Angels in Disguise - Part One

I think today I'd like to take a break from my "normal" to talk a little bit about something that isn't brought up very often: Angels. It's not that the church doesn't have anything to say about them - the Magisterium on the matter is very clear. It's simply that angels, demons and the accompanying rituals (exorcism, deliverance, etc.) aren't brought up very often. So, in what I hope will become a recurring column here, I present "Angels in Disguise"

I invite you to comment with any questions you would like to see answered! In addition, each time I'll compile a selection of questions I've received since the last installment, or some common concerns.

For today, though, I'll just give a bit of an overview of what I consider one of the most fascinating subjects in the church.

I think right off the bat it's important to dispel a few of the common perceptions of angels for those who actually take the time to consider them. You know that popular image of angels as those cute little babies with wings? You know, the ones who would not seem out of place with a tiny little bow to shoot people with love?

These.

Yeeeeeeah no. That image, while popular, really does them a disservice. 

Angels are not cute. They are not cuddly. They are not Christmas ornaments. 

They are warriors. Fierce guardians who have fought wars humanity cannot even imagine - a war that continues all around us every day and we are none the wiser. These are protectors that watch over us day and night and most of us never even know they're there. 

So, I think that's the first thing to know about angels - these aren't your grandmas porcelain statues. 

What about guardian angels? What are they? Are they even real?

Woah there, buddy. That's a lot of questions with absolutely no time to answer. 

Anyway, guardian angels. Long story short, they're the reason you're here right now. 

They belong to the first choir of angels, Angels (more on choirs to come later) and are responsible for keeping you safe throughout the day. For the most part, this means making sure demons stay away from you, but it can also mean keeping you from temptations and giving you spiritual strength. They are, after all, warriors. 

Wait, there are demons too!? 

Yes. By default, most "goods" necessitate a "bad". We already know from Scripture that some of the angels rebelled against God and fought a war (one side led by Lucifer, the other by Michael) that eventually got all of the demons cast into hell. Nowadays, they "prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls" (Prayer of Saint Michael). Good thing we have our guardian angels to watch out for us. 

The topic of demons is one that is just as deep as that of angels, and neither can be adequately covered in a single post. Expect more on both of them in the near future. 

So for today, I think it was important to get a few of the major points out of the way - that angels exist, that they are not babies with wings, that we each have a guardian angel and that guardian angels protect us from very real threats. Obviously there's a LOT more to say about each of those, and volumes I didn't even cover, so I'll be expanding on all of this soon. In the meantime, go ahead and leave any questions you have in the comments (or, if you are shy about posting your question for the world to see, through facebook/email/google+)

Until then, "God commands the angels to guard you in all of your ways. Upon their hands they shall bear you up lest you dash your foot on a stone" - Psalm 91:11-12