Introduction to the Angels

Since

ancient times the Angels have been venerated with great respect. With the rise of

New Age and Occultism comes an urgent need to understand these

celestial benefactors in the light of our Catholic faith and tradition. Angels are pure spirits, sinless servants of God. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" Heb. 1:13-14. The Angels are comprised of 9 choirs; Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels and Angels. Particularly powerful are the 7 great Archangels spoken of in Apoc VIII:2 "And I saw 7 Angels standing in the presence of God".

When Luciel (Bearer of Light) rebelled against God and became Lucifer (Prince of Darkness) one entire choir of angels followed him and was lost. Many angels from other choirs also followed him in his rebellion. "And there was a great battle in

heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels: And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." Apoc 12:7-9 7 angels from the second lowest choir were so outraged by the terrible offense to the dignity of the Most High they positioned themselves between the

Throne of God and the infernal offenders,

prepared to defend the honor and dignity of God, in spite of their inferiority to Lucifer and his legions. God was so moved by their heroic love he elevated them,

enriching them with many new gifts and graces. So lofty was their new office that they were given the privilege of standing eternally before the Throne of God to carry out the Divine Will. "And from the throne proceeded lightnings and voices and thunders; and there were seven

lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God." Apoc 4:5. "Bless the Lord all ye His angels: you that are mighty in strength and execute His word, hearkening to the voice of His orders." Ps 102:20 The names of the 3 most commonly invoked Archangels, St. Michael, St. Raphael and St. Gabriel are found in Sacred Scripture. Unlike sects tied to a Bible-only understanding of God and creation we have sacred tradition, the writings of the saints and private revelation to expand our understanding

and enlighten us. In 1050 St. Celias made an exhaustive study of the approved writings of the Early Church Fathers up to the 4th century. In this way we have come to know the names of all 7 of these mighty Archangels, the meaning of their names and the sacrament each is patron of. Since the 4th century these 7 Archangels have been honored in the Roman Martyrology. In Mettenheim Bavaria is the Catholic Church dedicated to the Seven Great Archangels. It is now over 250 years old. On the 18th of

October 1720, this church was dedicated. Each of the 7 Archangels was mentioned by name in the consecration prayer by Rev. Franz Wagensberg, Bishop of Salzberg. Inside the church are 7 altars, each dedicated to one of the Archangels

with a statue of the Archangel it was dedicated to. The dedication by a legitimate Catholic Bishop is additional proof of the correctness of the names and an encouragement to active devotion to these angels! Pope Pius V said in his Bull to the Spanish Clergy, permitting and

encouraging the worship of the seven archangels: "One cannot exalt too much these seven rectors of the world, figured by the seven planets, as it is consoling to

our century to witness by the grace of God the cult of these seven ardent lights, and of these seven stars reassuming all its luster in the Christian republic." (Les Sept Esprits et l'Histoire de leur Culte; De Mirville's 2nd memoir addressed to the academy. Vol. II. p. 358.)

Michelangelo was ordered to adorn the church dedicated to Mary and the Seven Archangels, with a fresco of 7 Archangels on the altar, in Rome in the 16th century. In addition, the liturgy to Seven Archangels has been confirmed and was still in use around 1800 and has not been abolished, only it is not being practiced. Below is the fresco of Mary amidst the Seven Archangels, in St Maria Degli Angeli in Rome from the web page: http://www.santamariadegliangeliroma.it. Originally, during the reign of Pope

Gregor XIII it was intended to build seven separate chapels there, dedicated to each of the Seven Archangels.

St. Michael's name means "Who is like

unto God?"

Patron of the Sacrament of the Holy

Eucharist.

He is Leader of the Armies of Heaven. As a

warrior he defends not only our souls

against the infernal enemy when we call on

him, but he also defends Our Lord, Who is

helpless in the Blessed Sacrament. This is a

portent of his authority to punish those who

sin against this Sacrament.

St. Gabriel's name means "God

Conquers/ the might of God"

Patron of the Sacrament of Baptism

St. Gabriel is the Archangel of the

Annunciation and the Incarnation's triumph

over sin & death. His lilies represent the

new purity of the soul through the

sacraments of Baptism and Confession, both

sacraments made possible by the

Redemption. His banner is a declaration of

Our Lady's universal motherhood.

St. Raphael's name means "God heals/

the healing of God"

Patron of the Sacrament of Pennance

Raphael carries a jug of oil for annointing.

The fish traditionally symbolizes the soul

and the oil the healing of it's ailments

through confession. The fish is also a

reminder of the story of his protection of

young Tobias and healing his father Tobit.

(see the book of Tobit in the Old Testament

for his story; only a Catholic bible will

contain this

book.)

St. Uriel's name means "Fire of God"

Patron of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

He carries the Sword of Truth for Soldiers of

Christ, which we become through this

sacrament. Fire reminds us of the descent of

the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and the flames

of the gifts of the Holy Ghost. It reminds us

that our hearts should burn with love for

God like the holiest of Seraphim, like the

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. St. Uriel

carries the scales by which we are to weigh

our actions. It is also a reminder of the

Scales of Perfect Justice by which our lives

are weighed at our judgement.

St. Jehudiel's name means "Praise of

God"

Patron of the Sacrament of Extreme

Unction, annointing of the sick & dying.

St. Jehudiel carries the flaming crown of

salvation, a symbol of God's mercy & the

crown of the victory of grace which awaits

the saints in the next life. It is also a

reminder of the crown of sufferings to be

endured in this life in imitation of Our Lord.

St. Sealtiel's name means "Prayer of

God"

Patron of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

St Sealtiel carries an incenser, symbol of the

prayers & offering of the Divine Sacifice of

the Mass, only through the actions of the

ordained.

"And another angel came and stood before

the altar, having a golden censer; and there

was given him much incense, that he should

offer of the prayers of all saints upon the

golden altar, which is before the throne of

God. And the smoke of the incense of the

prayers of the saints ascended up before God

from the hand of the angel." Apoc 8:3-4

St. Sealtiel the Archangel

Picture of the statue of St. Sealtiel in the 7

Archangels Catholic church in Bavaria

St. Barachiel's name means "Blessings of

God".

Patron of the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Barachiel carries an abundant basket of

bread, the staff of life, symbolizing Christian

parenthood and it's grave responsibilities

both spiritual & temporal, to produce and

provide for, the children God desires of

married couples. He is a powerful

intercessor for the barren as well as for

troubled marriages. He carries in his hand a

book, a reminder of the wealth of

instructions in the Holy Scripture, the

writings of the saints and Papal encyclicals

for husbands, wives and children concerning

marriage and family life.

St. Barachiel the Archangel