by Orestes J. Gonzalez

Created on: March 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 26, 2012

There are two ways of answering the question "Are angels real or imaginary?"

One is by way of rational inquiry based on the principles of divine revelation; the other, by way of rational inquiry based on the metaphysical principles of the real.

The conclusion is the same: angels are real.

I shall explain these two ways of knowing angels below.

There is also the important claim of knowing angels by the direct experience of their presence in particular episodes of one's life. Personal testimony, however, is subjective and, most of the time, such experience involves only one person.

These experiences with angels are indeed important because they form personal belief, but it is nevertheless difficult to determine whether or not a subjective experience conforms to an objective fact.

For this reason, I shall not treat this way of knowing angels in the present paper. The interested reader can find an abundance of this kind of testimony in other articles reported under this title.

My answer will rely rather on the facts of revelation and on an objective rational explanation of why we believe angels are real.

1. The light of revelation and the existence of angels

Concerning the question of whether angels are real or imaginary, the fonts of revelation and the supernatural appreciation of faith of the people of God leave no room for doubt. The existence of angels is a revealed truth. Angels are referred to as real existing beings.

Here is how Benedict XVI summarizes the facts.

"The word 'angel' means 'messenger' and throughout the Old Testament we find these figures who help and guide human beings on God's behalf.

"It suffices to remember the Book of Tobit, in which the figure of the Archangel Raphael appears and assists the protagonist Tobias in every vicissitude.

"On the threshold of the New Testament, the Archangel Gabriel is dispatched to announce to Zechariah and to Mary the joyful events at the beginning of our salvation.

"A choir of angels brings the shepherds the good news of the Savior's birth.

"And it was also to be angels who announced the joyful news of Jesus' resurrection to the women.

"We would be removing an important part of the Gospel were we to leave out these beings sent by God." (1)

From another angle there is also what is called the 'sensus fidei.' Through this supernatural sense of faith, believers know that God, in His ordinary providence, bestows a guardian angel to each human being who comes into the world.

"An angel of the Lord will go before

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