The Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels is celebrated on 2nd October, but what do we know about angels and their various roles in Scripture and Tradition?
The Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels is celebrated on 2nd October, but what do we know about angels and their roles in Scripture and Tradition?
The Bible tells us that angels protect and serve God’s people but does not explicitly state that we all have a personal Guardian Angel. The Scriptures, present angels as active agents of God who intervene on earth at God’s command in specific contexts and for specific needs. They are not portrayed as 24/7 personal bodyguards for every human being. But perhaps the core text from which this tradition develops can be found in Matthew 18:10 where Matthew records Jesus’ teaching: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
However, the idea of personal protective spirits predates both Judaism and Christianity. Scholars have discovered similar divine helpers in Sumerian, Babylonian, Persian, Egyptian and Zoroastrian texts. Later Classical writers such as Plutarch (c. 50-120 CE) also wrote about personal spirit guides assigned to individual people.
Christian Tradition
In Christian Tradition, early theologians such as St Irenaeus (c.135-200), taught that angels while distinct creatures of God, were, like humanity, called to serve and worship God. While Origen (186-255), maintained that angels were the original ‘souls’ created by God, and that we human beings had once been angelic but through our sinfulness had fallen into a physical state. This position has never been formally taught by the Church. Origen further promoted the belief in Guardian Angels by suggesting that God had appointed these angels to watch over his creatures and creation.
The early Church Father, Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390), taught that God had made three creations: the angelic order, the animal and material creation, and lastly, humanity. Gregory saw the first two creations as straightforward, but humanity was more complex because it combined flesh and spirit. However, by loving obedience to the will of God, human beings could attain the glory of the angelic status in the next life.
St. Basil the Great (330-379), developed his brother’s thinking by stating that ‘an angel stands beside every believer as a protector and shepherd.’ This is quoted in the Catholic Catechism (CCC 336). Also in the 4th century – the Bible translator, St. Jerome, commenting on Matthew 18:10 – ‘Jesus says of children, “their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” proposed that the dignity of the soul is so great that every person receives a Guardian Angel at birth.
Dionysius the Areopagite was a Christian theologian, monk and Neoplatonic philosopher of the late 5th to early 6th century. He was probably Syrian and was hugely influential in Western theology. He defined the Christian framework of the nine angelic orders organised into three tiers in his popular 5th-century treatise ‘On the Celestial Hierarchy’.
The great 13th-century scholastic philosopher and theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas agreed with this idea as well as St Jerome’s thinking on Guardian Angels. He set out to develop Dionysius’ angelic framework based on proximity to God and their specific roles in the Divine order. He taught that the lowest order of angels performs the role of guardian. This viewpoint became so popular in Christian tradition that Pope Paul V decided to institute the ‘Feast of the Guardian Angels’ adding it to the official Church calendar in the 17th century.
Biblical Tradition
The primary Hebrew word for angel is mal’akh which literally translates as “messenger” or “envoy”. And the primary Greek word for angel is ángelos which translates as both “angel” and “messenger”. It is from this that we derive our words ‘evangelist’ and ‘archangel’.
Angels are depicted as human messengers, such as prophets or envoys of kings’, or as heavenly beings depending on the context. When referring to the heavenly realm, angels serve as manifestations of the unseeable God’s will in the material world. The Bible does not give an exact number of how many angels exist but describes them as an infinite multitude, as a host or as an army. Daniel 7:10 mentions “a thousand thousands”, and “ten thousand times ten thousand” angels, which equates to at least 100 million heavenly beings. Revelation 5:11 describes the number of angels as “… numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands…” similarly meaning an endless or infinite number.
Angelic Protection
There are several key Bible verses in both the Old and New Testaments about angelic protection, and the promise of God’s active care through his heavenly messengers. The “Angel of the Lord” (Mal’akh Yahweh) is a unique figure in the Hebrew Bible. Unlike other messengers, this particular angel speaks and acts with the direct authority and identity of God himself such as in the conquest of Canaan where in Exodus 23:20-21 God says:“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.”
This same “Angel of the Lord” reappears in Psalm 34:7 to protect David who is distraught as he flees for his life from King Saul and finds himself trapped in enemy territory among the Philistines in Gath. “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.” The Angels, we are reassured, will protect anyone who seeks refuge and trust in the Lord in Psalm 91:11-12 – “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
While in Matthew 26:53-54 inthe Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus tells his disciples and the guards who arrest him that if he needs protection, he has only to summon it from God. Yet he chooses to forgo this protection. “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Then later that same night before Jesus prepares to die, he cries out to God in Luke 22:42-43 – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.”
After the Resurrection, Acts 12:1-16 records a dramatic rescue operation by an angel when Peter is miraculously freed from prison. “When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
Types of Heavenly Beings
From the above biblical foundation, a theology of Angels gradually develops, and their various types and functions become more clearly delineated. Three hierarchies of angels and angelic beings are drawn from both Scripture and Tradition.
The First Hierarchy are those who are closest to God. These angels surround and contemplate the direct glory and majesty of God. The Hebrew Scriptures describe several classes of these supernatural beings.
Cherubim: These are protectors with both animal and human features who possess deep wisdom and knowledge, guard holy spaces and uphold God’s power and authority as in Genesis 3:24 – “He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Cherubim are portrayed in detail in the dramatic visions of the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10 and recur at the end of the Bible in Revelation 4. Ezekiel sees these cherubim as having wings, wheels, human hands and eyes all over their bodies. Each had four faces with the different aspects of a human, a lion, an ox and an eagle. This image later came to define the symbols of the four gospels as Matthew – human, Mark – lion, Luke – ox and John – eagle by St Jerome.
Seraphim: These fiery, six-winged beings surround God’s throne and proclaim his holiness with supreme love such as in the prophet Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in Isaiah 6:1-7.
“… I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew…”
Thrones (also called Ophanim or wheels): These multi-eyed creatures serve to carry God’s throne and impartially dispense God’s justice. They sustain cosmic stability order and natural law. Paul mentions them in Colossians 1:16 – “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
The Second Hierarchy are the angels who are Governors.
These beings oversee the general governance and cosmic order of creation and are divided into three categories.
Dominions: are angels who manage the duties of lower angels and govern the universe.
Virtues: are those who hold in balance the elements and seasons. They encourage and minister God’s grace and healing.
Powers: these are warrior spirits who engage in spiritual warfare against the demonic and evil forces of chaos, sustaining the cosmic harmony of creation.
They are referenced in St Paul’s Letters to the Ephesians 1:21 and 3:10; Colossians 1:16; and Romans 8:38 – “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
And they appear in 1 Peter 3:22 when the writer is talking about Jesus’ resurrection as the one “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
The Third Hierarchy are the Messengers.
These angels interact directly with the physical universe, with nations, and with individual human beings. They are also divided into three categories.
Principalities: These protect nations, cities, and the greater institutions. They are thought to inspire human creativity in the arts and sciences. They are mentioned in several of St Paul’s Letters such as in Romans, Ephesians and Colossians. “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in the world to come…” Ephesians 1:21-23.
Archangels: These are the chief messengers who command the lower ranks of Angels and carry out significant Divine missions. The Catholic Church officially names three archangels recognised in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. These archangelsact as protectors and revealers of Divine plans. They appear in later books of the Bible such as Tobit, Daniel, Luke and Revelation.
Archangel Michael (Mikha’el – who is like God) appears in Daniel, Jude and Revelation. In Daniel 10:13, 21 he is one of the chief princes who comes to help Daniel as he fights against the kings of Persia. In Jude 1:9 when alerting believers to false teachers and arguing with Satan – “… the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Archangel Michael’s most dramatic role appears in Revelation 12:7-9 in which heaven is at war and he fights against a dragon accompanied by an army of fallen angels, but they are defeated since they cannot have a place in heaven. The dragon, also known as Satan and the devil, is thrown down onto earth along with his evil angels where they continue their deception for the ruin of souls.
Archangel Raphael (Rafa’el – God heals) is the archangel of healing. In the Book of Tobit, he declares who he is to Tobit and Tobias right at the end of a story in which he has been acting in disguise, proclaiming: “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him.” Tobit 12:15.
Archangel Gabriel (Gavri’el – God is my strength or Might of God) appears to Daniel in chapters 8 and 9, first in a human form to help the prophet understand a disturbing vision about a ram and a goat; then again, flies in to where Daniel has been praying and fasting in sackcloth and ashes for his people all day. That evening, Gabriel gives him wisdom and a profound prophecy concerning the arrival of the future Messiah. It follows that the Archangel Gabriel’s most important role in the New Testament is to become the messenger who announces to Mary that it is she who will give birth to the Messiah who is to be named Jesus. (Luke 1:26-38).
Angels: These are the lowest rank of all celestial beings who are tasked with being divine messengers. From among these, in Christian Tradition, personal Guardian Angels are designated for every human being to protect, guide and comfort them throughout their life.
Unnamed Angels in the Bible
The majority of angels in the Bible are anonymous but nevertheless carry out significant roles on behalf of God in both Testaments. Many are found in the book of Genesis making their appearance and role important from the start of salvation. The following texts give a sense of the range of references to the angels across the whole of the Scriptural revelation.
Genesis 16
An angel finds Hagar by a spring after she runs away from Abraham and Sarah, offering her much-needed comfort and a promise about her son, Ishmael.
Genesis 18
Three heavenly visitors come to see Abraham at the Oak of Mamre. Immediately he offers them hospitality. They announce that Sarah will have a son, Isaac, even in their old age.
Genesis 19
Two angels visit the corrupt city of Sodom and warn Lot about the city’s impending destruction and help lead his family to safety.
Genesis 28:10-12
Jacob escapes his brother Esau’s anger after he has stolen his birthright and lays down to sleep using a stone for a pillow. He dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels of God going up and down it symbolises the bridge between heaven and earth.
Genesis 32:23-34
Jacob wrestles all night with a mysterious Divine being, an angel, at Peniel. Jacob had been trying to control his destiny but is wounded in the struggle. His limp shows that an encounter with God always leaves a mark and can transform weakness into lasting spiritual strength.
Daniel 6:16-22
Daniel is falsely accused during the reign of King Darius and thrown into the Lions’ den, but God sends an angel to close the mouths of the lions so that Daniel is unharmed. This miracle is shown to prove his innocence.
Luke 2
An angel appears to some shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus, followed by a large heavenly host of angels praising God across the night sky.
Matthew 2:13-15
An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, warning him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod’s plot to kill their newborn son.
Luke 22:41-45
An angel appears from heaven to strengthen Jesus as he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his death.
John 20:11-17
Mary Magdalene rushes to the tomb where Jesus had been buried and finds two angels clothed in white sitting where Jesus’ body had rested. They tell her he is no longer in the tomb but is risen.
Hebrews 1:14
Angels are described throughout this chapter on Christ’s supremacy. They are called “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation”, and the writer confirms their ongoing role in helping all believers.
Prayer
O God, who in your unfathomable providence are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us, hear our supplication as we cry to you, that we may always be defended by their protection and rejoice eternally in their company.
Amen.
Fleur Dorrell.
