Angels

By Fr. ROY CIMAGALA, roycimagala@gmail.com
October 2, 2012

“Our guardian angels can act as our security guard, our errand boy, a finder of lost items, a memory guide, etc.”

There used to be some kind of fad on angels before. This was some years ago when all of a sudden a lot people took interest in these spiritual beings. Even the media reflected this phenomenon by publishing pictures and articles about them.

But now, it seems this fondness has evaporated. And if there happens to be some mention in the media about these spiritual beings, it usually has something to do with some people’s encounters with so-called “ghosts” or paranormal experiences that cannot be clearly verified.

But angels really do exist. They are not myths, figments of our piously fertile imagination. They are pure spirits, and that’s why they cannot be perceived normally through the senses. We know them more by faith and the devotion arising from that faith.

Our Catechism, for example, tells us that “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.” (328)

Thus, the Catechism continues, we have abundant references to them in the Bible. “They closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets.” (332)

“Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.” (332) An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him the real story about Mary’s pregnancy. An angel comforted Christ after being tempted by the devil.

Our intelligence, of course, can somehow discern them. If we too have something spiritual, precisely because of our capacity to think, know, judge, reason, love, etc., thereby making us persons and not just things, there must be beings too that are pure spirits, unlike us whose spirit is integrated with our body.

Being pure spirit, angels live and operate in ways very different from ours. They are created directly from God, unlike us whose life depends both on God and on our parents.

And upon creation, angels immediately have to make the choice, being free beings like us, between wanting to be with God or against God. This is the peculiar property of spiritual beings. We, on the other hand, make this choice in our whole lifetime.

But for angels, they make this choice upon creation, and their choice determines their status as good or bad angels permanently. They don’t change midway. In our case, we can change status many times in our lifetime. And our choice becomes definitive only at death.

It’s good that we strengthen our faith in the angels and develop the appropriate devotion to them. In fact, it would really be good if we can spread this devotion more widely, because it would be a pity, a real waste of precious resource, if we ignore them.

We are told that angels do nothing other than to serve in “the accomplishment of the divine plan.” They serve the Church as well. “In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance.” (335)

More, “from its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth, the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” (336)

Many saints have very interesting personal testimonies about angels. St. Josemaria Escriva, for example, believed it was his guardian angel who saved him when he was suddenly attacked on the road by a madman.

A stranger just came to his rescue and told him something that St. Josemaria was telling to himself in private. “How are you, donkey with sores?” In those years, St. Josemaria called himself “donkey with sores” as some kind of ejaculatory prayer. He never told anyone about this very private practice of his.

Our guardian angels can act as our security guard, our errand boy, a finder of lost items, a memory guide, etc. A friend of mine once told me that in a trip to Hongkong by boat, he arrived with his sick mother at the port when a heavy downpour took place.