Angels

When you recite the Sanctus each Sunday, do you think about who the “hosts” are in the line “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts”? The “hosts” are archangels and angels.

The Catechism of the Catholic Churchdedicates 27 paragraphs on angels starting with CCC 328. Angels were created by God to be his servants and messengers. They battle Satan, take the souls of the faithful departed to heaven, and are champions of the Church.

Our guardian angels serve an active purpose, according to St. Basil:

“From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.’ Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” (CCC 336)

Guardian angels can send good thoughts into our minds and motivate us to do what is good. They take our prayers and good works to God, and they can show us the will of God. Just as we can ask the saints to pray for us, we can ask our guardian angels for protection and guidance.

“When tempted, invoke your angel,” St. John Bosco said. “He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your guardian angel.”

In this Catholic Update, learn more about “the heavenly hosts” who are eager to help us now, here on earth, and after.