Angels, An Introduction

What is an angel? They are written of poetically, seen in modern movies and referred to in ordinary dialogue. How much do we really know about them? Let us start by answering some common questions.

Do Angels exist, and are they recognized by the Church?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reads "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" (CCC 328) and "From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God" (CCC 336).
The Bible has many stories that involve angels, including the following:
Angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds (Luke 2:14)
minister to Christ after his temptation in the desert (Matthew 4:11)
comforted Jesus in his agony in the garden (Luke 22:43)
appear to announce his resurrection from the dead (John 20:12)
will come with Christ on the Day of Judgement (Matthew 24:31)
will separate the wicked from the just on the Last Day (Matthew 13:49)

Why are they called Angels?
"Angelos" is Greek for messenger, their primary function.

Are there different kinds of angels?
St. Thomas Aquinas classifies the angels into three groups and three subgroups per group, making nine classifications as follows:

Seraphim

Cherubim

Thrones.

Orders of Dominations

Order of Virtues

Order of Powers

Principalities

Archangels

Angels

How many angels are there?
Daniel 7:10 reads, "Thousands of thousands ministered to Him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before Him.." At the least, according to my math, there is 1 billion, 1 million.

Do angels look like humans?

Angels do not have shape or a body, but may take such on to fulfill duty. In fact, it is written, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Heb 13:2).

Do angels have free will?

Absolutely. Angels have intellect and will, as seen by those who have fallen. From my understanding of Aquinas, they have supernatural knowledge of all things, but not a supernatural understanding of everything. We build a human understanding from knowledge of our senses out of nothing. Think of a map analogy. We start at a point, use current understanding to find new understanding, and eventually, we will attain a full map of the area. Angels, with a supernatural understanding, know every place, every tree, and need no rational links of comprehension. In the end, both groups lack wisdom. One could know everything in the world, whether man or angel, and yet not be able to answer simple why? Questions, only how?

Summa Theologica, Aquinas

Angels, Billy Graham

http://www.maryourmother.net/Angels.html

http://www.jesus-passion.com/angels.htm