My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The first article of the Apostle’s Creed is: I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth. There are forty “in brief” statements in The Catechism of the Catholic Church which treat this article of our saving faith. What follows is a reflection on article 351.
Three (3) of the forty (40) In Brief statements of the Catechism treating the first article of the Creed regard the angels. While not specifically said to be the holy angels, it seems safe to suppose that those are the ones intended in that they are ‘gathered around Christ, their Lord.’ The wicked angels, the demons or devils would not acknowledge the Lordship of Christ, although we do know from Sacred Scripture that they were present to Him (Matthew 4:1-11; 8:28-32; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2) even if not seeking to aid Him in His saving mission intentionally. By casting the demons and devils out of the possessed (Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 9:33; 12:27; Mark 1:34, 3; 16:9; Luke 4:41; 8:2, 32-33; 11:20; 13:32) the saving mission of the Lord Jesus was furthered.
The holy angels gather around Christ their Lord, now on high at the Father’s right hand even as they did during His earthly ministry. The holy angels also are gathered around the mystical body of Christ, Mother Church, as part of the communion of saints, interceding for us and aiding us as they are able, and as we have need and accept their help. The holy angels who always praise God are likewise present, if even unseen, during our earthly worship.
The service of the angles is varied. Gabriel brought God’s message to Our Lady (Luke 1:26) and to Saint Joseph (Matthew 1:20, 24; 2:13, 19) and holy Zachariah (Luke 1:19). Michael battles Satan (Revelation 12:7). Raphael accompanied Tobias and healed Tobit (3:8; 12:15). Other holy angels have executed God’s directions guarding the tree of life (Genesis 3:24), leading Israel and defending Israel as the Egyptian slavery to pharaoh was ending (Exodus 14:19), leading Israel to the promised land (Exodus 23:20)…
Each one of us, each Parish and Diocese, each city and state and nation have a particular guardian angel. While ‘Clarence’ may be the most famous of these thanks to Jimmy Stewart, it is good to remember that in spite of artistic depictions, angels are spiritual beings, immaterial, without bodies. Our depictions of wings are just that, depictions, even ‘every time a bell rings.’ The reality of these often (mostly?/!) unseen beings is even greater than we can imagine. And, in virtue of the Incarnation, God becoming like us in all things but sin to save us from our sins, we are even greater than the holy angles, when we too correspond with God’s grace and plan for our salvation. May it always be so.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr