A modern dictionary of Catholic terms, both common and obscure.
Find accurate definitions of words and phrases. A pure, created
spirit, called angel because some angels are sent by God as
messengers to humans. An angel is a pure spirit because he has
no body and does not depend for his existence or activity on
matter. The Bible tells us that the angels constitute a vast
multitude, beyond human reckoning. They differ in perfection of
nature and grace. Each is an individual person. According to
Christian tradition, they form three major categories in
descending order. The word "angel" is the special name for the
choir of angelic spirits, from whom guardian angels are sent to
minster to human needs. The existence of angels has been twice
defined by the Church: at the Fourth Lateran Council (Denzinger
800) and the First Vatican Council (Denzinger 3002). (Etym.
Latin angelus, an angel; Greek angelos, messenger.) All items in
this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic
Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Use