Roman Catechism (1566) – the doctrine on angels and demons

# The Doctrine on Angels in the Roman Catechism## Structure of the Teaching (n. 17-23)**n. 17 – Creation of Angels:**> *Latin:* Praeter spiritualia substantias, sive Angelos creavit Deus eo tempore quo coeli formatus est sive prius, ut ex sacris litteris est evidentius, ad illius decoris pulchritudinemque additam: nam scrptum est «*Cum me laudarent simul astra matutina et iubilarent omnes filii Dei»* (Job 38:7). > > *Portuguese:* Além das substâncias espirituais ou Anjos, Deus criou-os no tempo em que foi formado o céu, ou antes, como mais evidentemente se conclui das Sagradas Letras, para acrescer ao seu adorno e beleza: pois está escrito «*Quando juntos louvavam-me as estrelas matutinas e jubilavam todos os filhos de Deus»* (Jo 38, 7).**n. 18 – Nature of Angels:**Angels are pure spirits, devoid of any material substance, endowed with intelligence and will, not mixed with any matter. They possess knowledge through intuition (not discourse like humans), know each other perfectly, and have free will.**n. 19 – The Nine Orders of Angels:**Following Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagita (5th c.) and Thomas Aquinas (13th c.), the Roman Catechism presents the nine orders of angels in three hierarchies:| Hierarchy | Choirs | Function | |—|—|—| | 1st (Supreme) | Seraphims, Cherubs, Thrones | Direct contemplation of God | | 2nd (Intermediate) | Dominations, Virtues, Powers | Governance of the cosmos | | 3rd (Inferior) | Principates, Archangels, Angels | Custody over individuals and nations |**n. 20 – Guardian Angels:**Every faithful person has a Guardian Angel assigned by God from birth. The Angel protects the Christian from the wiles of Satan, sustains him in temptations, comforts him in tribulations, and presents him to God at the hour of death. This truth is founded on Matthew 18:10 («*For behold, your angels continually see the face of my Father who is in heaven*») and Psalm 91:11 («*He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go*»).**n. 21 – The Fall of Rebellious Angels:****Quote:**> Among the sublime Angels, Lucifer, our Enemy’s head, is recognized. Exalted by his creation, he swelled with pride and arrogance, thinking against God, he was precipitated into base crimes, driven from the clear seat of heaven to the dark infernos, along with an infinite multitude of Angels deceived, who followed Lucifer’s wicked deeds with equal fervor.**Section 22, The Devil’s Envy Towards Man:**The rebel angels became envious of humanity’s happiness before their fall. Through envy, Satan, taking on the form of a serpent, tempted Eve and Adam, leading them to disobedience. Therefore, “by the devil’s envy death entered into the world” (Wisdom 2:24).**Section 23, The Continuous Action of the Devil:**Even after Christ’s Cross and Resurrection, Satan continues to tempt the faithful. St. Peter warns: “Be sober and vigilant; your adversary, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The Church provides spiritual weapons against evil: grace through sacraments, prayer, fasting, and virtue.**Roman Catechism and Devotion to Angels:**The Roman Catechism established devotion to Guardian Angels in the universal Church:– Daily practice of praying to one’s Guardian Angel – Feast of Guardian Angels (October 2) – Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (September 29) – Inclusion of Angels in the Loretto Prayer (Regina Angelorum)**Continuity with the CCC:**The 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterates almost verbatim statements from the Roman Catechism regarding angels:| Topic | Roman Catechism (1566) | CCC (1992) | |—|—|—| | Existence of Angels | Part I, Art. I, n. 17 | n. 328 | | Spiritual Nature | Part I, Art. I, n. 18 | nn. 329-330 | | Guardian Angels | Part I, Art. I, n. 20 | n. 336 | | Fall of Satan | Part I, Art. I, nn. 21-22 | nn. 391-393 | | Action of the Devil | Part I, Art. I, n. 23 | nn. 394-395 |**Recommended Reading:**– IV Council of Lateran (1215) – *Firmiter Credimus* on Angels and Demons – Florence Council (1442) – *Cantate Domino* – Roman Catechism (Mariology) – CCC on Angels and Demons

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