Angels, from the Greek word angelos, are an inseparable part of the salvation history narrative in the Bible. Though mixed with allusions to the prevailing mythological culture of the time, the existence of angels as spirits created by God to serve as his messengers of salvation to humans has been an unquestionable element of the Bible, first in the Old Testament and then in the New Testament which fulfils the Old. The angels stand for God’s sovereignty and the bond of love between God and humankind. Therefore, ‘angel’ can never have a negative connotation, but always a positive one even when an angel has the mission to execute the wrath, judgement or vengeance of God (Exodus 12: 23; Numbers 21: 6-8; 2 Samuel 24: 16 ff; 2 Kings 22: 19; etc.).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states that the existence of angels is a ‘truth of faith’ (No. 328).

What is the relationship of Christ to the angels? The Catechism (No. 331) teaches that Christ is the centre of the angelic world. They are his angels (cf. Mathew 25:31). They belong to him because they were created through and for him. (cf. Colossians 1:16). They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan (cf. Hebrews 1:14). From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word Incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels (No. 333).

The whole life of the Church, says the Catechism, benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of the angels (No. 334). From the beginning of our life until death, our life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of the angels and, in a particular way, a guardian angel is given to every believer as a protector and shepherd leading him/her to life (No. 336). Therefore, already here on earth, the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels who are always united with God.

On September 29 the Church celebrates every year the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael. Who are these mighty angels?

Raphael means, ‘God heals’ (Tobith 3:17, 12:15); Gabriel means, ‘Hero of God’ (Daniel 10:13, 21); Michael means, ‘Who is like God?’ (Daniel: 13, 21; 12:1). These are the only three angels whose names are mentioned in the Bible. They are called ‘Archangels’ because of the importance of the roles they played in salvation history.

Raphael is so called because of his healing of Tobias’ blindness in the Book of Tobith. He is associated with God’s healing love and mercy. He is also identified with the angel in John 5:1-4 who descended upon the pool and bestowed healing powers upon the waters so that the first to enter the pool after it moved would be healed of whatever infirmity he/she was suffering.

Gabriel is mentioned four times in the Bible. Most significant are his announcement to Zechariah of the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:19) and to Mary of the Incarnation of the Word of God (Luke ). Christian tradition suggests that it was he who appeared to St. Joseph and to the shepherds, and that it was also he who ‘strengthened’ Jesus during his agony in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke ).

Michael is the ‘Prince of Heavenly Host’ and the leader of all the angels. His name refers to the cry of the good angles against Lucifer and his followers when they rebelled against God. He is mentioned four times in the Bible – in Daniel 10 and 12, in the letter of Jude, and in the Book of Revelation (Revelation ).

Michael, whose forces cast down Lucifer and the evil spirits into Hell, is invoked for protection against Satan and all evil. Pope Leo XIII, having had a prophetic vision of the evil that would be inflicted upon the Church and the world in the 20th century. Instituted a prayer asking for St. Michael’s protection to be said at the end of the Mass.

Christian tradition recognises four offices of St. Michael: i) to fight against Satan (ii) to rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death (iii) to be the champion of God’s people (iv) to call away from earth and bring men’s souls to judgement.

We all love the immortal Abba’s song, I Have a Dream where the words touch the heart and open up vistas of immortality:

This song is a loud affirmation of the inherent ‘goodness’ in everything that exists on this earth, hence the angelic quality in everything and everyone and the reflection of God in which all share, whether animate or inanimate. When we believe in angels, we believe in what the angels symbolize, that is, the very presence of God within us and in our midst and the intense longing of our hearts to be fully partakers of the eternal bliss in Heaven.

When the Sadducees tried to trap our Lord on the question of resurrection, he replies to them: “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Mathew 22: 29-30).

The belief in angels provides the inner strength to cope up with darkness and failures and keep forging ahead because the final goal gives meaning to our struggles, our sufferings and our pains on this earth. When we think of angels automatically our minds get transported to heaven which is the intense longing of every human heart.

On October 2 we commemorate the Guardian Angels; but in October we also commemorate some eminent saintly personalities who lived ‘angelic’ lives like St. Teresa of Avila (1515 -1582). She was the reformer of the Carmelite Order and through her spiritual works has taught us the way of Christian perfection through contemplation. She says: “What more do we want than to have at our side a friend (Jesus) so loyal that he will never desert us when we are in trouble or in difficulties, as worldly friends do? How blessed is the man who genuinely and sincerely loves him and holds on to him! Consider the case of the glorious apostle, Saint Paul. It seemed that he could do no other than speak about Jesus continually, because he had Jesus engraved and printed upon his heart” (Office of Readings, October 15).

St. Teresa of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), also called the ‘Little Flower’ entered the Carmelite Monastery at Lisieux while still very young and practised the virtues of humility, evangelical simplicity and a firm confidence in God. She offered her life for the salvation of souls and for the spreading of the faith in the missions. She longed to die a martyr’s death in the proclamation of the Gospel like the apostles but found herself too small for such a great task. And in her contemplation she discovered a mystery, the mystery of love at the heart of the Church which was her specific vocation. She says: “And I realized that this love was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function the apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. Love, in fact, is the vocation which includes all others; it’s a universe of its own, comprising all time and space – it’s eternal. Beside myself with joy, I cried out: ‘Jesus, my love! I’ve found my vocation, and my vocation is love.’ ” (Office of Readings, October 1).

On October 2 we also celebrate ‘Gandhi Jayanti’ the birthday of the Father of our Nation who obtained political freedom for our motherland not trough violence and warfare but through non-violent struggle for truth and justice deeply rooted in the spirituality of the Gospel.

The word ‘angel’ evokes in us the most beautiful virtues we would want to see in a person, such as purity of heart, unalloyed love, honest and sincere behaviour, cheerful service, constant attitude of kindness and compassion, quick response to help someone in a hopeless situation, someone who comes to our aid out of nowhere, etc.

All through the history of humanity and of the Church there have been so many ‘angels’ of love, mercy, and kindness in this world who have shown a path different from that of enmity, hatred and division. We cherish their memories and would want to follow in their footsteps; and for so many of us such angelic personalities could have been our own parents, relatives and friends.

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the great Dominican theologian of the Middle Ages who wrote the Summa Theologica was called doctor angelicus (angelic doctor) because of his simplicity of heart and holiness of life. Hence the Dominican-run St. Thomas Pontifical University in Rome is called Angelicum and everyone understands whom it refers to and why so.

As we commemorate the Guardian Angels let us pray that we may all strive to live truly angelic lives reflecting the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.