christ (John 20:11-14); and to several other people.

Jesus assures us that the angels will be with him when he separates the wicked from the just at the end of the world (Matthew 25-.31-32), and that we will become like angels if we "make the list" in Heaven (to lift an R.E.M. lyric)--see Luke 20:35-36.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

How many are there? A lot! The Book of Daniel describes God's throne as being surrounded by angels: "Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him" (Daniel 7:10). And of course, there are well over 5 billion guardian angels, because every person has one.

GUARDIANS

What's this about guardian angels? Both St. Jerome and St. Gregory the Great have affirmed that each human being has a special guardian angel assigned to him or her-and Jesus tells us that these angels "constantly behold my heavenly Father's face" (Matthew 18:10). Places can also have guardian angels as well. An example is the angel who appeared at Fatima in 1917; he claimed to be Portugal's guardian angel! (I wonder who's the guardian of Hollywood! I bet he's got a few battle scars!)

Put your angel to work! It's a great feeling to know that you have a guardian angel who can help you with your daily struggles. And that angel wants to help you --just don't expect him to help you rob a bank or somethin'.

Guardian angels are excellent at: Improving your relationships with other people;

- Helping you study and fulfill your duties in life;

- Ensuring that people and things get to their destinations safely; and

- Improving your prayer life and your willingness to receive the Sacraments

WHAT DOES ALL "ANGEL STUFF" MEAN TO ME?

The point to this whole article? Heaven stands ready to help you at all times! All around you are all kinds of special UNSEEN helpers; angels working for God's kingdom behind the scene.

The scriptures we've talked about in this article, the teachings of the Catholic Church, and the many modern accounts of people being helped by angels all point to the fact that angels are here to help us. As Jesus said, "Ask, and you shall receive" (Matthew 7:7). When you call out to your guardian angel for help, he or she will be there for you --so start rappin' with the angels just like you would with your friends. We're talkin' legions of bright, powerful, super-intelligent soldiers with a direct line to God--who are waiting for YOU to call on them! What are you waiting for? Get those angels workin'!