Do Angels Have Bodies?

[Annunciata]

I know or at least I think I know that angels are ‘pure spirit’ and therefore do not have bodies. I just can’t find it in the CCC where it explains it. I know that in the Scriptures the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary,the appearance of angels in Sodom & Gommorha, Raphael in the book of Tobit, etc. But did they take on human appearance or not? I’m having this discussion in another thread on “Joan of Arcadia” and I just don’t know were I can get the correct info if indeed I am correct. HELP!

 

[JimG]

Yes, angels are pure spirits without bodies, but having intellect and will. They can take on a human or other appearance when appearing to men, but in their essence, they have no bodies.

The Catechism (CCC) discusses angels in paragraphs 328 through 336.

JimG

 

[Marie]

Annunciata:

I know or at least I think I know that angels are ‘pure spirit’ and therefore do not have bodies. I just can’t find it in the CCC where it explains it. I know that in the Scriptures the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary,the appearance of angels in Sodom & Gommorha, Raphael in the book of Tobit, etc. But did they take on human appearance or not? I’m having this discussion in another thread on “Joan of Arcadia” and I just don’t know were I can get the correct info if indeed I am correct. HELP!

Yes, they are pure spirit. Here is where it is found in the “CCC”

It does get a little tricky to explain but my understanding is that they are comprehensible through the intellect and not through bodily sense’s. A human may see them through their intellect and they may have the appearance of a body, as we are material beings, but they are still pure spirits.

For instance Zacharias depicts the angel as speaking “in him” (interior voice) which is how the Massoretic text, the Septuagint and the Vulgate rendered the reading. Unfortunately the Revised Version, obscures this trait by persistently giving the rendering: "the angel that talked with me: instead of “within me.”

Hope that helps,
Marie

 

[Annunciata]

JimG and Marie,

Thanks so very much for your help…I did look at those pages first in the CCC but was looking for documentation on the following aspect:
Posted by Marie:
<It does get a little tricky to explain but my understanding is that they are comprehensible through the intellect and not through bodily sense’s. A human may see them through their intellect and they may have the appearance of a body, as we are material beings, but they are still pure spirits.> PAX, Annunciata

 

[ppolz]

Does anyone know what different powers angels have ?

 

[Marie]

ppolz:

Does anyone know what different powers angels have ?

In the Bible there are nine choirs of angels spoken of and it can be found in Catholic theology. The nine choirs are the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones, the Dominations, Virtues and Powers, the Principalities, Archangels and Angels - three hierarchical groups, reflecting the triune nature of the Holy Trinity. The Guardian Angels, the Angel of the Lord, the Living Beings and other names of angels and their angelic responsibilities are found in the theology on the angels (angelology) of the Church. It has been synthesized and developed in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, particularly in his Summa Theologian. In areas of common teaching which are not yet formally defined, the Church herself asserts that St. Thomas has the presumption of truth on his side, until the Magisterium weighs in with a final judgment.

So basically I would say their powers are vast and many but unknown for certain to humanity except through Sacred Scripture and the writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the church. I recommend you read St. Thomas TREATISE ON THE ANGELS

It is the best source I know of. Hope that helps. I know it is weighty but worth the read.
Pax,
Marie

 

[Socrates]

Peter Kreeft’s book Angels & Demons is a good resource. It’s basically a compilation of questions his students have asked over the years and his responses to them. He draws on St. Thomas quite a bit as well as other sources. It’s a really interesting (and sometimes humorous) read.

 

[Magnanimity]

Socrates:

Peter Kreeft’s book Angels & Demons is a good resource. It’s basically a compilation of questions his students have asked over the years and his responses to them. He draws on St. Thomas quite a bit as well as other sources. It’s a really interesting (and sometimes humorous) read.

So is Mortimer Adler’s book Angels Among Us. He also draws heavily from St. Thomas on this issue. (Who wouldn’t, eh?) One may call them pure spirits. It is also true that they are pure intellects, since there is no connection between a body and intellect with the senses being powers that inform the intellect, as in man. So, in this way, it is possible to speak of them being simple too.

 

[Marie]

Socrates:

Peter Kreeft’s book Angels & Demons is a good resource. It’s basically a compilation of questions his students have asked over the years and his responses to them. He draws on St. Thomas quite a bit as well as other sources. It’s a really interesting (and sometimes humorous) read.

Thanks, I will have to get that book too. It sounds very good from what I googled. I also found some of his writings online about angels.

Peter Kreeft-Angels online