How many choirs of angels are there? There are nine “choirs of angels. “St. Paul clearly distinguishes several classes of angelic spirits – thrones and dominations, principalities and powers, archangels and powers, to which Christian tradition has added the cherubim and seraphim, from the Old Testament, and the ‘common’ angels.[i]
What do the different choirs do? Below is a list of the nine choirs and there roles[ii]:
Seraphim - These are the highest choir of angels. They are the angels who are attendants or guardians before God's throne. They praise God, calling, "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts". The only Bible reference for this choir is found in Isaiah 6:1-7 and Revelation 4. One of them touched Isaiah's lips with a live coal from the altar, cleansing him from sin. Seraphim have six wings, two cover their faces, two cover their feet, and two are for flying. Depiction: “Seraphim symbolize fire and love with their six red wings and eyes”[iii]
Is the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom the priest chants,
“It is proper and right to sing to You, bless You, praise You, thank You and worship You in all places of Your dominion; for You are God ineffable, beyond comprehension, invisible, beyond understanding, existing forever and always the same; You and Your only begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us into being out of nothing, and when we fell, You raised us up again. You did not cease doing everything until You led us to heaven and granted us Your kingdom to
come. For all these things we thank You and Your only begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit; for all things that we know and do not know, for blessings seen and unseen that have been bestowed upon us. We also thank You for this liturgy which You are pleased to accept from our hands, even though You are surrounded by thousands of Archangels and tens of thousands of Angels, by the Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring with their wings, Singing the victory hymn, proclaiming, crying out, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to God in the highest.”
The Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) is never sung without the Angels.
MUSIC – Sanctus VII from Mass VII
This is one of many choices for the Sanctus. For more options see the link below:
https://www.ccwatershed.org/kyriale/
Cherubim – Cherubim rank after the seraphim and are the second highest in the nine hierarchies or choirs of angels. The Old Testament does not reveal any evidence that the Jews considered them as intercessors or helpers of God. They were closely linked in God's glory. They are manlike in appearance and double-winged and were guardians of God's glory. They symbolized then, God's power and mobility. In the New Testament, they are alluded to as celestial attendants in the Apocalypse (Rv 4-6). Catholic tradition describes them as angels who have an intimate knowledge of God and continually praise Him. Depiction: “cherubim, with four eyed wings of blue and holding a book, indicate their great knowledge”[iv]
Thrones – Thrones are the Angels of pure Humility, Peace and Submission. They reside in the area of the cosmos where material form begins to take shape. The lower Choir of Angels need the Thrones to access God. Depiction: “The thrones are shown kneeling in adoration.”[v]
Dominions – Dominions are Angels of Leadership. They regulate the duties of the angels, making known the commands of God. Depiction: “dominations, in royal robes, are crowned for authority”[vi]
Virtues – Virtues are known as the Spirits of Motion and control the elements. They are sometimes referred to as "the shining ones." They govern all nature. They have control over seasons, stars, moon; even the sun is subject to their command. They are also in charge of miracles and provide courage, grace, and valor. Depiction: “virtues, two-eyed, are charged with dispensing celestial miracles”[vii]
Powers – Powers are Warrior Angels against evil defending the cosmos and humans. They are known as potentates. They fight against evil spirits who attempt to wreak chaos through human beings. The chief is said to be either Samael or Camael, both angels of darkness. Depiction: “the powers, holding swords, indicate their conquest of the evil spirits shown under their feet”[viii]
Archangels – Archangels are generally taken to mean "chief or leading angel" (Jude 9; 1 Thes 4:16), they are the most frequently mentioned throughout the Bible. They may be of this or other hierarchies as St. Michael Archangel, who is a princely Seraph. The Archangels have a unique role as God's messenger to the people at critical times in history and salvation (Tb 12:6, 15; Jn 5:4; Rv 12:7-9) as in The Annunciation and Apocalypse. A feast day celebrating the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael is celebrated throughout the Church Sep 29. A special part of the Byzantine Liturgy invokes the "Cherubic Hymn" which celebrates these archangels and the guardian angels particularly.
Of special significance is St. Michael as he has been invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles. The Eastern Rite and many others place him over all the angels, as Prince of the Seraphim. He is described as the "chief of princes" and as the leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over Satan and his followers. The angel Gabriel first appeared in the Old Testament in the prophesies of Daniel, he announced the prophecy of 70 weeks (Dn 9:21-27). He appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist (Lk 1:11). It was also Gabriel which proclaimed the Annunciation of Mary to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour. (Lk 1:26) The angel Raphael first appeared in the book of Tobit (Tobias)Tb 3:25, 5:5-28, 6-12). He announces "I am the Angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the throne of God." (Tb 12:15). Depictions: “Archangels are variously depicted: Michael driving Satan into hell; Gabriel announcing the Incarnation to Mary; Raphael healing the blind Tobit.”[ix]
Principalities – “The angels who belong to the highest choir in the lowest order of the angelic hosts. With the archangels and angels they form that heavenly multitude who are God’s ordinary and immediate servants in what pertains to the visible world. It is probablye that whole countries are assigned to the care of certain principalities.”[x] Depictions: “The principalities carry scepters to assist in their direction of God’s command.”[xi]
Angels – These angels are closest to the material world and human begins. They deliver the prayers to God and God's answers and other messages to humans. Angels have the capacity to access any and all other Angels at any time. They are the most caring and social to assist those who ask for help. Depiction: “The emblem of St. Frances of Rome is his guardian angel, whom she saw daily in visible form.”[xii]
What does our guardian angel do for us? “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their (angels) watchful care and intercession.”[xiii] Saint Bernard writes they are fearless and courageous protectors in all dangers against our body and soul. “They cannot be conquered or led away, they protect us in all our paths. They are faithful, mighty and wise, why should we tremble? Only let us follow them, cling to them, and remain under the protection of God, the Lord of Heaven.”[xiv]
Does everyone have a guardian angel? Yes. Jesus attest to this, “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”[xv].
[See also Link to Liturgy Packet - Feast Days - Guardian Angels]
What about those who do wicked things? “God protects the body of even the most hardened sinner, that he may not perish before the time, but the holy angel can have no pleasure in a sinner. St. Basil the Great says: ‘As smoke scatters the bees, and offensive smell disperses the doves, so does horrible, lamentable sin turn from us the angel, the guardian of life. But if a sinner repents: then there is joy in heaven, as the Savior asserts: There shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance!”[xvi] In fact, the angels cannot wait for repentant sinners because they see how good God is. St. Bernard says: “The tears of the penitents are wine for the angels”.
Why, then, had God no mercy on the fallen angels? The simple answer is they were created by God, saw God face to face and were meant to be with Him for all eternity. They knew there was a God, an afterlife, and they knew that God is all good. “We must know here that the fall was to the angels what death is to man; for the angels there was no repentance after the fall, as for man there is no repentance after death”[xvii] “In eternity there is no available contrition and penance, so God showed no mercy to the fallen angels. Let us learn from this, to make ourselves participators in the mercy of God, by contrition and penance while there is yet time.”[xviii]
VIDEO – Fulton Sheen - Life is Worth Living "Angels" – POP CULTURE CONNECTION – 9:24
[i] Hardon, Catholic Catechism pg. 85
[ii] The main part is from http://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/angelchoir.php the quotes are from Modern Catholic Dictionary
[iii] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, pg. 25
[iv] ibid.
[v] ibid.
[vi] ibid.
[vii] ibid.
[viii] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, pg. 25
[ix] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, pg. 25
[x] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictonary, pg. 440
[xi] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, pg. 25
[xii] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, pg. 25
[xiii] CCC 336
[xiv] The Church’s Year, pg. 697
[xv] Mt. 18:10
[xvi] The Church’s Year pg. 696
[xvii] St. John of Damascus, De fid. Orthod. Lib.2. c.4
[xviii] The Church’s Year, pg. 50