15. THE QUESTION WAS: Animals are purely physical creatures. Angels are purely spiritual beings. What is the ONLY creature that is a mix of the physical and spiritual?
a. dolphins
b. humans
c. dragons
d. The Blob
THE ANSWER IS....B....Humans are both physical AND spiritual beings, and will remain that way in heaven.
Angels are purely spiritual beings. They adore and enjoy God in heaven. Unlike humans, who have a chance to be saved if they sin, angels who rejected God were cast into hell and became demons.
The highest order of angels are Seraphim. Then cherubim. There are also Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels and regular angels.
BELOW IS THE CATHOLIC TEACHING ON ANGELS FROM THE CATECHISM
The existence
of angels - a truth of faith
328
The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture
usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture
is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.
Who are they?
329 St.
Augustine says: "'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature.
If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of
their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do,
'angel.'"188 With their whole beings the angels are servants and
messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is
in heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to
the voice of his word".189
330 As purely
spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal
and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the
splendor of their glory bears witness.190
Christ
"with all his angels"
331
Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels:
"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him. .
"191 They belong to him because they were created through and
for him: "for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or
authorities - all things were created through him and for him."192
They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving
plan: "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the
sake of those who are to obtain salvation?"193
332 Angels
have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation,
announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of
the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar
and her child; stayed Abraham's hand; communicated the law by their ministry;
led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets,
just to cite a few examples.194 Finally, the angel Gabriel announced
the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.195
333
From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is
surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God "brings the
firstborn into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship him.'"196
Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the
Church's praise: "Glory to God in the highest!"197 They
protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his
agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his
enemies as Israel had been.198 Again, it is the angels who
"evangelize" by proclaiming the Good News of Christ's Incarnation and
Resurrection.199 They will be present at Christ's return, which they
will announce, to serve at his judgement.200
The angels in
the life of the Church
334
In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and
powerful help of angels.201
335
In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God.
She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy's In Paradisum deducant
te angeli. . .["May the angels lead you into Paradise. . ."]).
Moreover, in the "Cherubic Hymn" of the Byzantine Liturgy, she
celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St.
Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).
336
From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care
and intercession.202 "Beside each believer stands an angel as
protector and shepherd leading him to life."203 Already here on
earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and
men united in God.
350 Angels
are spiritual creatures who glorify God without ceasing and who serve his saving
plans for other creatures: "The angels work together for the benefit of us
all" (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I, 114, 3, ad 3).
351 The
angels surround Christ their Lord. They serve him especially in the
accomplishment of his saving mission to men.
352 The
Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect
every human being.
353 God
willed the diversity of his creatures and their own particular goodness, their
interdependence and their order. He destined all material creatures for the good
of the human race. Man, and through him all creation, is destined for the glory
of God.
354 Respect
for laws inscribed in creation and the relations which derive from the nature of
things is a principle of wisdom and a foundation for morality
414 Satan or
the devil and the other demons are fallen angels who have freely refused to
serve God and his plan. Their choice against God is definitive. They try to
associate man in their revolt against God.
1034 Jesus
often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire"
reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be
converted, where both soul and body can be lost.614 Jesus solemnly
proclaims that he "will send his angels, and they will gather . . .
all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire,"615 and
that he will pronounce the condemnation: "Depart from me, you cursed, into
the eternal fire!"616
1192 Sacred
images in our churches and homes are intended to awaken and nourish our faith in
the mystery of Christ. Through the icon of Christ and his works of salvation, it
is he whom we adore. Through sacred images of the holy Mother of God, of the
angels and of the saints, we venerate the persons represented
See: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c1p5.htm#329
Other info on angels
http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/FICFACT.htm (ANGELS: Fact & Fiction)
http://www.catholic.org/saints/anglchoi.shtml (Hierarchy of Angels)
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/ANGELTR.htm (Angels Are a Truth of Faith)
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm (All About Angels)
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