ANGELS/FALLEN ANGELSIn Young Adult Lit and More

TYPES OF ANGELSThe first thing angels say is “fear not,” suggesting that they’re quite

terrifying. According to tradition, angels do not have free will like man; they are only messengers passing on God’s word. In fact, they can only each do a single act, which is why three angels often go, to bring three different messages. “Angelus” is Latin for messenger.

The three books of Enoch are the best source for Judeo-Christian angels and fallen angels. Another strong source is The Celestial Hierarchy by Dionysus the Aeorpagite written in the fifth century. This contains the best-known hierarchy of angels, used in St. Thomas Aquinas’s thirteenth century work, Summa Theologiae. In his time, Angelology was compulsory in several theological curriculums, and Aquinas created a great deal of educational material. Medieval grimoires such as The Lesser Key of Solomon contain much on angels and demons as well. Dr. John Dee and Emmanuel Swedenborg communicated with angels regularly and wrote books about their experiences.

The Celestial Hierarchy sorts angels thus: 

First Choir Second Choir Third Choir1). Seraphim 4). Dominations 7). Principalities2). Cherubim 5). Virtues 8). Archangels3). Thrones 6). Powers 9). Angels

THE 7 ARCHANGELS—A VARYING LISTThe earliest reference to a system of seven archangels as

a group appears to be in The Book of Enoch, where they are named as Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Remiel and Saraqael. According to Enoch, there are seven archangels ('irin we-ḳaddishin, "holy ones who watch"):

Uriel: set over the world's luminaries and over Sheol Raphael, set over the spirits of men Raguel (Ra'uel, "the terrifier"), who chastiseth the world of

the luminariesMichael, set over the best part of mankind, over the

people of IsraelSariel ("God turneth"), set over the spirits who seduce the

spirits to sinGabriel, set over paradise, the serpents, and the cherubimJerahmeel ("God is merciful"), whom God set over the

resurrection

POP CULTUREAngels have featured as main characters in many popular movies:

Wings of Desire (1988) The Prophecy (1995) Michael (1996) Meet Joe Black (1998) Dogma (1999)Highway To Heaven Touched By An AngelThe Preacher’s WifeIt’s A Wonderful Life

The struggle between angels and fallen angels appears on the X-Files, Xena, Charmed, and others. There are angelic superheroes from Angel on X-Men, a mutant who resembles an angel to the actual angel Zauriel who joins the Justice League. And of course, who’s more angelic than Superman, the modern flying man who travels the world saving the day?

City of BonesCity of AshesCity of Glass

City of Fallen AngelsCity of Lost Souls

City of Heavenly Fire

City of Bones was highly popular at the time of release, reaching #8 on the New York Times Best Seller list (Children's books) in April 2007.City of Ashes was one of the YALSA's top ten teen books for 2009.Publishers Weekly commented that it "is a sprawling urban fantasy packed with just about every type of creature known to the genre".

THE BOOK OF RAZIELAfter Adam’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, he prayed to God for compassion and grace. He added: “Grant me knowledge and understanding, that I may know what shall befall me, and my posterity, and all the generations that come after me, and what shall befall me on every day and in every month, and mayest Thou not withhold from me the help of Thy servants and of Thy angels.” (Ginzberg)Three days later, the angel Raziel came with a book in his hand. The angel addressed Adam thus: O Adam, why art thou so fainthearted? Why art thou distressed and anxious? Thy words were heard at the moment when thou didst utter thy supplication and entreaties, and I have received the charge to teach thee pure words and deep understanding, to make thee wise through the contents of the sacred book in my hand, to know what will happen to thee until the day of thy death. And all thy descendants and all the later generations, if they will but read this book in purity, with a devout heart and a humble mind, and obey its precepts, will become like unto thee.

THE BOOK OF RAZIELIt is the book out of which all things worth knowing can be learnt, and all mysteries, and it teaches also how to call upon the angels and make them appear before men, and answer all their questions. But not all alike can use the book, only he who is wise and God-fearing, and resorts to it in holiness. Such a one is secure against all wicked counsels, his life is serene, and when death takes him from this world, he finds repose in a place where there are neither demons nor evil spirits, and out of the hands of the wicked he is quickly rescued. (Ginzberg)Raziel’s name means “the Secrets of God,” and he is said to stand beside God’s throne and hear many of his secrets. The legend goes on to tell that the other angels grew jealous of Adam and threw the Book of Raziel into the ocean, though Enoch, Noah, and Solomon eventually inherited it and used its secrets. “Each day the angel Raziel makes proclamations on Mount Horeb, from heaven, of the secrets of men to all that dwell upon the earth, and his voice resounds throughout the world,” explains Targum Ecclesiastes, a collection of explanatory stories about the book of Ecclesiastes (10:20). Clare notes:

“Raziel, for instance, is an angel from the Jewish kabbalistic tradition, who is supposed to have given Adam, in the Garden of Eden, a book of wisdom — he is sometimes called the Angel of Secrets, or Angel of Knowledge. Therefore he seemed the right angel to have given the Gray Book to the first Shadowhunter. “

Book of Raziel, Seal of Raziel

The Books of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis, beginning with Archon, introduce a young woman named Angela Mathers, who is obsessed with visions and dreams of angels. She’s ostracized, for there’s a prophecy that someone with red hair like hers will destroy the world. Finally released from a mental institution, she enters West Wood Academy. There, however, she discovers a secret coven. Angels and demons are combing the streets for the key to the Book of Raziel and the power to control the universe.  

Popular Angel Romances

•Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick•Halo by Alexandra Adornetto•Fallen by Lauren Kate•Mercy by Rebecca Lim•Unearthly by Cynthia Hand•Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a groundbreaking angel series. Akiva, an angel broken by a never-ending war, comes to earth and falls in love with a human girl named Karou. Though she pretends to be an art student, she has another, secret life collecting teeth and bringing them to her master, a granter of wishes. As Akiva and Karou fall in love, they realize the war is continuing and they are not on the sides they had once believed. The book is filled with surprises from beginning to end.

ARTIFACTS OF SMOKE AND BONEHamsa A hand-shaped talisman against the evil eye

found in the Middle East. The word mean five (referring to the fingers) and a blue or green eye often appears in the figure’s center. In Jewish culture, the hamsa is called the Hand of Miriam; in some Muslim populated cultures, the Hand of Fatima.

ThuribleA thurible is a metal censer suspended from

chains, in which incense is burned during worship services.

Other series use the images of angels to create aliens manipulating man for their own aims or to better mankind in Terence Blacker’s The Angel Factory, Battlestar Galactica, and Babylon 5. The Ori on Stargate demand worship, but more resemble demons bristling with hellfire. Doctor Who offers the terrifying “weeping angels” aliens. Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials shows angels who are closer to the institutionalized church with its inquisition than avatars of God. Lyra, Will and the rebel angels are fighting for freedom against “those who want us to obey and be humble and submit”. Actual angels who aren’t as benevolent as they appear are also in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere and Sarah Douglass’ The Crucible series.

Angelfall by Susan Ee features a post-apocalyptic Bay Area, where the angels have descended to tear civilization apart. Teenage Penryn quests with the injured and wingless angel Reffe, whom she believes is her only link to her vanished seven-year-old sister. Like Katniss, Penryn has learned self-defense, since with a useless mother, she is the only possible protector of her little sister. While Penryn begins her quest knowing that angels are the greatest threat, she slowly discovers factions within their world as each battles to be the angels’ sole link with God. Further, mysterious demons, perhaps Nephilim, perhaps something worse, are preying through her world, devouring human flesh. The humans are planning an uprising, and Penryn finds her loyalties are divided. It will take true courage and selflessness to survive and bring humanity back to peace.

L.A. Weatherly’s Angelburn features evil angels who feed on innocents, leaving them mentally damaged. However, those victims believe that they’ve been blessed, and have founded the cultlike Church of the Angels, every-growing in number. However, the angels have found a single person capable of stopping them, a half-angel teenager named Willow. On the run for her life, Willow meets Alex, an A.K., or Angel Killer. He’s spent all his life learning how to see them and shoot them before they kill innocents. He’s even become a special assassin for the CIA. However, another wave of angels is approaching earth and only Willow can stop them. To do so, however, she must force herself to confront the angelic side of her own nature and discover what she can do.

The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski follows Aaron Corbet, a boy who thought he was human until he discovers he is Nephilim—half angel, half human. Under the guidance of the fallen angel, Zeke, he heals his dying dog and grants him vast powers of intelligence. Aaron himself has the gift of languages—animal languages as well as human. Along with the angel Camael, Aaron embarks on his destiny—to be the Nephilim chosen to heal the rift between fallen angels and God. However, most of Camael’s brethren consider him an affront to God and are determined to stop him…

Dark Angel YA Novels

Meridian (Fenestra, #1)by Amber Kizer  Fallen Angel (Fallen Angel #1)by Kim Wilkins Dark Angel (Dark Angel, #1) by Eden Maguire Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels, #1) by Keri Arthur Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1) by Richelle Mead Demon Angelby Meljean Brook (The Guardians, #1)

NephilimWhat are nephilim? It’s been widely debated. The Bible tells us this:There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:4)The Hebrew word for “sons of God,” Nephilim, has sparked a great deal of debate through history – are they angels who had children with human women? The descendants of Seth (Adam and Eve’s third son) meeting the descendants of another tribe? Lore is uncertain, though many of the more romantic and fantastical modern works label them as “fallen angels.”

As the Zohar, the book of Jewish mysticism states:All the just men who lived subsequent to Enos [Enoch], as Jared, Methusalah and Henoch, did all in their power to restrain the practice of magical arts, but their efforts proved futile and ineffectual; so that the professors of them, proud of their occult knowledge, became rebellious and disobedient to their Lord, saying, ‘Who is Shaddai [one of God’s many names], the almighty, that we should serve him and what profit should we have in praying unto Him’?’ Thus spake they and foolishly imagined that by their occultism and magic they would be able to nullify and turn away the oncoming judgment that was to sweep them wholly out of existence. Beholding their wicked deeds and practices, the Holy One caused the earth to revert back to its former condition and become immersed in water. After the deluge, however, He gave the earth again to mankind, promising, in His mercy, it should never again and in like manner be destroyed. It is written, ‘The Lord caused the earth to be covered with the deluge’ (Ps. xxix., 10). The word for Lord, here, is Jehovah and not Alhim; the first representing mercy, the other severity and judgment. In the time of Enos, even young children became students and trained in the higher mysteries and knowledge of the secret doctrine.” (Zohar 238)These practitioners of magic were the Nephilim, the ones God sent Noah’s flood to destroy.

Dean: I thought angels were supposed to be guardians. Fluffy wings, halos — You know, Michael Landon. Not dicks.Castiel: Read the Bible. Angels are warriors of God. I’m a soldier. On Supernatural, the angel Castiel carries Dean out of Hell. Since Castiel is actually “roughly the size of your Chrysler Building,” he and his brothers must occupy humans (with permission) to interact in the world – demons do the same. The Apocalypse is coming, and all the angels are choosing sides for the great conflict. Uriel, Michael, Raphael, and all the expected main players show up in the story.

The television show Angel is about a vampire (named Angel both for his beautiful face, and finally for his mission of helping others) who acts as a classic vampire and demon hunter. He’s also a sort of guardian angel to Buffy the Vampire Slayer on her show. The devil actually shows up in his series, though mostly as a joke (Angel hasn’t gone to the devil’s side—he just joins him for a weekly racketball game!) However, he’s guided by the Powers that Be, and his friend Cordelia eventually becomes a type of heavenly protector. Jamaerah, or James, is introduced as a banished angel in service to the Powers That Be, who appears in post-Angel: After the Fall comics and joins Angel’s team.

Coming soon…Myth and Motifs in The Mortal Instruments

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