The scripture references to our holy angels, both New and Old Testament are very numerous when put all together. Another huge reason to mourn the loss of the TLM and pray for its restoration more and more. I so miss the daily Mass of All Times.
Great article! The Fancy-Dancy liturgies that have emerged of course do not bear in mind the many realities beyond the realm of matter. Liturgy is degraded to a 'physicalism' of sorts.
In any case, one wonders whether liturgical reform can bear in mind that not only angels but saints are fellow worshippers at the liturgy. Sometimes it becomes just about the 'we' that is present, we attempt to transform liturgy into 'our thing.' This is a commonality in Africa where many elements foreign to the spirit of the liturgy are embraced like cultural dances, etc.
You make a solid case without the fluff. Angels are not props. They are co-workers in worship and Scripture treats them that way from Genesis to Revelation. I appreciate the reminder that the Sanctus is us joining an existing choir, not starting one. If we taught that plainly and prayed it consistently, people would stop treating angels like stained-glass décor and start asking their help. Clear, useful, grounded.
I would also recommend, "The Angels and Us" by Mortimer Adler. My mother said that the commencement address he gave at Dominican College of San Rafael around 1950 was the best sermon she ever heard on the angels! And this was decades before his conversion.
That was an amazing article.. I have often thought about the beginning of the Mass n the antiphon vouchsafe to send down from Heaven Thy holy Angel, etc… I love thinking about that. Last week I was looking up and wondering how many angels were at Mass.
Speaking of following the missal, doesn’t at least one Latin preface have a line which looks (to this English speaker) like “the powers and dominations tremble in awe”—am I remembering rightly? It’s another treasure of the usus antiquior.
The TLM is unsurpassed in its transcendence, as your wonderful article shows. The TLM texts and the very acts of prayer are pithy and powerful. And countercultural to modern materialist prejudices which, if new liturgies indulge them, only indulge in turn our shortsighted and very worldly fears and loves. No, give me the fearsome propers and troubling texts, the repeated acknowledgments of the supernatural, every time!
Excellent reflection. But one question. How would you respond to the objection (perhaps too strong a word -- proposition, suggestion?) that some or all of the Old Testament episodes you cite are really angelomorphic christophanies?
The "Angel of the Lord" term 🤔✍🏼 may well be an expression of a Theophany. ✅ ✨ Human words fail in the presence of the Divine Light of the Uncreated Grace of God....
Syriac Christianity feels like the Church’s wild frontier. Beyond Rome’s walls, caught between Persians and Arabs. It had to sing its theology rather than argue it. Poetry became its shield. When you can’t lean on power, you lean on meaning.
✨🌐 🧮 🪐 🔭 🔢 Σ δχ/ dt =🔬♾️💫 ⚖️📚⏳ Somewhere btwn 75-98% of the known universe consists of non-quantifiable "Dark Matter". This Second Day firmament above/below affirmation of what is sensible 🌈 (Aesthetic) and what is knowable 🤔 (Noetic) helps us believers to apprehend the manifestation and influence of the Angelic Host onto (into & thru) our material visible plane....
....what is the mass (F=ma) of the heavenly host?🔔 How much energy is expended at the flap of their wings? What frequency 🎛️ is the sound of their 🎶 Hymn or Trumpet Blast? 📯
The vast bulk of the Cosmos is the Realm of the invisible. 😌 While it may be 'dark' to our sensory perception, that definitely does not make it unreal or not completely present 🕊️ in the NOW. ☦️ Grace🔥 and peace⛲ to you...
....Saint Simeon the New Theologian, pray for us! Holy Archangel Michael, defend us! 🛡️🗡️🐉
I have an affinity 😏 for the specific style of Russian Icons depicting the Archangel Saint Michael with scales and a trumpet 🔥⚖️ 📯🪽 while astride a mighty flaming Pegasus! 🌐⛪☦️
🤔 Why wouldn't the winged commander of the Host of Heaven have a 🛡️🗡️🐎 winged mount!
The scripture references to our holy angels, both New and Old Testament are very numerous when put all together. Another huge reason to mourn the loss of the TLM and pray for its restoration more and more. I so miss the daily Mass of All Times.
Great article! The Fancy-Dancy liturgies that have emerged of course do not bear in mind the many realities beyond the realm of matter. Liturgy is degraded to a 'physicalism' of sorts.
In any case, one wonders whether liturgical reform can bear in mind that not only angels but saints are fellow worshippers at the liturgy. Sometimes it becomes just about the 'we' that is present, we attempt to transform liturgy into 'our thing.' This is a commonality in Africa where many elements foreign to the spirit of the liturgy are embraced like cultural dances, etc.
You make a solid case without the fluff. Angels are not props. They are co-workers in worship and Scripture treats them that way from Genesis to Revelation. I appreciate the reminder that the Sanctus is us joining an existing choir, not starting one. If we taught that plainly and prayed it consistently, people would stop treating angels like stained-glass décor and start asking their help. Clear, useful, grounded.
Thank you!
I would also recommend, "The Angels and Us" by Mortimer Adler. My mother said that the commencement address he gave at Dominican College of San Rafael around 1950 was the best sermon she ever heard on the angels! And this was decades before his conversion.
Great post! I ordered Fr Saward’s book recently. Glad to know I made a good choice. By the way, love that phrase “nestled neums”!
Thank you Fr. Kwasniewski!
That was an amazing article.. I have often thought about the beginning of the Mass n the antiphon vouchsafe to send down from Heaven Thy holy Angel, etc… I love thinking about that. Last week I was looking up and wondering how many angels were at Mass.
Speaking of following the missal, doesn’t at least one Latin preface have a line which looks (to this English speaker) like “the powers and dominations tremble in awe”—am I remembering rightly? It’s another treasure of the usus antiquior.
The TLM is unsurpassed in its transcendence, as your wonderful article shows. The TLM texts and the very acts of prayer are pithy and powerful. And countercultural to modern materialist prejudices which, if new liturgies indulge them, only indulge in turn our shortsighted and very worldly fears and loves. No, give me the fearsome propers and troubling texts, the repeated acknowledgments of the supernatural, every time!
Great article! Thank you for the free post!
Excellent reflection. But one question. How would you respond to the objection (perhaps too strong a word -- proposition, suggestion?) that some or all of the Old Testament episodes you cite are really angelomorphic christophanies?
The "Angel of the Lord" term 🤔✍🏼 may well be an expression of a Theophany. ✅ ✨ Human words fail in the presence of the Divine Light of the Uncreated Grace of God....
Syriac Christianity feels like the Church’s wild frontier. Beyond Rome’s walls, caught between Persians and Arabs. It had to sing its theology rather than argue it. Poetry became its shield. When you can’t lean on power, you lean on meaning.
🌐 📯 🌴🌙 The term for "Angels" is often translated 📚✍🏼🪔📿😌 as 'WATCHERS' in the syriac.....⭕🔥👁️🪽⭕🔥👁️🪽⭕🔥👁️🪽
Hello Peter, I’m new on here and I’m trying to connect with interesting people.
We seem to have similar interests so I thought I’d introduce myself with an article.
This is my most recent piece, and it’s about Giants:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jordannuttall/p/giants-in-history?r=4f55i2&utm_medium=ios
Lol , I wrote Fr.. I meant Dr…
✨🌐 🧮 🪐 🔭 🔢 Σ δχ/ dt =🔬♾️💫 ⚖️📚⏳ Somewhere btwn 75-98% of the known universe consists of non-quantifiable "Dark Matter". This Second Day firmament above/below affirmation of what is sensible 🌈 (Aesthetic) and what is knowable 🤔 (Noetic) helps us believers to apprehend the manifestation and influence of the Angelic Host onto (into & thru) our material visible plane....
....what is the mass (F=ma) of the heavenly host?🔔 How much energy is expended at the flap of their wings? What frequency 🎛️ is the sound of their 🎶 Hymn or Trumpet Blast? 📯
The vast bulk of the Cosmos is the Realm of the invisible. 😌 While it may be 'dark' to our sensory perception, that definitely does not make it unreal or not completely present 🕊️ in the NOW. ☦️ Grace🔥 and peace⛲ to you...
....Saint Simeon the New Theologian, pray for us! Holy Archangel Michael, defend us! 🛡️🗡️🐉
I have an affinity 😏 for the specific style of Russian Icons depicting the Archangel Saint Michael with scales and a trumpet 🔥⚖️ 📯🪽 while astride a mighty flaming Pegasus! 🌐⛪☦️
🤔 Why wouldn't the winged commander of the Host of Heaven have a 🛡️🗡️🐎 winged mount!