This week we have the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael as well as the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Many of us, I suspect based on my own experience of being confused also, are at least somewhat confused about what an angel actually is. Do we become angels after we die? Are angels superior to us? Can they control us?

Let's start with the word "Angel". This word does not name the species, the way that "man" names all of us. The word "angel" names the activity of these spiritual creatures, it means "messenger." An angel is a messenger, or an intermediary, between man and God. Angels, in fact are named by their activity and not their species because each one of them a different species! Each one forms a link in a spiritual chain between us and God. There is a hierarchy: The Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones, Dominations, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Archangels, and Angels are all different. In a man, we can all be the same species and yet be different creatures because we have bodies and these make us individual, but angels do not have bodies, they are pure spirit and so they must be different in their very essence. I bring this up because I find it interesting but more importantly because it shows us the glory and vastness of the heavenly realm. Our Lord says that there is a ladder to heaven and on each rung is an angel. Through the merits of Jesus and the intercession of his Mother, we will climb all of the way to the top and into the presence of God himself.

Because they are a different species entirely, angels are very different than you and I. We will never be angels. They are creatures of God, created just like we are, and they take great joy in loving and serving God. Here is how they are very different; humans learn through our senses, we grow and learn every day. We make mistakes, change our minds, and so on. This means that a human has a lot to learn about God, our whole lives, in fact. A person who has denied God always has a chance at repenting this side of death. An angel, however, understands everything immediately through pure intellect. The moment they were created, they knew in an instant everything about God and they made their choice; serve God or serve themselves. Those who chose themselves turned their back on God and became demons, with Satan as their ringleader. This choice for them is permanent. They already knew everything they could know about God and turned away from him anyway.

Angels are in a way superior to us. They are closer to God, know more about him, already have access to heaven. They do not die, do not get sick, do not sin, and have powers that we could only dream of. They are majestic, powerful beings. They are not our pets. There is sometimes the desire to name your guardian angel. The Catholic Church forbids this, because to name a creature implies that you control it. For this reason God refuses to tell Moses his name and we should not try to name angels other than the few that have named themselves for us.

In another way, though, they are inferior to us. Angels are messengers and servants of God. But because Jesus became human himself, took on our nature and raised us up to a special dignity through supernatural grace, we are able to become children of God. I no longer call you servants, he says, but sons and daughters. If we serve him, we do so out of loving obedience the way we would a parent or a spouse.

Angels do not control us, and neither they nor demons have any power over us that we don?t give them first. An angel cannot force you to do anything you don?t want to do. For instance, when the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary, he told her God?s plan and then allowed her to respond her own desire to follow God?s plan. Mary could have said "No." This makes her motherhood of Jesus all the more wonderful, for it is freely chosen.

We see the wonderful bonds of love that hold the entire family of God together. The angels have made their choice to serve him and in doing so they take care of us. Each and every person has a guardian angel. The letter to the Hebrews tells us: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" And this care that they have for us and our salvation extends to even the weakest amongst us, which is why Our Lord says, "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10) This week, maybe remind yourself particularly to thank your guardian angel and pray that they continue to both serve and rule over the spiritual realm for our sake.