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 350.

In our profession of faith in God, the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen, those spiritual creatures called ‘angels’ are included. Here, the Catechism is referring to the holy angels, not the demons or devils, although they too are spiritual creatures.

We know some of the Angles by name: Gabriel (Luke 1:19, 26), Raphael (Tobit 12:12-15), and Michael (Judith 1:9; Revelation 12:7) and celebrate them in the sacred liturgy each year on 29 September for the Archangels and 2 October for the Guardian Angels. There are also said to be various ‘choirs of angels’ whom we join when we sing together the praises of God. Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-3; Revelation 4:8) Cherubim (Genesis 3:23; Palm 18:10-11; 80:2; 99:1; 1 Samuel 4:4; Ezekiel 10:2, 20), Dominions, Principalities, Powers, Virtues (Ephesians 1:21; Colossians 1:16).

There are more than one hundred-ninety (190) passages of Sacred Scripture which refer to the angels.

As human beings we too are spiritual creatures, only of the embodied sort. Angels are not differentiated by matter. Angels do not have bodies or parents. The angels, like ourselves thanks to that spiritual ‘part’ of us which is the human soul, are able to know and to love (except in the case of the wicked angels who refuse to love God, others or themselves rightly).

When the Catechism here cites Saint Thomas Aquinas reminding us that the holy angels ‘cooperate in all that which is good for us’ (Summa Theologiae I, 114,3 ad 3) it is very intentional. One of the many honorific titles bestowed upon this Doctor of the Church is ‘The Angelic Doctor’ not only because of the virtue of holy purity which he lived but also because of the sublimity of his doctrine and the more than thirty-three (33) questions he devotes to them in his writings.

We should be comforted by God’s providence in our regard, even through the ministry of the holy angles. We should rejoice that we have such spiritual friends among us, even if unseen. We should never forget their role in our salvation: the Annunciation (Luke 1:126-38), the Nativity (Luke 2:13) the Flight into and return from Egypt (Matthew 2:13, 19), the Agony (Luke 22:43) the Resurrection (Matthew 28:2, 5), the Ascension (Acts 1:10-11). May we follow the good example of the holy angels and always use our free-will to do good.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr