|
A brief caveat to start -- most of the traditional beliefs about angels are not necessarily based in scripture (or only very loosely). So a lot of the following should be viewed more as Christian superstition than Christian belief, if that distinction makes any sense to you.
Angels, at least those that we have any contact with, serve the role of messengers from God, a role most prominently associated with the archangel Gabriel. They are immaterial beings who can take on material form. There are nine orders of angels -- among which are angels, archangels, thrones, powers, principalities, cherubim, and seraphim. The four archangels mentioned in scriputure + apocrypha; Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and the angel of the LORD; are generally considered to be seraphim as well as archangels (I would guess something like the way the pope is both pope and bishop of Rome, but that's just a guess). The devil/Satan/Lucifer is an archangel who rebelled against God (the reason given is often quite varied) and his demons are other angels who took his side. The different orders have different roles, and their majesty corresponds to how close they are to the throne of God. Their chief role seems to be simply to praise God. This is just what I can remember off-hand (and, if it seems a bit rambling, that's why.) I've been giving out a lot of these sorts of promissory notes lately, but if I can remember, I'll look up what Aquinas says about them once I get home. He's not called the Angelic Doctor for nothing.
__________________
"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."
"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
|