Please Stop Saying That Heaven Has Gained Another Angel

Among all the clichè sayings that the human race in this day and age has grown accustomed to, there are many which Catholics ought not to be saying at all. If there is one clichè saying that annoys me more than any other, especially when used by a Catholic, this is it: "Heaven Has Gained Another Angel". 

Of course, it is understandable why many of us use this clichè. It is often used at the passing of a loved one, and these words do bring some form of comfort to those who mourn. However, for those who are well catechised, we should know that this clichè is completely out of line with our Catholic theology. It is a downright lie that we tell our grieving friends, which honestly could do more harm than good, and I think that we need to know why we should stop using it. 

First of all, we need to understand that Angels are beings that do not share the same nature as Humans. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Angels are spiritual creatures who glorify God without ceasing and who serve his saving plans for other creatures. These creatures include us, human beings. The Catechism states that unlike Human Beings, Angels are non-corporeal beings and are purely spiritual creatures. 

The Human Race has a different nature from Angelic Beings, just like how our beings have a different nature than that of animals. Nowhere in the Catechism does it state that Humans are complete spiritual beings like Angels. It is also not stated anywhere in the teachings of the Church that we will become Angels when we arrive at the New and Eternal Jerusalem. 

Furthermore, by insinuating that our departed loved ones are now in heaven with the angels, that could be a little presumptuous on our part. We assume that our loved ones who have gone before us are actually in heaven, are already enjoying eternal and perfect union with our triune God. By doing so, we downplay the doctrine of Purgatory, which is already poorly understood by Catholics and Non-Catholics alike. This is a real shame because when understood well, the doctrine of Purgatory is a very merciful teaching.  

We need to understand that we do not have the right or authority to declare that our departed loved ones are in heaven. That authority lies with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. There is no certainty that our loved ones are not in need of the graces obtained in Purgatory, as part of the Church Suffering. We do not know for sure if they have already gone through the necessary purification, so as to love God with their entire beings. The only way of knowing for sure if our departed loved ones are in Heaven, is if they have been officially beatified or canonised by the Church. It is not our place to canonise our departed loved ones. 

I know that I am going to risk ruffling the feathers of many of my readers by today's post. I assure you, my dear reader, that this post is not meant as a personal attack against anyone, nor is it meant to put down anyone's good intentions. Rather, I do hope to purify the intentions of my readers who may be using this clichè term, who I'm sure intend for nothing less than to be a source of comfort to their friends and family when they lose a loved one. 

Instead of telling others that heaven has gained another angel, let us assure our friends and family, especially upon the demise of their loved ones, that our God is a loving God. Let us remind one another about his mercy, and assure them that he is with them in their grief. And let us remind one another about the promise of the resurrection. That would be far more comforting and useful than by downright lying to them that heaven has gained another angel. Heaven does not gain another angel, even when the saints die.