The Angels: In Catholic Teaching and Tradition

The Angels: In Catholic Teaching and Tradition

By Fr. Pascal Parente · Published by TAN Books

Overview

Our Lord issued a stark and profound warning to the world in Matthew 18:10: "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you that their angels in Heaven always see the Face of My Father, Who is in Heaven." Yet, in our modern secular world, the sublime reality of these heavenly beings has been deeply distorted—reduced on one side to sentimental, New Age pop-culture myths, and dismissed on the other by scientific skepticism. To combat this spiritual confusion, the faithful require a rigorous, authentic anchor in Catholic Angelology.

In The Angels: In Catholic Teaching and Tradition, renowned theologian and scholar Fr. Pascal Parente compiles nearly everything known with absolute theological certainty about the pure spirits of heaven. Drawing directly from Sacred Scripture, the definitive Magisterium, and the consensus of the Doctors and Fathers of the Church, Fr. Parente methodically breaks down the angels’ creation, superior intelligence, free will, heavenly language, rapid movements, and specific providential duties. Far from a dry text, this gripping spiritual manual illuminates the history of Catholic devotion to the heavenly hosts and exposes awe-inspiring, forgotten theological facts—such as the reality that guardian angels are assigned not just to individual souls, but also to specific churches, dioceses, and entire nations. This book serves as a crucial, definitive tool for distinguishing holy Catholic truth from secular fiction, guiding you to live more consciously in the continuous presence of your heavenly guardians.

• Sober, Certain Truth: Cut through modern, un-Catholic superstitions with an authorized, dogma-based synthesis of what the Church actually teaches regarding pure spirits.
• The Angelic Nature Exposed: Study the mechanics of the angelic mind—including how bodiless spirits communicate, execute choices with free will, and instantly transition across physical space.
• The Nine Choirs: Discover the deep celestial hierarchy—from the burning Seraphim and Thrones near God's presence to the Archangels and Guardians sent to minister directly to mankind.
• The Cosmic Battlefield: Read the historical and scriptural accounts of the creation of the angels, their testing, and the devastating primordial fall of Lucifer and his rebel spirits.

From the Book

“In a world that is increasingly curious about spiritual beings and at the same time skeptical about the existence and power of those beings, this study is a crucial tool for distinguishing the true from the false and the known from the unknown.”

Intended Audience

This classic volume is a necessary resource for any Catholic seeking a complete, accurate, and deeply devotional education in traditional angelology. It is highly recommended for catechists, parish study groups, homeschool parents teaching Church doctrine, and any believer seeking to move past secularized fairy tales and enter into a robust, reverent relationship with their personal Guardian Angel.

FAQs

Who was the author, Fr. Pascal Parente?
Fr. Pascal Parente, Ph.D., S.T.D., was a highly celebrated scholar, author, and dean of the School of Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of America. For decades, he was widely regarded as the foremost authority on ascetical and mystical theology in the United States.

Does this book address the fallen angels or demons?
Yes, it addresses them strictly within the context of their nature. It explains the great trial of the angels at the dawn of creation, the catastrophic choices made by Lucifer, and how our holy Guardian Angels actively shield our souls from diabolical traps.

Is this book a dense theological textbook?
While heavily researched and highly scholarly, Fr. Parente intentionally designed this book to be remarkably fluid, accessible, and easy to read. It reads as an inspiring, educational journey into the invisible realm rather than an intimidating academic text.