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Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Luke 12:49-53
Saint of the Day
Saint Abercius
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Abercius

Module presentation 1 - A peep into the Angelic World

Perfectly intelligent, incapable of suffering, immortal, able to act without effort, to know without studying, and to communicate without words—these are the dreams of humanity throughout the ages. In our own day, the restless pursuit of technology seeks to achieve these seemingly impossible ideals. Yet such beings truly exist, and we have much to learn and gain from knowing them: the Holy Angels.

In this first module of the three-part course on the Holy Angels, we enter into their fascinating and awe-inspiring world. Do angels exist? Can we know this with certainty? When were they created? Do they possess any kind of body? How do they act? Can they know God, know one another, and know us? Are they capable of love?

Drawing from revealed doctrine—Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium—together with theological and philosophical reflection, this course seeks to answer these questions about these members of creation, who are called to share Heaven with us for all eternity, if we remain faithful. And they are here to help us attain that goal.

Join us on this journey into one of the least explored realms of creation: the spiritual world of the Holy Angels.

 

Content

Module presentation Module lessons Bibliographic references Comments

Module lessons 1

Light in the darkness - a spiritual combat!

1. Light in the darkness - a spiritual combat!

The history of creation began even before we humans made our appearance on the scene. But, it began with a great war, the like of which has never been known since! “Then war broke out in heaven” (Rev 12:7), the Book of Revelation tells us. The first battle ended in Heaven, but the war continues. And whether we realize it or not, we’re all drawn into this spiritual combat. But we have strong allies! In this first lesson of the course, Fr. Timothy Ring introduces the subject of angelology from this perspective: The Angels are our defenders on earth and will continue to be our companions for all eternity!  
Angels – Do they really exist?

2. Angels – Do they really exist?

In this second lesson of the course, Fr. Timothy Ring begins to deal with the important question of the existence of the Angels. In our materialistic world, we’re often unwittingly led to believe that concrete palpable realities are the only ones that exist, or at least that truly matter. Nothing farther from the truth! What we see is only the tip of the iceberg of creation!  
Proofs for the existence of Angels from revelation

3. Proofs for the existence of Angels from revelation

We do not owe the faith that we Catholics profess simply to reason, but to the authority of God who reveals them through the Church. In this third lesson, Fr. Timothy Ring gives the proofs for the existence of Angels from Scripture, the teachings of the Church and from the writings of the Fathers of the Church.  
Angels - Can we prove their existence from reason?

4. Angels - Can we prove their existence from reason?

The existence of Angels is an article of our faith, and we should believe it simply because of the authority of the Church. But, faith and reason are both about truth. And there’s only one truth: God’s truth. That’s why faith cannot contradict reason. So, can we prove the existence of Angels from reason? With the help of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Timothy tries to do just that in this lesson.  
Creation and Number of the Angels

5. Creation and Number of the Angels

When did the Angels come into existence? Were they created by God? How can we know anything about this? And how many Angels exist? Is their number very great? In this lesson, Fr. Timothy Ring shows, from Scripture and the writings of the Saints, what we know about this.  
Angelic Nature I

6. Angelic Nature I

To understand a nature that is superior to us seems an impossible mental game. But, what we believe must have at least some foundation in reason. If not the Catholic faith would be completely arbitrary. From sound philosophical and theological principles, we can arrive at some conclusions about the nature of the Angels. In this first lesson on the nature of the Angels, Fr. Timothy Ring explains what theology teaches about the spiritual nature of the Angels.  
Angelic Nature II

7. Angelic Nature II

How many Angels can dance on a pinhead at the same time? A literary giant once asked this question to mock those who study Angelology. It is, however, a valid question. Can many Angels be in the same place at the same time? In this lesson, Fr. Timothy Ring deals with this and several other curious problems about angelic nature.  
Angelic Knowledge I

8. Angelic Knowledge I

For us to try to understand angelic knowledge might seem a little like a pet trying to understand its owner. Well, that’s the kind of intellectual adventure you’re invited to in this lesson! Find out what we know and what we can know about what the Angels know.  
Angelic Knowledge II

9. Angelic Knowledge II

Do Angels really know everything? Can the Angels read our minds? Do they know the future? What do they know about God’s plans for the world? All this and more in this lesson in which Fr. Timothy gets into the nitty-gritty of angelic knowledge.  
Angelic Will

10. Angelic Will

To end this first module of the course on the Angels, we’ll be talking about the angelic will. Do Angels have free will? Do they love? Whom? Very interesting questions that might also teach us something about ourselves.  

Bibliographic References

IRIBARREN, Isabel; LENZ, Martin (ed.). Angels in Medieval Philosophical Inquiry: Their Function and Significance. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2008.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

ADLER, Mortimer J. The Angels and Us. New York: Macmillan, 1982.

BONINO, Serge-Thomas, O.P. Angels and Demons: A Catholic Introduction. Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 2016.

CRUZ, Joan Carroll. Angels and Devils. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1999.

DENZINGER, Heinrich. Enchiridion Symbolorum. [The Sources of Catholic Dogma] Fitzwilliam: Loreto Publications.

EUTENEIER, Thomas J. Exorcism and the Church Militant. Human Life International, 2010.

FARRELL, Walter, O.P. A Companion to the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas: The Architect of the Universe. Fitzwilliam: Loreto Publications, 2022.

GARRIGOU-LAGRANGE, Réginald, O.P. Reality: A Synthesis of Thomistic Thought. St. Louis: Herder, 1950.

GILSON, Étienne. Thomism: The Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2002.

GILSON, Étienne. The Philosophy of St. Bonaventure. Paterson: St. Anthony Guild Press, 1965.

HUBER, Georges. Mi Ángel marchará delante de ti. Madrid: Ediciones Palabra.

KECK, David. Angels and Angelology in the Middle Ages. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

KREEFT, Peter. Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know About Them? San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1995.

KREEFT, Peter. The Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. Chantilly: Recorded Books, 2009.

LÉPICIER, Alexius M., O.S.M. The Unseen World. New York: Benziger Brothers, 1906.

MORAZZANI ARRÁIZ, Pedro Rafael, EP (org.). A criação e os Anjos. São Paulo: Lumen Sapientiae, 2015.

OTT, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1974.

ROYO MARÍN, Antonio, O.P. Dios y su obra. Madrid: BAC, 1963.

WILHELM, Joseph; SCANNELL, Thomas B. A Manual of Catholic Theology. London: Benziger Brothers, 1909, vols. I–II.

WILLIS, John R., S.J. (ed.). The Teachings of the Church Fathers. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2002.

See also

Spirituality

The Theological Virtues
Spirituality

The Path to Holiness
Spirituality

Understanding the Three Phases of the Spiritual Life
Spirituality

A Spiritual Retreat
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