Who are the archangels and how are they different from angels?

[Lorenzo]

Who are the archangels and how are they different from angels?

[Lorenzo]

Answer:


The word angel means 'messenger' and describes the occupation of the angels. Archangels are head angels. According to St. Gregory the Great, there are 9 orders of angels, which St. Thomas, in his Summa Theologia, divides into 3 groups:

    1. Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones;
    2. The Dominations, Virtues, and Powers;
    3. The Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.

1 Enoch 20 lists the archangels as:

    Uriel,
    Raphael,
    Raguel,
    Sariel,
    Gabriel,
    Remiel