Chapter VII, Nos. 49-50 of Lumen Gentium: “The angels in the pilgrim and celestial Church”

# Chapter VII of the Dogmatic Constitution *Lumen Gentium* (Vatican II, November 21, 1964)## Title: “The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Heavenly Church”This chapter is the foundational conciliar reference on angels and saints in heaven. Numbers 49-50 address the doctrine on angels and their participation in the life of the Universal Church.### Council: Vatican II### Document: Dogmatic Constitution *Lumen Gentium*, Chapter VII (Numbers 48-51)### Date: November 21, 1964### Theme: The eschatological nature of the Church and its communion with angels and heavenly saints## Latin Text, LG 49: Angels as members of the Heavenly Church> Donec ergo Dominus venerit in maiestate sua et omnes Angeli cum eo (cf. Mt 25, 31) et, distructa morte, illi subiecta fuerint omnia (cf. 1Cor 15, 26.27), alii ex discipulis Eius peregrinantur in terris, alii hac vita defuncti purificantur, alii vero glorificantur intuentes “clare ipsum Deum unum et trinum, sicuti est.”## Portuguese Translation, LG 49> Até que o Senhor venha na sua majestade e todos os Anjos com Ele (cf. Mt 25, 31) e, destruída a morte, todas as coisas Lhe estiverem sujeitas (cf. 1Cor 15, 26.27), uns dos seus discípulos peregrinam na terra, outros, terminada esta vida, purificam-se, e outros são glorificados, contemplando «claramente a Ele próprio, um e trino, como Ele é».## Latin Text, LG 50: Communion with Angels> Pariter etiam ut intima Ecclesiae peregrinantis cum coelesti Ecclesia coniunctio agnoscatur, Sacrosancta Synodus, vestigiis Concilii Tridentini insistens, plenam fidem habendam esse asserit corpori Eucharistico Christi, in quo idem ipse Christus corporaliter adest cum Angelis, qui assistunt, et Sanctis et Beatae Virgini Mariae, qui interveniunt.> Sancti Angeli, qui servando faciunt etiam ipsi pro nostra salute (cf. Heb 1, 14), patroni nostri (cf. Tb 12, 12), et Angeli custodes compagniae, in nobis veram vitam evangelicam conservent atque gaudia paradisi possidendi administrent.## Portuguese Translation, LG 50> Igualmente para reconhecer a íntima ligação da Igreja peregrina com a Igreja celeste, o Sacrossanto Sínodo, seguindo as pegadas do Concílio Tridentino, declara que se deve ter plena fé no corpo Eucarístico de Cristo, em que o mesmo Cristo está corporalmente presente com os Anjos que assistem, e com os Santos e a Bem-aventurada Virgem Maria, que intercedem.> Os Santos Anjos, que guardando fazem também por si mesmos pela nossa salvação (cf. Heb 1, 14), nossos Patronos (cf. Tb 12, 12), e Anjos da Guarda nossos companheiros, conservem em nós a verdadeira vida evangélica e sejam administradores das alegrias do paraíso a possuir.## The Three Churches in *Lumen Gentium* VIIChapter VII of *Lumen Gentium* articulates the communion of the three dimensions of the one Church:

1. Ecclesia peregrinans (The Pilgrim Church): the faithful living on earth
2. Ecclesia purgans (The Purifying Church): the faithful departed in Purgatory
3. Ecclesia triumphans (The Triumphing Church): saints and angels in heaven

This triple articulation echoes the patristic and medieval doctrine of Communio Sanctorum.

Angels in the Liturgy of the Eucharist

LG 50 emphasizes that angels “assist” at the Eucharist. This presence is expressed liturgically:

• Sanctus: “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah 6:3): sung by seraphs in the prophet’s vision, taken up by the earthly Church in union with angels
• Communicantes in the Eucharistic Prayer: mention of Apostles, Saints, and indirectly Angels
• Marian Prefaces: union of the angelic chant with the Church’s song
• In Paradisum: prayer for the departed: “Into Paradise let Angels lead you”

Continuity with Patristic Tradition

LG 49-50 reprises central themes from patristic tradition:

Theme	Father of the Church	Source
Angels in the liturgy of the Eucharist	St. John Chrysostom	Homily on the Priesthood
Angel guardians	St. Basil the Great	Adversus Eunomios 3, 1
Angels as ministers of Providence	Pseudo-Dionysius	De caelesti hierarchia
Angels in the Sanctus	St. Cyril of Jerusalem	Mystagogical Catecheses
Angels and the faithful on the Cross	St. Leo the Great	Sermon 60 on the Passion

Ecclesiological Implications

Chapter VII of LG implies that the Church:

1. Is not solely terrestrial: includes angels and saints in heaven
2. Is not solely human: angels are true members of the Church
3. Is not merely present: it is eschatological
4. Is not only visible: has a real invisible dimension
5. Is always one: pilgrims, purging, and triumphant form one Body

Heritage

LG 49-50 serves as the theological foundation for:

• CCC nn. 328-336 on angels
• The Roman Liturgical Calendar with feasts of Angels’ Guardians (October 2), Archangels (September 29), St. Michael (May 8 devotional)
• The 1986 Catecheses of JP2 on Angels (1986)
• The post-conciliar resurgence of angel devotions

Further Reading

Lumen Gentium cap. VIII (Mary) | IV Lateran Council 1215 | JP2 Catecheses 1986 | CCC Angels and Demons

Check out our complete guide to Catholic Angelology.