According to Catholicism, what are angels and what are they for?
Upvote:5
A thorough answer would occupy volumes as this article shows: Angels | New Advent. The following serves as an introduction
A good summary and introduction is found in the Catechism of the catholic Church 328-336. In part (sans footnotes)
I. THE ANGELS
The existence of angels - a truth of faith
328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.
Who are they?
329 St. Augustine says: "'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel.'" With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word".
330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.
This answers but two of your bullet points
- Where they will be? I do not understand. Their abode is the heavens but they go wherever God's want them to accomplish his will which is done in heaven.
- How many are there?
I quote from the New Advent article
The number of angels
The number of the angels is frequently stated as prodigious (Daniel 7:10; Apocalypse 5:11; Psalm 67:18; Matthew 26:53). From the use of the word host (sabaoth) as a synonym for the heavenly army it is hard to resist the impression that the term "Lord of Hosts" refers to God's Supreme command of the angelic multitude (cf. Deuteronomy 33:2; 32:43; Septuagint). The Fathers see a reference to the relative numbers of men and angels in the parable of the hundred sheep (Luke 15:1-3), though this may seem fanciful. The Scholastics, again, following the treatise "De Coelesti Hierarchia" of St. Denis, regard the preponderance of numbers as a necessary perfection of the angelic host (cf. St. Thomas, Summa Theologica I:1:3).
More post
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for Antinomianism or extreme Grace?
- 📝 To the Calvinist, what does it mean that in the beginning God already has His object of wrath?
- 📝 What precisely is the sacramental "economy"? In which sense it is an economy?
- 📝 Could Angels and Demons die?
- 📝 What does Classic Dispensationalism teach about the eternal state?
- 📝 Why did Mary Magdalene and the other women disciples wait until the dawn of Sunday before arriving at the tomb?
- 📝 How does one discern a calling to the vocation of priesthood?
- 📝 If you are forgiven through the Grace of God, why do you need an Indulgence?
- 📝 Who goes to heaven?
- 📝 Did common folk have the opportunity to read or hear psalms in common language starting in 1000 in Europe or in Africa?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for Universal salvation?
- 📝 Should the Catholic rosary be recited in Latin or the vernacular language?
- 📝 How do JW reconcile that their foundational belief about Worship of Christ made them idolatrous?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, does Welch’s Grape Juice constitute valid matter for the consecration of the Mass?
- 📝 How do Baptists catechize children?
- 📝 If God is omniscient how can he regret?
- 📝 How can Protestants authoritatively declare something wrong or heretical under Sola Scriptura?
- 📝 What are the six original sons of Israel that Exodus 28 speaks off?
- 📝 What is the difference between Abraham's and Sarah's laugh after the LORD's promise?
- 📝 What does "the saints are not keepers of the law, but legislators" mean?
- 📝 What if Israel had accepted Jesus as their Lord? (Catholic perspective)
- 📝 What is the Biblical and Traditional basis for doing Penance for others?
- 📝 Recommendations for Ancient Greek NT "versions"
- 📝 According to Latter-day Saints, are all Christians who are full of the Holy Spirit unequivocally led by the Spirit to accept the truth of Mormonism?
- 📝 Is Baptism by Holy Sprit and Baptism by Fire the same thing?
- 📝 How do Jehovah's Witnesses define "active" membership?
- 📝 In what order were the Sacraments added?
- 📝 How do Old-Earth Creationists explain Romans 5:12-19?
- 📝 The Curé of Ars on Dancing
- 📝 How are the words of Mary in Luke 1:34 incontrovertible proof of her perpetual virginity?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 According to Catholicism, what are angels and what are they for?
- 📝 According to Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, what are the strongest apologetic arguments for the divine inspiration of the deuterocanonical books?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, what is to become of a family when the married couple discovers they are brother and sister?
- 📝 According to Catholicism what does it mean for every relationship in heaven to be perfect and fulfilling?
- 📝 What are the different names of God in the Bible and what do they mean?
- 📝 What are indulgences and when and why were they used?
- 📝 According to Latter-day Saints, what are the strongest apologetic arguments for the divine inspiration of the Book of Mormon?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are separate entities?
- 📝 What are the theological implications of "pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death"?
- 📝 What is the source of the count of 40000 denominations, and how are they classified?
- 📝 What is the Meaning of Hebrews 2:11 - he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one
- 📝 For Catholics who have expressed concern about Pope Francis and are wary of his pontificate, what are the key issues?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about this question- Why do Jesus and God have two seats in heaven when they are the same God?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for humans becoming angels after they die?
- 📝 What major views are there on the question of whether God shares moral responsibility for our deeds, good and bad?
- 📝 What manuscripts did people use to create the NIV and KJV? Are the manuscripts used to fashion the NIV older than those used for the KJV?
- 📝 According to full preterism, who is 'the dragon' and what are the differences between 'the dragon' and 'the beast'?
- 📝 What are the arguments for and against the Anglican Covenant?
- 📝 What are the qualifications for becoming an eternal family according to LDS teaching?
- 📝 What are the biblical arguments for and against the "two books" view of God's revelation?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, what are the requirements for baptism?
- 📝 What is the basis for saying that the Antichrist, man of lawlessness, and the beast of Revelation 13 are all the same?
- 📝 Do Lutherans believe that the sacraments are necessary for salvation (similar to Catholics), and if so, how do they reconcile this with Sola Fide?
- 📝 What is the difference between the two creations of humans, according to those who believe they are in chronological order?
- 📝 According to dispensationalism, who is 'the dragon' and what are the differences between 'the dragon' and 'the beast'?
- 📝 According to the Eastern Orthodox, what are the rules for acquiring / owning icons?
- 📝 What are liturgical honours and privileges for the Patrons of categories of people?
- 📝 According to Catholicism and Revelation are we going to be able to eat meat in Heaven or the Garden of Eden?
- 📝 According to paedobaptists, what justifies a link between circumcision and baptism since both males and females are baptised?
- 📝 What are Christian explanations for the similarities between ecstatic spiritual experiences of Christians and those of other religions?