Seven angels closer to God are Archangels?

[Me Myself]

I had this question the other day that a priest couldn´t answer (well, it was a day long ago )

There are like 9 types of angels. Archangel is one of the lowest types (just above angel) and Seraphin is the highest which are supposed to be closer to God.

How so are Michael, Raphael and Gabriel one of the 7 closer to God if they are archangels? Are they archangels and seraphins too?

What is the posture of the catholic church on this?

 

[Quiddity]

This is good stuff and I'm not surprised the priest doesn't know by the way.

What's up with you lately? You have been going down some deep paths of the RC lately.

Maybe there is quite a bit you don't know about the faith you left?

I'll come back later to answer this.....gotta do something at the moment.

 

[Me Myself]

Well, this is not that lately but an oooold queston I had

To be honest when I had it I was trying to make up a manga that had christian subjects, had angels and demons. So I was also looking up demonology then :bat:

I´ll be waiting for you

 

[Me Myself]

What got me kinda angry when I asked the priest was that he didn´t even know the 9 orders of the angels or who Dionisious of Aereopagita was.

 

[Quiddity]

The taxonomy of angelology goes as follows:

1. Seraphim
2. Cherubim
3. Powers
4. Principalities
5. Archangels
6. Thrones
7. Dominions
8. Virtues
8. Angels


However, the order of the hierarchy is debatable, but this is what is generally accepted. St. Thomas speaks of the possibility of archangels and even principalities being guardian angels (especially of nations). This is where it can be argued that Christians can also be Henotheist.

It should also be noted that each type is of a different species. Like the difference between a bee and a lion for example. Not many people know that.

 

[Me Myself]

thanks, I am aware of that orfer, the thing is that according to that the Seraphims are the ones closer to God.

BUT allegedly, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are some of the 7 angels that are closer to God.

This is curious given that they would have to be seraphims to be the closest according to the example you provide. That is more or less my question. How is this incoherency solved.

 

[Quiddity]

It gets even trickier when you consider that Satan was, according to the Tradition of the Church, the highest of the angels.

Satan was a Cherub and Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, are archangels. Yet, according to tradition Michael beat the snot out of Satan. So it's clear that the higher you are in the totem pole, has little to say to your actual power (as in strength if you will) ability. It is known to mean that you have more "knowledge" the higher you are. And yes, that means you are closer to God. Or atleast it did in Satan's case. He may have very well of been a Seraph if he didn't rebel.

 

[Quiddity]

Due note that I didn't mean to say there was 9 different species of angels; only that they all weren't of the same species. In otherwords, there is probably only 5 different types of species and the rest are just titles. I can't remember how many there actually is. Have to dig it up.

 

[Me Myself]

How curious how curious @_@ so Satan was a Querub before rebeling?

Does the catholic church have no current answer for this current incoherences or am I missing something? :ninja:

 

[Quiddity]

How curious how curious @_@ so Satan was a Querub before rebeling?

Does the catholic church have no current answer for this current incoherences or am I missing something? :ninja:

Well, technically, he still is a Cherub. The difference is he was never given the gift of beatific vision (topic for another day).

What incoherence? That the angels you mentioned are the closest to God? I'd have to hear in what context it was said. You have something I can look at?

 

[Me Myself]

To be honestI dont remember it, I just remember it was on the bible. Maybe on apocalipsis, but maybe not :S

I think I´ll search it out and then come back

 

[Renji]

I had this question the other day that a priest couldn´t answer (well, it was a day long ago )

There are like 9 types of angels.

Well, you can't actually consider it as "types" because the "name" angels (from "angelos" which means messengers) itself pertains to the function/duty of these spiritual beings, not on their nature. Hence, you cannot classify them into "types" like how you classify frogs, breed of dogs. etc. It is more appropriate to say that there are 9 "choirs", "assembly" or divine offices of angels.

Archangel is one of the lowest types (just above angel) and Seraphin is the highest which are supposed to be closer to God.

How so are Michael, Raphael and Gabriel one of the 7 closer to God if they are archangels? Are they archangels and seraphins too?

What is the posture of the catholic church on this?[/quote]

About Michael ("WHO IS LIKE GOD"), he was venerated by the Church and considered Prince of Heavenly Hosts because of combating Satan and his minions. Even though he was just an archangel, he was "lifted up" because of his "humility" that defeated the "pride" of Satan. He also has a role in the book of Revelation.Raphael (GOD HEALS)is regarded as the "healer" and Gabriel is the "messenger" ("THE STRENGTH OF GOD") (sometimes regarded as the guardian of the universal Church). They're "closer" because they are the only angels (from the 9 choirs) whose names are mentioned in the Bible (and some other reasons that can perhaps be answered by Thomasian philosophy and apologetics).

 

[Renji]

The taxonomy of angelology goes as follows:

1. Seraphim
2. Cherubim
3. Powers
4. Principalities
5. Archangels
6. Thrones
7. Dominions
8. Virtues
8. Angels


However, the order of the hierarchy is debatable, but this is what is generally accepted. St. Thomas speaks of the possibility of archangels and even principalities being guardian angels (especially of nations). This is where it can be argued that Christians can also be Henotheist.

It should also be noted that each type is of a different species. Like the difference between a bee and a lion for example. Not many people know that.

And this too.

 

[TomD]

Archangel in Scripture generally infers a higher order of angel. Thus 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says "For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel" which, when you think about it, is surely the wrong way round? What is an angel, even an archangel, compared to God?

In the Tradition, the named archangels are considered Seraphs, or one might say they are the officers in the highest choir of angel, but one might also say that there are archangels in every choir ...

Michael is patron and protector of the Church from the time of the Apostles, a Prince of the Seraphim. Gabriel also plays a significant part. Raphael says "I am the Angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the throne of God." (Tobit 12:15), so properly an archangel, although archangels are angels too, and Raphael doesn't like to make a fuss about the fact he's an archangel

Hey Renji, it's worse than that: each angel is its own species!

Scripture has nothing to say about the fall of angels, Tradition nothing definitive. The Moslem Tradition holds that the angels fell over a dispute about the status of man, as God made Adam, and then told the angels they must serve him, at which point Satan said "Him? You are asking me, Satan, the brightest of the bright, etc., etc., to serve that, a thing made of mud and spit, are you ... " at which point he experienced a new, sudden and somewhat uncomfortable sensation ... well, that's the way they tell it (embellished a bit by me ... )

God bless

Thomas
(PS, if I said the best selling clothing line for angels (apart from wing-warmers) is a white T with the message "Don't cross the Boss" ... would anyone believe me?)