CREATION OF ANGELS

By Edward Matulanya 

According to Catholic teaching, the creation of the angels is drawn from both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and is explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and writings of the Church Fathers.

Here’s a clear summary of what the Roman Catholic Church teaches:

1. God Alone Is Creator

Angels are pure spirits: They are created beings, not eternal or divine.

The Church professes: “I believe in one God, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.”

“Invisible” includes the angelic world (CCC 328–330).

2. When They Were Created

Before humanity and the material universe was complete, God created the angels.

Scripture is not explicit about the exact “moment,” but tradition holds that their creation occurred at the beginning of time—before the creation of the visible world (cf. Lateran Council IV, 1215).

St. Augustine writes that angels were created “in the beginning” when God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), interpreting the “light” also as the spiritual creation of angels.

3. Nature of Angels

Purely spiritual: They have no bodies, no physical form, and are immortal (Luke 20:36).

Intellect and Will: Each angel is a unique, complete person (not merely an impersonal force).

They surpass all visible creatures in perfection.

4. Hierarchy of Angels


Nine choirs of Angels
Nine choirs of Angels
Catholic tradition (especially from St. Dionysius and St. Thomas Aquinas) describes nine choirs, grouped in three hierarchies:

1. Highest: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones

2. Middle: Dominions, Virtues, Powers

3. Lowest: Principalities, Archangels, Angels

These choirs reflect different missions and degrees of closeness to God.

5. The Great Trial and the Fall

After their creation, God gave the angels a test of obedience and love.

Lucifer (“light-bearer”) and other angels rebelled, refusing to serve God (cf. Revelation 12:7-9).

Those who rejected God became demons. Their choice was irrevocable because angels, as pure spirits, make decisions with full knowledge and will.

The faithful angels, led by St. Michael, remained in beatitude and “see the face of the Father” (Matthew 18:10).

6. Mission of the Good Angels

The angels who remained faithful share forever in God’s glory.

They are messengers (the word angelos means “messenger”) and protectors of humanity.

Scripture highlights roles such as:

Gabriel announcing the Incarnation (Luke 1:26-38)

Guardian angels guiding individuals (Matthew 18:10; Psalm 91:11).

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that God, out of pure love, created a vast, invisible world of spiritual beings at the dawn of creation. They were tested, some freely chose rebellion and became demons, while the faithful angels eternally adore God and serve as His messengers and our protectors.

References

Aquinas, T. (1274/1947). Summa Theologica (Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Trans.). Benziger Brothers.

Augustine of Hippo. (c. 400/1991). The City of God (H. Bettenson, Trans.). Penguin Classics.

Catechism of the Catholic Church. (2nd ed.). (1997).Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Hardon, J. A. (2013). The Catholic catechism: A contemporary exposition of the teachings of the Catholic Church. Ignatius Press.

Kreeft, P. (1995). Angels (and demons): What do we really know about them? Ignatius Press.

The Fourth Lateran Council. (1215). Constitution on the Catholic Faith (Firmiter credimus). In Norman P. Tanner (Ed.), Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils (Vol. 1, pp. 230–233). London: Sheed & Ward, & Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.

The Holy Bible, New American Bible Revised Edition. (2011). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FAITH OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Image
Image of Catholic Church at Vatican By Edward Matulanya Here are Meaning, believe, founder, sacraments, teaching source, Morals, source of faith, History and key teaching of Roman Catholic Church. 1. Meaning of Roman Catholic Church  The Roman Catholic Church means the universal Christian community under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). 2. Understand the Core Beliefs of the Roman Catholic Faith The Roman Catholic Church belief in one God in three persons ; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997, §234; Matt. 28:19). Catholics hold that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, whose incarnation, death, and resurrection bring salvation to humanity (CCC, 1997, §§461–463; John 1:14). 2. Founder of Roman Catholic Church  The Church, founded by Christ on the apostles with the pope as Peter’s successor, is “the universal sacrament of salvation” (CCC, 1997, §774; Matt. 16:18–19). Salvation is a gift of grace received through faith ...
Read more

TWELVE APOSTLES OF JESUS

Image
  Jesus Christ with twelve apostles at last feast By Edward Matulanya Here are twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, celebration of Eucharist, their mission, their succession, their liturgical Celebration a summary of their lives.  The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus personally chose and appointed the Twelve to share in His mission and to lay the foundation of the Church. Twelve apostles chosen by Jesus  Jesus called his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles (Luke 6:13, NABRE). They were to be with Him, to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons (Mark 3:13-19). Celebration of Eucharist At the Last Supper He conferred on them a share in His priesthood and the command to celebrate the Eucharist (Luke 22:19–20; Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1994/2019, §§859–860). Catholics hold that this apostolic ministry continues through apostolic succession, with bishops as the successors of the apostles (CCC §§861–862). The Role of Jesus’ Ap...
Read more

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO

Image
Saint Joseph of Cupertino  By Edward Matulanya Early life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino St. Joseph of Cupertino was born June 17, 1603, in Cupertino, Apulia (southern Italy). Orphaned before birth and raised in poverty, he struggled with learning and was considered slow by his peers. After repeated rejections from religious communities, he was eventually accepted as a servant by the Conventual Franciscans and later admitted as a friar. Vocational life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino  Despite his lack of education, Joseph was ordained a priest in 1628 after a providentially simple examination. He became famous for extraordinary mystical phenomena, especially levitation during ecstatic prayer. These events attracted large crowds and even the attention of the Inquisition, though he was never condemned. Because the public excitement disrupted community life, Joseph spent much of his later years in seclusion, devoted to humility and prayer. He died on September 18, 1663, in Osimo, Ital...
Read more