Vol. VII No. 21
The Heavenly Angels – Sette Angeli – Seven Angels
 Angels have for centuries been adored in every culture. These precious winged cherubs adorn places of worship. Angelic images are painted and drawn, shaped to become sculptures and chiseled into statues. Angels hold a mysterious power to delight and heal. The word “angel” means divine messenger. People who have near-death experiences report seeing angels.
The archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary in the traditional role of messenger to inform her that her child would be the Messiah and other angels were present to herald His birth.
The concept of having a guardian angel, perhaps the spirit of a beloved relative who is always near, is consoling. Nurses, doctors and Red Cross attendants are often called angels of mercy on the battlefield and in hospitals when they assist the wounded and dying.
Thousands of books and poems are written about angels. There’s a devoted following for angels in artwork, jewelry, figurines, stuffed animals, cartoons, garden statues, ceramic vases, plates and other hand painted items with angel designs, angel chimes, toys, greeting cards, musical compositions with angel themes, angel prayer cards, bookmarks and angelic screen savers. We see angels everywhere!
 Los Angeles is Spanish for the (city of) angels in Southern California. There’s the Anaheim Angels baseball team. Master artistè Michelangelo’s name combines the archangel Michael with the word “angel”.
Angels evoke feelings of warmth, happiness and security. Other words for angels: celestial beings, cherubs, seraphs, holy beings and guardian spirits. “Angels” in Italian is “angeli”; A female angel in Italian is “Angela” and “Angelo” for a male—“Angelina” is a small female angel and “Angelino” for a small male. “Seven Angels” in Italian is “Sette Angeli”.
  Who are angels?
An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The Old Testament theology included the belief in angels: the name applied to certain spiritual beings or intelligences of heavenly residence, employed by God as ministers.
The English word "angel" comes from the Greek “angelos” which means 'divine messenger'. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "angel" is “malak”, also meaning 'messenger'. The prophet Malachi took his name from this word. He was himself a messenger and foretold the coming of "the messenger of the covenant", Jesus Christ (Malachi 3:1).
Although the word "angel" in the Bible, meaning a messenger, nearly always applies to heavenly beings, it can occasionally apply to human messengers. The elders of the seven churches of Asia were called angels (1:20; 2:1 etc.). But when we meet messengers doing supernatural things, there is no doubt they are heavenly beings - God's messengers work for the ultimate benefit of humankind.
  How do we know angels exist?
The Scriptures give us no indication of the precise time of the creation of angels; their existence is assumed at the earliest times. God often spoke of angels. In the New Testament they are numerous and seven orders are mentioned: angels, powers, principalities, dominions, thrones and archangels. The Old Testament specifically mentions two others, seraphim and cherubim. God bestowed upon angels great wisdom, freedom and power and their many appearances in the New Testament are indication of the lead role assigned to them. Angels are purely spiritual or bodiless persons (Mt 11:30), some of whom behold the face of God and are in bliss (Mt 18:10). These spiritual beings comprise the celestial court and are called angels (from the Greek for "divine messenger") because, according to the Bible, they carry out missions at God's command. In order to complete these missions, they can at times assume bodily form. According to the Bible, their missions are sometimes of great importance – especially the Annunciation (Luke 1:26; 2:9-14) of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Santa Maria. Like us, the angels are the objects of God's grace and love. But because, unlike us they are non-bodily creatures, their response to God's love did not require time and reflection to grow and mature. As soon as they were created and received grace, they had the opportunity to respond to God's love and thus be welcomed into “seventh heaven”—a state of bliss. Perhaps the most significant continuing activity of angels is to be the agents of  God's providence for humankind. Thus, everyone has a guardian angel, based on references to them throughout the Bible.
 Who are our Guardian Angels?
There’s a heavenly spirit assigned by God to watch over each of us during our lives. The role of the guardian angel is both to guide us to good thoughts, works and words. Since the 17th century there’s been a special feast to celebrate angels held every year on the 2nd of October. Named angels are Azrael, Chamuel, Gabriel, Jerahmeel, Jophiel, Malik, Metatron, Michael, Nakir, Munkar, Phanuel, Raguel, Raphael, Raziel, Remiel, Sandalphon, Sariel, Uriel and Zadkiel. Three are archangels, who are angels of a higher order: Michael, Raphael and Gabriel (Michele, Raffaello and Gabriele in Italian).
God has charged angels with the ministry of watching over all humankind. Kingdoms have their angels assigned to them and we each have our guardian angels. Angels are by our side with their powerful presence, through special people in our lives, celestial artwork as well as angelic keepsakes which enrich our faith and bring us joy and peace.
To find a unique ceramic angel artwork hand made in Italy, visit Sette Angeli – Seven Angels
at www.setteangeli.com or www.sevenangels.it
Primary text above for “Who are angels?”, “How do we know angels exist?” and “Who are our guardian angels?” adapted from text by “Saints and Angels” Catholic Online: http://www.catholic.org/saints/angel.php
Sette Angeli – Seven Angels Logo
“Seven Angels” in Italian is “Sette Angeli”. The Sette Angeli – Seven Angels logo was designed with seven angels, seven points on the gold crown, seven stars, 14 (2x7) red roses that two of the angels are holding, 14 leaves on the two olive wreaths for peace, 14 parts to the Roman woman of the Republic’s crown and seven words: Fede, Speranza, Carità, Amore, Pax Et Bonum. (Faith, Hope, Charity, Love, Peace and All Good—St. Francis of Assisi’s greeting). See if you can find more. There are also three of several items to represent the Holy Trinity. The international flags on thewww.setteangeli.com and www.sevenangels.it home page number 49 (7x7).
To read more about the significance of the number Seven, go to “In Heaven with SEVEN and Seven Angels”
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In Love With Italy™ - List of All Editions:
- Vol VII, No. 1
- Vol VII, No. 2
- Vol VII, No. 3
- Vol VII, No. 4
- Vol VII, No. 5
- Vol VII, No. 6
- Vol VII, No. 7
- Vol VII, No. 8
- Vol VII, No. 9
- Vol VII, No. 10
- Vol VII, No. 11
- Vol VII, No. 12
- Vol VII, No. 13
- Vol VII, No. 14
- Vol VII, No. 15
- Vol VII, No. 16
- Vol VII, No. 17
- Vol VII, No. 18
- Vol VII, No. 19
- Vol VII, No. 20: In Heaven with SEVEN and Seven Angels
- Vol VII, No. 21: The Heavenly Angels - Sette Angeli - Seven Angels
In Love With Italy™ Index >>
In Love With Italy™ Directory >>
Vol. VII Source Notes and Credits
The Heavenly Angels – Sette Angeli – Seven Angels
Angels: http://www.catholic.org/saints/angel.php
Saints and Angels: http://www.catholic.org/saints/
Angels: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm
Angels: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel
Archangel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archangel
Guardian Angels : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07049c.htm
Angels in Art: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_in_art
Hierarchy of Angels: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierarchy_of_angels
Angels: http://www.angels-online.com/index.html
Angels: http://www.spirithome.com/angels.html
Angels in art: http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/angels/
Ministering Angels: http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/angel/angel_02.htm
Terms and Descriptions of Angels: http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/angel/angel_01.htm
Angels and the Angelic Realm: http://www.spiritual.com.au/articles/angels/angels_uk.htm
Hierarchy of Angels : http://radicalgrace.com/creat15.htm
Hierarchy of Angels II : http://radicalgrace.com/creat11.htm
Bible – Bibles online: http://bible.com/bible_read.html
Judaism and Angels: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/judaism/FAQ/06-Jewish-Thought/section-14.html
Angels in Judaism by Judy Silver: http://www.freewebs.com/jewishangels/
Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli – Saint Mary of the Angels, Assisi: http://www.porziuncola.org/english/english.htm
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles: http://www.olacathedral.org/
Angel Art: http://www.christusrex.org/www2/art/angels.htm
Los Angeles Angels: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=ana
Angel: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=angel
“A Book of Angels” by Sophy Burnham, 1990. Published by Wellspring/Ballantine.
“Angel Encyclopedia Biblica” By James Kelly Cheyne, Editor. New York, Macmillan, 1899.
“The Book of Daniel” by Samuel Rolles Driver, Editor. Cambridge UP. 1901.
“Angel - A dictionary of the Bible” By James Hastings, Editor, 1898. New York: C. Scribner's Sons.
“Dogmatics: a text-book for academic instruction and private study” By Johannes Jacobus van. Oosterzee. Christian Trans. John Watson and Maurice J. Evans. 1874. New York, Scribner, Armstrong.
“The book of the twelve prophets, commonly called the minor”. By George Adam Smith, 1898. London, Hodder and Stoughton.
“My Way – The teachings of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas”, on every subject, including angels.
“The Angels” by Fr. Pascal Parente
“My Angel will go before you” by George Huber
“The Angels and their Mission” by Cardinal Danielou, SJ
“All about Angels” by Paul Sullivan, OP
“St. Michael and the Angels”, Anonymous.
“Heavenly Army of Angels” by Bob and Penny Lord
“Angels” by Peter Kreeft
“The Angels are Waiting” by Fr. Randall Paine, ORC
“The Angels – The Catholic teaching on the Angels” by Fr. Parente.
“St. Raphael” by Angela Carol.
“A Book of Angels” by Marigold Hunt.
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