WHAT IS AN ANGEL?

The angels were to witness the birth of God’s only Son and flew closer to earth and sang sweetly. They caught sight of the new-born child from the stable’s roof and instantly understood their mission. They were so filled with joy that they burst into a glorious thanksgiving song. It was so melodious that it could be heard all over the Earth. They are known as Christmas angels. We see Christmas angels singing and playing music in Nativity scenes who look so cute and benevolent that they catch young one’s attention and fascination instantly.

The word angel is derived from the Hebrew word which takes the meaning ‘one going’ or ‘one sent’. The Hebrew word is used to denote either a divine or human messenger. The Latin version however distinguishes the divine or spirit messenger from the human, rendering the original in the one case by angelus and the other by legatus or more generally by nuntius.

The angels are represented throughout the Bible as a body of spiritual beings intermediate between God and men; “you have made him (man) a little less than the angels” (Ps. 8:6). They, equally with man, are created beings; “Praise Him all His angels: praise Him all His hosts… for He spoke and they were made. He commanded and they were created” (Ps. 148:2). That the angels were created was laid down in the fourth Lateran Council.

Angels As Personal Guardians

Throughout the Bible we find it repeatedly implied that each individual soul has its tutelary angel. Thus Abraham, when sending his steward to seek a wife for Isaac, says; “He will send His angel before you” (Gen. 24:7). The words of the ninetieth Psalm which the devil quoted to our Lord (Mt. 4:6) are well known, and Judith accounts for her heroic deed by saying; “As the Lord lives, His angel has been my keeper” (Gen. 13:20).

Angles can make communications with the saints in heaven. They constantly intercede for us. When we begin to travel securely along the spiritual path Angels pray to heaven for giving us most valuable graces. Angels can help us even from falling into dangers. A spiritual enlightenment of the human soul is the sole aim of the creation of angels. We will be led by the angles invoking the grace of God, forever.