What is the Catholic Church's teaching on the creation of angels?

[Gregory Mallett]

A friend asked me the other day if you become an angel when you go to heaven, and I replied with a no, but it got me thinking as to how angels come into existence; why God needs them to do things for Him and what their role is in heaven considering God is omnipotent.

I'm probably missing something pretty obvious so please enlighten me.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hello Gregory. Welcome to TT!

I can't speak specifically for the Catholic Church, but I imagine most or all of their teaching is the same as the Orthodox Church.

No, we don't turn into angels when we die. Angels are a different sort of created being. They are the bodiless powers, created by God at some point in the beginning (before humans). That much we should all agree upon.

Of course, some rebelled and became evil. The ones that remained faithful to God are the Holy Angels, and they are fixed in their devotion to Him, having made their decision. We generally teach that there are 9 choirs, or types of angels, and we know some about the differences (not something I've really studied though). Seraphim, Cherubim, Archangels, etc.

Of course God is omnipotent and can do anything. But He does use angels to minister to us, and uses us to minister to each other. As to the reason why, I can only speculate, but it seems to me that the more we do for others, and the more we receive their ministrations, the more love grows in the community of believers. I think the same is true more broadly as well, and God is love, and desires that we be like Him, and love. There's a lot more that can be said about that, but I think that can be a big part of the reason. Another is that we see God doing things in order, with purpose, and there being an orderliness to creation. I think that is a part of it as well.

Interesting questions. I look forward to the input of others.

 

[Cappadocious]

Humans can become Angela insofar as they bring God's Word; that is why in our tradition prophets like John the Baptist are often depicted with wings.

But angels as we typically think of are bodiless powers and we are not.

As for why God created them, evidently God wanted creations to work things out for him in creation.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Hello Gregory. Welcome to TT!

I can't speak specifically for the Catholic Church, but I imagine most or all of their teaching is the same as the Orthodox Church.

No, we don't turn into angels when we die. Angels are a different sort of created being. They are the bodiless powers, created by God at some point in the beginning (before humans). That much we should all agree upon.

Of course, some rebelled and became evil. The ones that remained faithful to God are the Holy Angels, and they are fixed in their devotion to Him, having made their decision. We generally teach that there are 9 choirs, or types of angels, and we know some about the differences (not something I've really studied though). Seraphim, Cherubim, Archangels, etc.

Of course God is omnipotent and can do anything. But He does use angels to minister to us, and uses us to minister to each other. As to the reason why, I can only speculate, but it seems to me that the more we do for others, and the more we receive their ministrations, the more love grows in the community of believers. I think the same is true more broadly as well, and God is love, and desires that we be like Him, and love. There's a lot more that can be said about that, but I think that can be a big part of the reason. Another is that we see God doing things in order, with purpose, and there being an orderliness to creation. I think that is a part of it as well.

Interesting questions. I look forward to the input of others.

Humans can become Angela insofar as they bring God's Word; that is why in our tradition prophets like John the Baptist are often depicted with wings.

But angels as we typically think of are bodiless powers and we are not.

As for why God created them, evidently God wanted creations to work things out for him in creation.

Well stated!

Some of the Choirs and Ranks of Angles, we believe, were created by God to serve God; some Created by God to serve Him by serving or caring for us. This is why we continue to pray these and similar prayers in our tradition:

Martin Luther's Morning Prayer
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen​

Martin Luther's Evening Prayer
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen
​

Both end with a prayer asking God to provide protection for us through His angels.

The faithful departed are not among the choirs of angels.

 

[ViaCrucis]

IIRC, it was the view of St. Augustine (and probably, therefore, many other Western thinkers) that the creation of the light probably refers to the creation of the angels.

"For when God said, "Let there be light, and there was light," if we are justified in understanding in this light the creation of the angels, then certainly they were created partakers of the eternal light which is the unchangeable Wisdom of God, by which all things were made, and whom we call the only-begotten Son of God; so that they, being illumined by the Light that created them, might themselves become light and be called "Day," in participation of that unchangeable Light and Day which is the Word of God, by whom both themselves and all else were made. "The true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world," — this Light lights also every pure angel, that he may be light not in himself, but in God; from whom if an angel turn away, he becomes impure, as are all those who are called unclean spirits, and are no longer light in the Lord, but darkness in themselves, being deprived of the participation of Light eternal. For evil has no positive nature; but the loss of good has received the name "evil."" - City of God, Book 11.9

-CryptoLutheran