St. Thomas Aquinas, like many theologians in the medieval period, speculated about the different “choirs” of angels: like the cherubim and seraphim, thrones and dominations, and, at the top of the chart, archangels. While such speculation can be fun, it is an exercise of the imagination. Theologically it is helpful to remember, as Pope St. Gregory the Great put it, that the word angel describes a function, not a nature. In other words, the only things we know about angels come from their interactions with humanity. Angels that are named in the Bible, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, demonstrate the power and action of God in the world. No matter how overwhelming things can seem at times, angels serve as a reminder that God is at work.
