Confused about angels

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I don’t quite understnad the nature of angels. I was surprised when I heard on Catholic Radio that an angel was an office rather than a specific type of being, like for instance I could become a congressman but I could not become a cat because a congressman is an office but a cat is a totally different creature from myself.

But I have also heard Christians object to the idea that a human being can become an angel. If an angel is simply a spiritual office, then could a human being hold such an office after they make it into heaven or not? If not, why not? What sort of beings are allowed to become angels? Can angel relinquish or outgrow its job as an angel and become something else?

The Bible also says Christ is far superior to the angels, but don’t the angels have Christ in them? In other words, have angels attained union with God or not? If not, why not and if so, what makes them so spiritually inferior to Jesus? I feel like there is something I don’t quite understand about angels.
 
I heard on Catholic Radio that an angel was an office rather than a specific type of being
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I don’t think that that is quite correct. The angels were created as angels. Human beings were created as such. Angels are not God. Humans do not become angels.
 
I believe you misheard. Angels are pure spiritual beings created by God. There are different offices like Archangels, Cherubims, Thrones, Seraphims, Guardians, etc. I think there are 8 offices, if I’m not mistaken.
 
I don’t really understand the nature of angels, either. I have heard that each angel is a separate species, that they are pure spirit, and that “angel” is the term we use, but it more accurately describes the role(s) God has given them (and I assume that is what is meant by their “office”). There are nine categories of angels that we know of (such as thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers).
Ceddd99 said:
The Bible also says Christ is far superior to the angels, but don’t the angels have Christ in them? In other words, have angels attained union with God or not? If not, why not and if so, what makes them so spiritually inferior to Jesus? I feel like there is something I don’t quite understand about angels.
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We can have Christ in us, but that does not mean we become Christ. Once we are spiritually united with God, we do not become God. In heaven, you are still you, but perfectly so. And we are still not equal to God; we are still the created beings, and God is our Creator. Jesus Christ is God, not a creation; therefore, whether or not angels have attained union with God, they are still spiritually “inferior” to Jesus. They are not God (or “gods”).

Does that help somewhat? 🙂
 
Ok, I did a research.

Fr. Fortea (an experienced exorcist, and expert in spiritual warfare) explains in his book:
As St. Paul and the tradition of the Church indicate, we need to remember that there are nine hierarchies of angels (from highest to lowest): seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels. The superior hierarchies are more powerful, beautiful, and intelligent than the inferior ones. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, each angel is completely different from other angels. In sociological terms, there are no angelic races; rather, each one is its own species. As we have said, though, it is possible to group the angels into hierarchies. These hierarchies are also called choirs, since these groups form themselves into choirs that sing praises to God. Their praise is obviously not that of the voice, but rather a spiritual type of praise that comes from their will to know and love the Trinity.
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Because some angels from each of the nine hierarchies sinned and transformed themselves into demons, a demonic hierarchy exists. In other words, there are demons that are principalities, virtues, powers, etc. Even though they are demons, they retain their particular angelic power and intelligence.
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E_7 said:
I believe you misheard. Angels are pure spiritual beings created by God. There are different offices like Archangels, Cherubims, Thrones, Seraphims, Guardians, etc. I think there are 8 offices, if I’m not mistaken.
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Nine.

And I just realized that one of the offices is “angel” (such as “Guardian Angel”), so perhaps that is what they were discussing on the radio show?

ETA: E_7 beat me to it. 👍
 
And, thanks to the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Acquinas, we are aware that the angels are persons because they have intelligence and free will, though they are pure spirit.

I highly recommend the book by Peter Kreeft titled “Angels and Demons” subtitle: “what do we really know about them?” Peter Kreeft gets his information from St. Thomas Acquinas. Kreeft is an excellent Catholic author and writes this book in a question and answer format.
 
CatholicRaven said:
I don’t really understand the nature of angels, either. I have heard that each angel is a separate species, that they are pure spirit, and that “angel” is the term we use, but it more accurately describes the role(s) God has given them (and I assume that is what is meant by their “office”). There are nine categories of angels that we know of (such as thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers).

We can have Christ in us, but that does not mean we become Christ. Once we are spiritually united with God, we do not become God. In heaven, you are still you, but perfectly so. And we are still not equal to God; we are still the created beings, and God is our Creator. Jesus Christ is God, not a creation; therefore, whether or not angels have attained union with God, they are still spiritually “inferior” to Jesus. They are not God (or “gods”).

Does that help somewhat? 🙂
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Indeed it does, thank you. Why aren’t angels gods though? Dont they have special powers? I mean I read the whole reason Lucifer fell was because he became enamored with his own glory and wanted to take credit for what only God deserved credit for and did not want to serve humanity and so he was cast out of heaven?
 
PaulfromIowa said:
The angels were created as angels … Humans do not become angels.
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So many people refer to those who have passed on as “angels”. I would never correct a person who has just lost a loved one, but in ordinary conversation I try to remember to say our goal is to become saints.
 
Ceddd99 said:
Indeed it does, thank you. Why aren’t angels gods though? Dont they have special powers? I mean I read the whole reason Lucifer fell was because he became enamored with his own glory and wanted to take credit for what only God deserved credit for and did not want to serve humanity and so he was cast out of heaven?
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Angels are messengers of God, that is what angel means.
 
I speculate that the Angels can carry the Holy Spirit in them. That would be their union with God. While we have Christ and the Holy Spirit! 🙂
 
The_Serpent said:
I speculate that the Angels can carry the Holy Spirit in them. That would be their union with God. While we have Christ and the Holy Spirit! 🙂
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Sounds right! I know the angels didn’t need a Savior, although they are in awe of Jesus!.
 
KCT said:
So many people refer to those who have passed on as “angels”. I would never correct a person who has just lost a loved one, but in ordinary conversation I try to remember to say our goal is to become saints.
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👍

The meaning of words change and they can have different meanings depending on who is speaking. Technically, an angel is a pure spirit; a messenger. Yet, angels have been depicted with wings and halos. Like you, I would not correct a person who just lost a loved one. I am certain that this misunderstanding of angels and saint does not cause consternation with the holy angels themselves.
 
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