EXCERPTS FROM FUNDAMENTALS OF CATHOLIC DOGMA
Book Two, God the Creator; Sec 2, The Divine Work of Creation;
Chapter 3, Revelation Concerning the Angels 26-31
#26. In the beginning of time God created spiritual essences (angels) out of nothing. (De
fide)
#27. The nature of the angels is spiritual (De fide)
The angels are by nature immortal (Sent. Communis)
#28. God set a supernatural final end for the angels, the immediate vision of God, and
endowed them with sanctifying grace in order that they might achieve this end. (Sent.
Certa.)
The angels were subjected to a moral testing. (Sent. Certa. as regards
to the fallen angels, Sent. communis as regards the good.)
#28b. The angels were subjected to a moral testing. (Sent. Certa. as regards the
fallen angels, Sent.communis as regards the good.)
#29 The evil spirits (demons) were created good by God; they became evil through their
own fault. (De fide)
#30 The primary task of the good angels is the glorification and the service of God.
(Sent. certa.)
The secondary task of the good angels is the protection of men and care for their
salvation. (De fide on the ground of general teaching.)
Every one of the faithful has his own special guardian angel from Baptism. (Sent.certa.)
#31 The Devil possesses a certain dominion over mankind by reason of Adams'
sin. (De fide)
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EXCERPTS FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Part 1: The Profession of Faith; Sec Two: The Profession of the Christian Faith;
Chapter 1: I Believe in God the Father; Paragraph 5: Heaven and Earth, I. The
Angels
328 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.
Who are they?
329 St. Augustine says: " 'Angel' is the name of their office,
not their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the
name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do,
'angel.' " 188With their whole beings the angels are
servants and messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my
Father who is in Heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do His work, harkening to
the voice of His word." 189
330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence
and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all
visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness. 190
Christ "with all his angels":
331 Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels:
"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him..."191 They belong to him because they were created through
and for him: "for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all
things were created through him and for him"192
They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan:
"Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who
are to obtain salvation?"193
332 Angels have been present since creation and throughout the
history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the
accomplishment of the divine plan: 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, just to cite
a few examples.194 Finally, the angel Gabriel
announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.195
333 From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word
incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God
"brings the first born into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship
him.'"196 Their song of praise at the birth of
Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church's praise: "Glory to God in the
highest!"197
They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the dessert, strengthen him in his
agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies
as Israel had been.198 Again, it is the angels who
"evangelize" by proclaiming the Good New of Christ's Incarnation and
Resurrection.199 They will be present at Christ's
return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgement.200
The angels in the life of the Church:
334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the
mysterious and powerful help of angels.201
335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the
thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the Roman Canon's Supplices te
rogamus...["Almighty God, we pray that your angel..."]; in the funeral
liturgy's In Paradisum deducant te angeli...[May the angels lead you into
Paradise..."]. Moreover, in the "Cherubic Hymn" of the Byzantine
Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St.
Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).
336 From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful
care and intercession.202 Beside each believer
stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.203
Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels
and men united in God.
Updated: 12 September, 2005
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