Ever since I served at St. Michael’s Church, I have had an affinity for the feast day of St. Michael and All Angels, which falls on September 29. Most of my focus has naturally been on the “St. Michael” part of the feast. But this year I find myself interested in the “All Angels” part as well – who are “all” the angels?!
The word in our scriptures that is translated as angel — “malach” in Hebrew, and “angelos” in Greek – simply means “messenger.” According to hagiographer James Kiefer (see here for many more details: http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/home.html), angels in the bible are God’s creations who worship God and also serve as God’s messengers and agents in our world.
Most of the angels we find in the scriptures are anonymous, but a few are named and given certain characteristics. Michael, who shows up in Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, was understood to be the leader of the armies in heaven. Along with his wings, he is often depicted wearing armor and carrying a sword. Gabriel is familiar to us from the nativity story in Luke’s gospel, but he also turns up in Daniel. He seems to be particularly tasked with communicating God’s wishes to human beings. Two other named angels can be found in the apocryphal books in our bible, those written in the time frame between the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Raphael appears in Tobit, disguised as a human who helps a young man with a quest. And Uriel shows up in 2 Esdras to instruct the prophet Ezra.
Later Christian and Jewish tradition developed many more stories and descriptions of angels, including hierarchical breakdowns such as one that Pope Gregory I put together (Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Archangels, Angels). This particular hierarchy made it into the well-known hymn, Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (Hymn 618).
I’m not sure what to make of all the different descriptions of the angels, but I do enjoy the idea that there is more than meets the eye in the vastness of God’s creation. And it is comforting and reassuring that God has many ways of communicating with us and of being at work in our world. Perhaps you will even meet one of God’s angels today!
Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
ALG227141 The Three Archangels and Tobias (tempera on panel) by Botticini, Francesco (c.1446-97); 135×154 cm; Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy; (add.info.: Les Trois Archanges et Tobie fils;); Alinari; Italian, out of copyright
