How many kinds of angels are there?; Angels: Day 012

How many kinds of angels are there?

We commonly mention nine kinds of angels, but Origen, the first great system– atic theologian of  Christianity,  speculates that there might be more orders we don’t know about. There may well be angels whose roles we can’t understand until we reach Heaven.

In Holy Scripture, we find numerous names of certain orders and offices, not only of holy beings, but also of those of the opposite type. There are certain holy angels of God whom Paul calls ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. In the writings of St. Paul we find him designating them, from some unknown source, as Thrones, and Dominions, and Principalities, and Powers.

And after this list, as if he knew that there were still other rational offices and orders besides the ones he had named, he says of the Savior that he is “far above all Rule and Authority and Power and Dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:21). Thus he shows that there were certain beings besides those which he had mentioned, which may be named indeed in this world, but were not listed by him now, and perhaps were not known by anyone else; and that there were others which may not be named in this world, but will be named in the world to come. –Origen, De Principiis, 1.5.1

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I marvel at the variety of God’s creation? Have I stopped to think that life in Heaven is infinitely richer even than life here on Earth?

CLOSING PRAYER

Angels of God, win me the grace of a holy awe before God’s creation.

________________________________________________________________________________