Why do we celebrate the Saints? What are angels? Do we become angels when we die?

Frist, everybody knows Halloween which is also known as All Hallows’ Eve. So, what is “All Hallows?” It’s the old-timey name for All Saints Day, November 1. In the early days, Christians had to meet secretly and developed traditions of honoring the anniversary of local martyrs’ deaths. However, during the terrible days of persecution under such emperors as Nero and Diocletian, the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each. So, one day was established to remember them all. On the first recorded All Saints’ Day, St. Basil of Caesarea in 397 A.D. invited all the Christians of the province of Pontus for a feast honoring the dead.

After I found the article above which, Kay Stumbar, wrote years ago.  I started wondering what angels are.  Can we be an angel? Here is what I learned: An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The Old Testament includes the belief in angels, as angels appeared to key figures in the bible. The angels employed by God were the ministers of His will. The English word “angel” comes from the Greek Angelos, which means ‘messenger’. The Hebrew word for “angel” is malak, also meaning ‘messenger’. The prophet Malachi took his name from this word. He was himself a messenger, and he prophesied about the coming of “the messenger of the covenant”, Jesus Christ (Malachi 3:1).

Just a little trivia, someone recently asked how St. Michael the Archangel, can be a saint and an angel based on the above.  So the name Michael signifies “Who is like to God?” and was the war cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. The bible describes St. Michael as “one of the chief princes,” and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

Well, I think I answered my own question.  I cannot become an angel even though I was created by God.  God’s angels in heaven are special agents who help carry out His plan and minister to those on earth who follow Christ.  We often say to each other when someone dies, “they are your angel in heaven.”  So our loved ones who are in heaven work with the angels to watch over us and guide us.  They give us comfort and know that we will rest with the Lord.  I look forward to the day when I will be in heaven with the Lord and have the honor to work with the angels to watch over you!