1. What is the origin of belief in "Angels"?
In ancient times most people believed that there were many gods and goddesses, usually smaller gods and goddesses surrounding the one principal God. When God, in Old Testament times, revealed that there is only ONE God, it meant that the smaller gods and goddesses were reduced to being just 'spiritual powers', creatures under God's command. This is the origin of belief in angels.
2. What does the word "Angel" mean?
"Angel" means "messenger". As explained above, people imagined the One God as being surrounded by a court of heavenly beings, created and yet powerful. The earliest Bible narratives show us God as having assistants, called 'children of God' or the 'host of heaven'. They help God run the world (Deut 32,8). They were also often called "messengers", because one of their main tasks was thought to be delivering messages on God's behalf. The Greek word 'aggelos' means messenger.
3. Do Christians accept angels?
Traditionally the Christian Churches have accepted the idea of angels and angelic visitations. Every individual human being was supposed to have his or her own guardian angel. That implied that each of us has an angelic companion who watches over us, protects and defends us and represents us before God. These angels were thought to help us think and pray and to have a peaceful attitude.
In the Church, devotion to
one's companion angel used to be quite common. Here is a traditional prayer to
our guardian angel:
'Angel of God, my guardian dear;
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.'
The feast day of Guardian Angels is 2 October.
4. Do we know the names of some Angels?
Some of the angels mentioned in the Bible are given names. These are Hebrew names that reflect the tasks they were called on to perform. In the Book of Daniel, Gabriel (= "News of God") reveals the future (Dan 8-9) and Michael (= "Who is Equal to God?") fights for God in the battle against the forces of evil (Dan 10,12). Raphael (= "God Heals") restores sight to Tobit (Tob 12,15).
5. What about the New Age Angels?
In New Age belief Angels are given new tasks. They are thought of as ephemeral spirits that put us in touch with the "supernatural world". Often they are treated as familiars, agents of angelic as well as demonic origin from which we can draw advice and energy.
