Catholic Word of the Day: RELATIVE MYSTERY, 03-03-11

CatholicReference.net ^ | 03-03-11 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary

[Salvation]

Featured Term (selected at random):

RELATIVE MYSTERY

A truth whose existence had to be supernaturally revealed by God, but, once revealed, its essence or meaning can be grasped by the light of natural reason. The existence of angels is a relative mystery.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

ANGELS - FROM THE TEACHINGS OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS(Summa Theologica)
The 12 most important things to know about angels

ANGELS: Their Meaning for Our World
Photo captures image of an 'angel' in hospital hallway
Do Angels Exist? (A miracle and a picture have many asking this question)
God Sends His Angels to Watch Over and Guide Us
Angels, Part 3

Angels, Part 2
Angels, Part 1
Angels Among Us Today

God Created the Angels as Individual, Immortal Spirits with Intelligence and Free Will
The Angels in Sacred Scripture

Angels in the History of the Church
Angels - in Heaven, on Earth and in Hell
Catholic Q&A: Angels and Demons (Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer)
GOD AND THE ANGELS
Question: “Are there really such things as guardian angels?”

[Salvation]

Archangels and Guardian Angels Angels are Awesome. But Please, Let’s Have a More Biblical Understanding of the Them
Quis resistet Sancti Michaelis gladio? [on St. Michael the Archangel]
The Archangels - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great)
Angels bring us great help and consolation, Pope Benedict reminds
Who Is Like Unto God? (Fr. Euteneuer on Holy Michael the Archangel)

The Archangel Raphael
The Archangels and the Oceans
Explanation of the Prayer of Saint Michael [Father Robert J. Altier]
Act of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel (for the Feast of St Michael, September 29)
St. Gabriel Archangel
Feast Day of Michael,Gabriel and Raphael[Michael's Battle With The Dragon]
Saint Michael The Archangel
THE THREE ARCHANGELS: [St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael]
Feast of St. Michael the Archangel
St. Gabriel Archangel

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Feast of Guardian Angels - to light and guard, to rule and guide
Archangels and Guardian Angels

The True Role of Guardian Angels
Touched by Padre Pio's guardian angels [Catholic Caucus]
Celebrating Guardian Angels - October 2 - Feast of the Guardian Angels [Ecumenical]
Guardian Angels
OF GUARDIAN ANGELS AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY NOT JUST ON EARTH BUT IN PURGATORY [Catholic Caucus]
Our Guardian Angels [Ecumenical]
Her unborn 'guardian angels' inspire pro-life work
Question: “Are there really such things as guardian angels?”
Guardian angels caught on film?
Early Christians Representations of Angels[Feast day Guardian Angels]

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Catholic Word of the Day – links will be provided later by another FReeper.

 

Denial of Faith	Charisms of Service	Infanticide
Episcopal Conference	Eparchy	Righteous Anger
Ecclesiastes	Immodest Looks	Creation
Sigilum (Seal of Confession)	Aggiornamento	Actus Dei
Gradual	Presbyterians	Cartago
Diversity of Grace	Dieis Irae	Anti-Semitism
Parental Instruction	Moral Act	Parallelism
Ittai/Ithai	Ferial	Positive Imperfection
Night of the Spirit	Balm, Balsam	Ghetto
Crucifixion	Argument ad Populum	Wisdom
Diadem	Sealing	Chinese Rites
Ship	Alpha and Omega	Septuagesima
Barabbas	Roman See	Heathen
Immoral	Major Orders	Relative Mystery

Catholic Word of the Day Ping!

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[Hodar]

The existence of angels is a relative mystery

Since the Bible describes Angels in several instances, and in several capacities - why are they a mystery? They are described as agents of death, sent by God; spies in regard to Sodom and Ghomorrah, a celebrational Heavenlyy host in the birth of Jesus, messengers in the case of Abraham ... what's the mystery?

[Tax-chick]

theologians give the name mystery to revealed truths that surpass the powers of natural reason.

This is a different meaning of "mystery" from that used in your post. The existence and activity of angels is a "mystery" because we know of them through divine revelation, from Scripture, rather than from observation or deduction. It's a "relative mystery" because we can, with our natural reason, comprehend the existence and work of "created spirits, without bodies." As you observe, the activity of angels in the Bible is within our understanding.

An absolute mystery would be something like the Trinity. We can state that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three Persons in one God, but we cannot truly understand how this can be using natural reason. We can only experience it through divine grace, in prayer and the Sacraments.

[Salvation]

Very good definition and explanation. Thanks.