Seraphim

(via Seraphim Press)

For a proper understanding of how angels “work” — that is to say, how humans can comprehend their existence as much as possible, it is important to look at each choir individually.

We will never fully understand the nature of angels, as we will always be tempted to see them as physical beings. This is not our fault. It is difficult for us sometimes to accept the existence of non-physical beings. God and his angels recognize this, which is why they take on human form when communicating with us (or do the exact opposite and whisper to our hearts, staying as far from the physical as possible so as not to confuse us). There are many instances in the bible of angels disguising themselves as humans. . . and even then, they usually have to tell people not to be afraid of them.

Today, we are going to start with the top choir, the Seraphim. These are the angels who are farthest removed from the physical plane, as they are a choir who stands directly before the throne of God.

The name “Seraph” comes from the Hebrew, and literally means “Burning One.” That alone should tell you a lot about how terrifying coming face to face with one of them would be. They are made of fire and light, but are represented in Isaiah as having three sets of wings.

These wings are very important, because each set has a symbolic purpose. The first set is used to cover their eyes.

(No, not like that. But now I’ve doomed you all. (Via Doctor Who)

The reason why the Seraphim cover their eyes is their humility. They stand before God, as the highest of His servants, and yet they are still but His humble crated creatures. They cover their eyes so that they are not blinded by His glory, which would cause them to burst from love.

The second set of wings covers their feet. This is a sign of respect for God, and to understand it, we have to look at the culture of the time Isaiah was writing. Feet are dirty, filthy things. It is considered a grave insult (even to this day, in the Middle East) to turn one’s feet in the direction of another. It is even worse to do so before a superior. This is what startled the disciples so much when Jesus went to wash their feet on Holy Thursday. So the Seraphim keep their feet covered completely to demonstrate God’s ultimate authority over them and over all creation.

The final set is for flight, so that they may come before God’s throne with ease. Now, many argue that — since angels do not really have physical form — their wings must be metaphorical, a symbol of their spiritual nature. To this, I merely gesture to the vast number of winged spirits in other mythological traditions and argue that anything is possible if God wills it so. We’ll resolve that one after we die, symbolists.

Now, what exactly so the Seraphim do? By all accounts, we know that they directly serve God, ministering to Him and proclaiming his glory. They are the angels who blessed the mouth of Isaiah with a burning coal (and therefore perhaps look after all prophets in one way or another). But mostly what they do is burn with Love.

It makes sense that this is why they burn. They stand in the presence of Love Incarnate, and thus exude and reflect that all-consuming fire.

St. Thomas Aquinas (the Church’s authority on Angelology) puts it thus:

The name “Seraphim” does not come from charity only, but from the excess of charity, expressed by the word ardor or fire. Hence Dionysius (Coel. Hier. vii) expounds the name “Seraphim” according to the properties of fire, containing an excess of heat. Now in fire we may consider three things.

First, the movement which is upwards and continuous. This signifies that they are borne inflexibly towards God.

Secondly, the active force which is “heat,” which is not found in fire simply, but exists with a certain sharpness, as being of most penetrating action, and reaching even to the smallest things, and as it were, with superabundant fervor; whereby is signified the action of these angels, exercised powerfully upon those who are subject to them, rousing them to a like fervor, and cleansing them wholly by their heat.

Thirdly we consider in fire the quality of clarity, or brightness; which signifies that these angels have in themselves an inextinguishable light, and that they also perfectly enlighten others. (Summa Theologia, I, 108,5)

Thus, the nature of Holy Fire in itself is the very essence and overwhelming presence of Love (Caritas/Agape, the universal love). This is why it is the most powerful force in the Heavenly arsenal, and why it can destroy even the most powerful demon (as they are creatures of envy and hate, the opposites of love). And it is generated directly from God, poured out over his servants in their fervent need to be near him, to serve him with their whole beings.

May we grow to burn with the fire God’s Love as our heavenly brethren, seeking always to do His Will above all things.

-E.G. Norton

On Guardian Angels

Finally, the writer’s block has receded again long enough for me to hammer out a post. I was hoping to finish this yesterday, on the actual Feast of the Guardian Angels, but I suppose a day late’s ok, yeah?

Relax, kiddo. I got this.

Humans are intrinsically aware of the fact that they are under the protection of a Higher Power. I do not know any other way to explain how overwhelmingly universal the idea of a Guardian Angel is.

Excepting Atheists, who by their line of thinking shy away from the spiritual altogether,  I can think of no religious school of thought that does not in some way incorporate this idea. Naturally, the Peoples of the Book (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) all have instances and traditions of angels watching over humans. In Eastern Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto, the idea of a “Guardian Spirit” or a particular god protecting certain groups is also popular and frequently cited. And of course, the New Age obsession with all things Celestial is almost overwhelming. You can’t walk into a New Age bookstore without being immediately surrounded by books on angels and how to get them to help you with your problems.

So why do humans have this obsession with the intercession of the angelic on our behalf? I think that a great deal of it has to do with the belief in a chaotic world, where we see clearly that things are not always (or even typically) under our control. We need to believe that there is somebody out there looking out for us.

Another aspect of this comes from the belief in a just God, or a God so high above us that talking to him directly is kind of presumptuous. My own brother has lamented that “God’s all powerful, so why should I bother him with my stupid little issues?” We have to believe that there’s someone more like us we can come to with the small things. This is why Catholics believe in intercessory prayer, but even traditions who do not pray to saints seem to have little trouble praying to angels, so I think the whole “they aren’t human, but they aren’t God” thing helps justify this practice somewhat.

Thus, the concept of Guardian Angels is profoundly comforting. But it is more than that. It’s freaking amazing.

When you open yourself to the belief that there is a special angel assigned to you at birth, who follows you and protects you until your death, your entire world opens up. Suddenly obstacles don’t seem so big. Suddenly random acts of fate aren’t random. . . or fate. Suddenly it becomes easier to move along the Destined Path, because you are not going it alone.

Anyone who knows me knows that I insist that my Guardian Angel pushed me down a hill and broke my ankle two years ago. I don’t say that because I think he was being mean to me (though I honestly know I was pissing him off at that point). It’s because I was heading for some major trouble. I knew it for weeks, but I was ignoring my gut and going through with my plans anyway. I was an emotional, physical, and spiritual wreck, on the fast track to a life of regret and misery, and I could see no way to fix it.

Everything started looking up from that point onward, but not before I hit bottom. My Spring Break trip had to be canceled, since I was in the hospital for half of it. I was confined to a wheelchair for two months (it was a heck of a break), and I remember crying when I woke up some mornings because I had dreamed about walking and then remembered that I couldn’t. I was a mess.

But then, I learned to walk again. And learning that determination was most of the battle got me back on track. Four months after my break, I learned to polka. Six months after, I started Tae Kwon Do and began turning my life around. I lost 65 pounds, and became pretty darned physically fit. I learned discipline, willpower, and self-respect. And I owe it all to that fall, that moment of blinding-white pain, and the angel who pushed me because I refused to listen to his warnings.

SIDE NOTE: Guardian Angels are also useful when it comes to learning not to be a misanthrope. One of the best practices I’ve learned is silently greeting the angel of anyone I meet, particularly if they’re really annoying. This helps for two reasons. One is acknowledging that, idiotic as that person may seem to me, God loves them enough to protect them. The other (which is probably a little less nice, but hey) is recognizing that I only have to deal with them for a little while, but their poor angel is stuck with them all the time, poor fellow. This practice has definitely helped me learn to be more patient with people.

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Angel of God, my guardian dear

To whom God’s love commits me here

Ever this day be at my side

To light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

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Have any amazing angel stories to share? I’d love to hear them. Email me at e.g.norton@nortonandholt.com or leave a comment.

-E. G. Norton