Are there angels

That is their job. Dionysius the Areopagite c. AD thought so. He developed an elaborate hierarchy of angels which has influenced both Roman Catholic and Orthodox angelology. He grouped angels into three groups of three. The highest order is nearest to God, the lowest order is nearest to humankind.

On this scheme, seraphim are the highest of the choir of heaven, whose role is to adore the triune God. Angels are the lowest of the celestial beings because they bring the divine message to us terrestrial creatures. We know that there are angels and archangels. Michael, for example, is an archangel and leader of the angelic army Jude 9 and Rev.

But beyond that is speculation. Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft knows how many guardian angels there are on earth. He argues that every human being has a guardian angel. Scripture does not provide evidence for this particular idea.

However, Scripture makes it plain that there are guardian angels. The cherubim guard the tree of life in Genesis and Psalm 91 speaks of angels guarding the psalmist.

The reference is plural not singular Ps. This idea is found only in the apocryphal book of Tobit. But by that very fact this doctrine of guardian angels also betrays its origin. Most commentators rightly argue the text reflects popular Jewish belief held by the servant girl. It was popularly believed at the time that each person has a guardian angel.

However, this text is descriptive of what she thought and is not the basis for a doctrine. In Genesis 3 we find the ground is cursed because of the sin of Adam Gen. So, it is no surprise that in Romans —22, Paul writes of the groaning creation which needs to be set free from decay. It was an angel — if not the Angel of the Lord, who joined Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, rescuing them from the flames Daniel 3. Jesus was no stranger to angelic help — they protected him in his infancy, served him in the desert and strengthened him during his agony in the garden.

Angels in America Angels are no strangers to Americans and are more than a passing phenomenon. There are retail stores and websites devoted to them. They are the subjects of movies, art and television shows.

Frequent best-selling books are written about them. Websites contain thousands of similar stories posted by people from all walks of life and all religious backgrounds.

A woman is saved from a fatal car accident without explanation. A young child recovers from a severe illness and recalls conversations with his angel. Maureen Sweeney-Kyle, of Lorain County, Ohio, has been receiving visions, apparitions and messages from angels, saints, Jesus and the Blessed Mother almost daily since She shares them on her website HolyLove.

So how is it that in a world of rapid scientific and technological advances, many Americans are fascinated with other-worldly beings that cannot be seen or proven to exist? How do angels not only remain relevant in , but shape the beliefs and lives of so many science-age Americans? James F. Gontis, director of religious education for the Diocese of Harrisburg, has no problem reconciling his belief in angels with modern science.

Empirical evidence — information acquired by observation or experimentation — is not the only valid form of proof, he argues. Gerald Vigna, associate professor of theology at Alvernia, suggested that people look to angels because they are not content with science and the secular.

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