Roman Catholicism, Church History, Angelology & Demonology, Inspirational 

In view of the modern confusions on the invisible world and the spirits which inhabit it, a better understanding of the theology of the angels is important for Christians today. As Father Danielou points out, two chief errors tend to crop up in our day when the subject of the angels is raised (which is, admittedly, not very often): one, and perhaps the most prevalent, would group angels and demons together as mere personifications of psychological realities; another seeks enlightenment in the blind alleys of spiritism and theolosphy. Neither, of course, can be acceptable to the believing Christian, because in the first place he remains faithful to the one single way of access to the invisible world which is given to us, Jesus Christ; further, the personal character of these celestial spirits is affirmed by both the Old and New Testaments, by the greatest among the saints and men of God (many of whom lived on familiar terms with them), and in the tradition of the Church, which has always accorded them a very large place in her theology.

In the present work, Jean Danielou provides us with a learned yet readable treatment of the mission of the angels in the economy of salvation. He begins by following a historical order, dealing with the angels in the world before the Incarnation, during our Lord's earthly life, and as presiding over the growth and development of the Church. We then have luminous chapters on the guardian angels, on the angels and the sacraments, the spiritual life, death, the second coming. Father Danielou's work is notable for the synthesis which it achieves between the teaching of the Church Fathers and later theological speculation on the angels. It fills a gap of long-standing in theological literature, and may be read with great profit by students and the general public alike.

Jean Danielou, SJ, is justly considered one of the foremost Catholic theologians in the world today. Educated at the Sorbonne, he is now professor of the history of primitive Christianity on the Faculty of Theology of Paris, and is an editor of Etudes and of Dieu Vivant. Among his works translated into English are: Advent, The Salvation of the Nations, Origen, and The Bible and the Liturgy.

Taken from the inside flaps.

Translated by David Heimann