Why Do We Need Our Angels? 

Why Do We Need Our Angels? 

(A Catholic Overview with Scripture and Catechism References)

I love my angels. Those who know me are familiar with my many narrations of angels assisting me daily. An earlier post describes one of the many adventures my angels and I embarked on. You can read about it here.

Angels are not mythical beings or fairies, nor are they human souls who have died. Angels are magnificent creatures created by God to worship God, carry out His plans, and assist us.

The Catholic Church teaches that angels are real spiritual beings. They are pure spirits with intelligence and free will. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that belief in angels is a truth of faith (CCC 328), they are servants and messengers of God (CCC 329–331), and Christ is the center of the angelic world (CCC 331).

I had a lot of ideas about angels, but I will simplify my post as much as possible to make it easier to understand. This post will concentrate on the numerous times the angels are mentioned in Scripture and the ways they assist us.

Angels in the Old Testament

From Genesis to Revelation, angels are active in God’s plan

(Angels appear early in salvation history.)

  • Hagar meets the angel of the Lord in the wilderness (Genesis 16:7–11; 21:17–19). She is comforted and reminded that God sees her.
  • Jacob dreams of angels ascending and descending between heaven and earth (Genesis 28:12), showing that heaven and earth are connected.
  • Moses encounters the angel of the Lord in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2).
  • An angel calls Gideon to save Israel (Judges 6:11–24).
  • Elijah is fed and strengthened by an angel (1 Kings 19:5–7).
  • Psalm 103:20–22 describes angels as mighty ones who obey God’s word.
  • In Tobit 12:15, the Archangel Raphael reveals himself as one of the seven who stand before God, guiding and healing.
  • In Daniel 6:22; 9:21; 10:13, angels protect Daniel and explain visions. The Archangel Gabriel interprets prophecy, and Michael is described as the protector of God’s people.
  • In 2 Esdras 4–5, the angel Uriel explains divine mysteries.

Angels protect, guide, strengthen, and reveal God’s will.

 

Angels in the New Testament

Angels in the Life of Christ

(Angels surround the life of Jesus.)

  • At the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38), the Archangel Gabriel announces the Incarnation.
  • An angel appears to Joseph in dreams (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19–20), protecting the Holy Family.
  • At the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8–14), angels proclaim the Good News.
  • After the temptation (Matthew 4:11), angels minister to Jesus.
  • In the Garden of Olives (Luke 22:43), an angel strengthens Him.
  • Jesus says He could call twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53).
  • At the Resurrection (Matthew 28:2–7; John 20:12), angels announce He is risen.
  • At the Ascension (Acts 1:10–11), angels speak to the apostles.

The Catechism says that from the Incarnation to the Ascension, Christ’s life is surrounded by angelic adoration and service (CCC 333–334).

 

Angels in the Early Church and Revelation

After Christ ascends, angels continue to assist the Church.

  • Acts 5:19 – An angel frees the apostles.
  • Acts 12:7–11 – An angel frees Peter.
  • Hebrews 1:14 – Angels are ministering spirits serving those who inherit salvation.
  • In the Book of Revelation, angels worship before God, sound trumpets, and carry out divine judgment. Michael leads the heavenly battle (the entire book of Revelation).

 

Our Guardian Angels

Jesus teaches that each person has angels who see the Father’s face (Matthew 18:10). The Church teaches that each believer has a guardian angel from infancy to death (CCC 336). Guardian angels protect and guide, showing God’s personal care.

 

Angels During the Mass

The Mass unites heaven and earth. Scripture reveals heavenly worship:

  • Isaiah 6:3 – Seraphim cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
  •  Revelation 4:8; 5:11–12 – Angels worship the Lamb.
  • Hebrews 12:22–24 – Believers come to innumerable angels in a festal gathering.
  • Revelation 8:3–4 – An angel offers incense with the prayers of the saints.

 

The Catechism teaches that in the liturgy the Church joins the angels in adoration (CCC 335; 1138). The Eucharist is a foretaste of heavenly glory (CCC 1326).

When the Church prays the Sanctus, she echoes the angels’ hymn. In the Roman Canon, the priest asks that the offering be carried by the hands of God’s holy Angel to the heavenly altar. Tradition speaks of angels surrounding the altar during the Eucharistic sacrifice.

 

The Nine Choirs of Angels

(Christian tradition describes nine choirs of angels, based on passages such as Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:21.)

 

First Hierarchy – Closest to God

Seraphim – Burning with love; cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah 6:2–3).

Cherubim – Full of knowledge; guard Eden (Genesis 3:24).

Thrones – Seat and reflection of divine authority (Colossians 1:16).

 

Second Hierarchy – Governing Creation

Dominions – Guide lower angels.

Virtues – Associated with strength and miracles.

Powers – Defend against evil (Ephesians 6:12).

 

Third Hierarchy – Serving Humanity

Principalities – Care for nations (Daniel 10:13).

Archangels – Bring important messages; Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are named in Scripture.

Angels – Closest to individuals; include guardian angels (CCC 336).

Angels remind us that heaven is near, that we are never alone, and that when we worship Jesus, we join the eternal praise of the angels: “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.”

From Hagar in Genesis to the prophetic, cosmic visions of Revelation, angels are revealed as active and multifaceted servants of God, deeply involved in both divine and human affairs, their presence woven into the tapestry of the life of the Church. They appear as messengers who communicate God’s will, protectors who guard and defend, and guides who lead His people along the right path. At times, they stand as warriors and ministers of divine judgment, carrying out God’s justice with authority and purpose. They are also worshippers, constantly glorifying God, and participants in the Church’s liturgy, joining heaven and earth in praise. Scripture presents them as guardians of believers, offering unseen support and care. They are described in powerful imagery as angels of fire, reflecting God’s holiness, and as angels of peace, bringing comfort and reassurance. In all these roles and more, angels serve as faithful instruments of God’s presence, power, and love in the world.

I pray that by now your spirit has been transported to the realm of angels and you feel their presence. You and I need them more than we can imagine. They are there to assist us and bring us nourishment from Heaven. Love your angels. Call them. Your angels are only too delighted to be of assistance, for this is partly why they were created, aside from worshipping God, especially on our behalf.

The Angelic Trisagion

Amanda Dcosta - Pastoral Counselor, Herbalist and Author

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My name is Amanda Dcosta, but most people around me call me Mandy. Hearing “AMANDA!” used to give me the fleeting impression I was in trouble—reminiscent of childhood mischief or grades being handed out in school—a feeling that amusingly lingered even into young adulthood. Don’t get me wrong, I embrace both names. Amanda means “beloved,” and I’ve always felt deeply loved by my family, by friends, and most of all, by God. Even during moments of doubt, I hold fast to the truth that I am loved. Knowing that God loves me gives me joy, the kind of joy that is my strength, the kind that is a gift and a choice, even in the absence of happiness.

Growing up, I was never afraid of adventure or a little mischief. Fear was never an option for my siblings and me. If a competition was announced, we would be the first to raise our hands, even to give speeches in languages we weren’t fluent in (after learning the speeches by heart).

Jesus has always been my anchor, support, strength, and fulcrum upon which many of my life’s decisions balanced, though I’ve made mistakes and had to find my way back to Him. Nevertheless, prayer remained the heartbeat of my life. I remember Fr. Marcelino, an Italian priest who brought the charismatic movement to our parish in 1979. He told me not to be afraid to soar high like an eagle. Intertwining my thumbs together, he turned my hands inside out to make them look like a bird with outspread wings. This was when I was four.

From those early years, it became a habit for my family to pray with our hands stretched out, and to praise and thank God aloud. Singing and recognizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit were big parts of who we were growing up. From daily Bible readings after the recitation of the Rosary to my first locution at seven, these moments shaped my spiritual foundation. The gift of prophecy became my help later in life when I encountered situations involving witchcraft or the occult around me, and continues to be one of my tools of discernment and direction.

My life has been a tapestry of adventures—physical, spiritual, and emotional. I’ve learned the value of fortitude and the beauty of being adventurous in prayer. As Jesus told St. Faustina Kowalska, we do not receive much because we do not ask for much. I am learning to ask boldly, trusting that with God, nothing is impossible. Since embracing the Divine Will way of life, I have seen prayers answered in ways that remind me of a little girl who has her Father wrapped around her little finger. In faith, I ask for anything in Jesus’ name and claim it, knowing that the Father delights in answering His children.

Three years ago, inspired and encouraged by my spiritual director, Fr. Toni Jacob, I stepped into pastoral counseling. With certification and guidance, I now counsel people both in person and online. Alongside counseling, my love for writing and reading, especially the Word of God, continues to grow. I may have been terrible at outdoor sports—I could never run to save my life—but I run the race of faith with all my heart. My goal and ardent prayer is to be a saint in the way God intends, and I wish to help as many people as possible come to know and love God, too.

 

If you would like to set up phone or video appointments for pastoral counseling and/or wellness counseling, Amanda (Mandy) can be reached at mandy12oct@gmail.com.
Amanda Dcosta was born to a Catholic family in Virapandianpatnam (please don’t try to pronounce that) in India; today, she shuttles between India and Oman, a nation on the southeast tip of Saudi Arabia. Her native tongue is English. Naturally gifted as a life coach, and as a pastoral and wellness counselor, she supplemented her gifts with a Certificate Course in Counseling through Osmania University, India, in April 2024, and an intensive Life Coach training. Amanda has also received two years of supervision at the Pastoral Orientation Center in Ernakulam, Kerala, India, under Fr. Toni Jacob, the head of the POC Theological Institute, who refers clients to her for pastoral counseling.
Amanda uses her broad education to help the body heal, as well as the soul. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in botany from Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala, a Master’s Diploma in Hospital Management from the Indian Institute of Management Studies, and a Master’s Certification in Project Management at the Indira Gandhi National Open University—all in India. For over a decade, Mrs. Dcosta worked as an online botany journalist and served as Botany Editor for an online academic writing company. She co-authored the book, Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants, 2013, and is a graduate of the Australian School of Herbal Medicine program.

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