Lesson Four - Creation and Angels
Text by Pat Austin, St. Patrick's Cathedral RCIA Instructor.
Angels do exist. How do we know? Through Divine Revelation -- that is -- Scripture and tradition.
Throughout Scripture there is mention of Angels:
We don't really know very much about angels. Reference: Catholic Dictionary page 18.
Two Councils, 1215 A.D. - 4th Lateran Council and 1969 A.D. - First Vatican Council dealt specifically with Doctrine of Angels, stating that God created them and that angels exist.
What is a Council? It is the gathering together of all the Bishops in the Catholic Church in one place. This gathering is called by the Pope and the Pope is the only one who can call this gathering. Purpose: to define doctrines, to solve problems, to answer questions. The teachings declared by the Council are infallible. There have been 21 Ecumenical Councils (General in the Church. Where the Council is held is usually the name given to the Council. Reference: Catholic Dictionary page 123.
Repeating -- An angel is a spirit. A being that has intelligence and free will. However, an angel has no body and is not dependent in any way upon any form of matter. An angel is a complete person and as a person is far superior to us human beings.
When were angels created? -- At least before Adam and Eve. Angels are the earliest known of God's creation.
How many angels are there? -- Scripture says legions (Mt. 25:53). Also tradition says ascending orders of archangels, principalities, powers, virtues, dominations, thrones, cherubim, seraphim.
Know the names of three archangels:
Know the name of one fallen angel:
What is the purpose of angels? Nowhere in Scripture/Tradition is it stated that "the purpose of Angels is ... Therefore we really don't know the purpose. However using Divine Revelation that is found in Scripture and tradition, some truths have emerged.
The word Angel means one who is sent. Therefore, the Church teaches that angels are Messengers of God. Also Ps. 91:11, Mt. 18:10; implies that angels guard us -- Guardian angels. Therefore the Church teaches that every human being has an angel assigned to them for their entire life . Just as Saints are assigned a special day in their honor on the Church Calendar, Guardian Angels have a special day on the Church Calendar -- that is October 2nd. Reference: Catholic Dictionary page 171.
Guardian angels can act on your senses and imagination to incline you toward good things just as Satan/devils can act on your senses and imagination to incline you toward sinful things. The angel cannot control you or force you to do right anymore than the devil can force you to do wrong. We get spiritual impulses from our guardian angel to counteract the spiritual impulses from Satan.
Angels possess intelligence and free will like we do but theirs is far superior to ours.
God tested the Angels' love for Him.
The angels understood the full consequences -- so no second chance.
Devils are fallen angels, who possess intelligence beyond yours and mine. These angels did not lose their level of intelligence and power over nature when they rebelled.
How much power do these angels have over nature? That is, how much control do they have in steering the course of natural events so as to bring us up against a temptation -- the point at which we have to choose for God or against God. We do not know the limit of their power but we do know that this power of theirs exists.
Led by Lucifer, the fallen angels are consumed with getting human souls to reject God.
The devil can tempt us but can't make us sin. We have free will -- we make the choice -- you can't blame someone else. You never can say "I sinned because I couldn't help it" or "they made me" (if not truly forced).
Temptations come from Satan and the world around us -- persons, places, things.
Temptations also come from our own passions that are not controlled or disciplined. We must avoid occasions of sin -- books, people, movies, television, places, etc. that could lead us to sin.
We must realize that we can't conquer temptation alone. We need God's help. Jesus tells us "Without me, you can do nothing." His Grace is available to us in limitless abundance if we WANT it, if we seek it; frequent confession, frequently Holy Communion, prayer especially in time of temptation.
You are really urged to learn the prayer to Michael, the Archangel. It is in the small, yellow catechism book at the bottom of page 71. Say it every day, several times a day.
God does not demand the impossible. He would not demand of us unyielding love and absolute loyalty unless it were possible for us to give unyielding love and absolute loyalty. He demands that we avoid occasions of sin. God will help us but we can't expect Him to do it all. If we go looking for danger, then God's hands are tied. We have choked off God's help -- Grace.
Temptations come to everyone. The Saints were people who were tempted but they conquered the temptations. By defeating/conquering our temptations we grow in holiness.
Devils are 100% evil. The greatest mistake is to think the devil or Hell does not exist.
Devil possession -- does exist. The devil enters the body of a person and takes control of the physical activities. However, Satan can never take over your will.
A priest has the power to expel devils, called exorcism. However, he needs permission from a Bishop to perform an exorcism. A Priest may use this power privately if the situation demands it.
Devil obsession -- bothered by devil but devil does not enter the body. Saints bothered by devil obsession - St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars; Padre Pio.
Assignment for next lesson: Text - Chapter 5 -- page 45 to the top of page 60; Cat. -- Section 7