One God in Three Persons · Created spirits who serve God
Christians confess one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three Persons are distinct, yet each is fully and equally the one God.
The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not the belief in three gods. It is the revealed mystery that the one divine Being exists eternally as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They share one divine nature, one glory, and one eternal majesty.
The Father is eternally Father, the source and origin within the life of the Trinity. He is not older or greater in divinity than the Son or the Holy Spirit. The Father is confessed as Creator of heaven and earth.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 6:9.
The Son is eternally begotten of the Father, not made or created. He is true God from true God. Through the Incarnation, the eternal Son became truly human while remaining truly divine, for our salvation.
Scripture: John 1:1–3, 14; John 20:28; Colossians 1:15–17.
The Holy Spirit is Lord and giver of life, fully divine and worthy of the same worship and glory as the Father and the Son. The Spirit sanctifies, gives gifts, guides the Church, and dwells in believers.
Scripture: Acts 5:3–4; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 3:17.
A mystery, not a contradiction: Christians do not claim that God is one Person and three Persons in the same sense. God is one in divine nature and three in Persons. Human comparisons can help a little, but no analogy fully explains God's inner life.
In Catholic teaching, angels are spiritual, personal creatures created by God. They have intelligence and free will, but they are not divine and must never be worshipped. They glorify God, carry out His commands, serve His plan of salvation, and help protect and guide human beings according to His providence.
The word angel means “messenger.” Scripture describes angels praising God, delivering messages, assisting God's people, and announcing important events.
Jesus teaches that the little ones have angels who behold the Father's face (Matthew 18:10). The Church therefore teaches that human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of angels, including guardian angels.
Name meaning: “Who is like God?”
Michael is portrayed as a heavenly defender who stands against evil and protects God's people. Revelation describes Michael and his angels fighting the dragon. Jude 9 explicitly calls Michael “the archangel.”
Scripture: Daniel 10:13, 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7–9.
Name meaning: commonly understood as “God is my strength.”
Gabriel explains visions to Daniel and announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. He tells Mary that she will conceive and bear the Son of the Most High.
Scripture: Daniel 8:16; 9:21–27; Luke 1:11–20, 26–38.
Name meaning: “God heals.”
In the Book of Tobit, Raphael accompanies Tobias, protects him, and brings healing to Tobit and Sarah. Raphael reveals that he is one of the seven angels who stand before God's glory.
Scripture: Tobit 3:16–17; chapters 5–12, especially 12:15.
Catholic tradition honours Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael by name in the Church's liturgy. Jude 9 explicitly uses the title “archangel” for Michael; Gabriel and Raphael are traditionally honoured as archangels. Tobit is part of the Catholic Old Testament canon.
Christian tradition, drawing on biblical language and early theologians, commonly speaks of nine angelic choirs in three groups. This is a traditional theological arrangement; Scripture does not provide one complete chart explaining every rank.
Isaiah sees the seraphim around God's throne, proclaiming His holiness (Isaiah 6:1–7).
Associated with God's glory and the guarding of sacred space (Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:18–22; Ezekiel 10).
Named among the heavenly orders in Colossians 1:16 and placed among the highest choir in later tradition.
Also called Dominations; named in Colossians 1:16 and understood as serving God's sovereign order.
A traditional choir associated with divine strength and the ordering of God's works.
Named in Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16 among spiritual or heavenly authorities.
Heavenly authorities or rulers named in Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:21.
Messengers associated with especially important missions. Michael is explicitly called an archangel in Jude 9.
God's messengers who serve Him and assist His people, including the angelic announcements in Luke 1–2.
Other angels appear throughout Scripture: the angels who announce Christ's birth to shepherds (Luke 2:8–14), minister to Jesus (Matthew 4:11), and accompany heaven's worship (Revelation 5:11–12).
Angels are holy servants of God, but they are creatures. Catholics honour angels and may ask for their intercession, but adoration belongs to God alone. The angel in Revelation refuses worship and directs it to God (Revelation 19:10; 22:8–9).
The mystery of the Trinity teaches who God is; the angels remind us that all creation exists to glorify Him. Christians are invited to join the heavenly praise: “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
Catechism of the Catholic Church Read Matthew 28 · NRSV