The Rant: How am I similar or different in my adoration compared to the adoration of the angels and saints?

Mission Statement

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

How am I similar or different in my adoration compared to the adoration of the angels and saints?

Key Points

Research suggests humans, angels, and saints all adore God, sharing a common act of worship.
It seems likely that your adoration as a human on earth is less perfect than that of angels and saints in heaven, due to human limitations and distractions.
The evidence leans toward humans adoring God imperfectly now, but in heaven, your adoration will become perfect, similar to angels and saints.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=175369144152905&id=101468208209666&set=a.101869988169488

Similarities in AdorationBoth you, as a human, and angels and saints adore God, recognizing His supreme perfection and dominion. This shared act of worship means we all participate in acknowledging God's infinite holiness, whether on earth or in heaven.Differences in AdorationAs a human on earth, your adoration is often imperfect due to distractions, sins, and human limitations. Angels, being pure spirits in heaven, adore God perfectly and continuously, without these imperfections. Saints, as glorified humans in heaven, also adore God perfectly, free from sin and fully united with Him. However, in the future, when you reach heaven, your adoration will become perfect and similar to theirs.

Survey Note: A Detailed Exploration of Adoration by Humans, Angels, and SaintsThis note provides a comprehensive analysis of how your adoration compares to that of angels and saints, drawing from theological and scriptural insights within Christianity, particularly emphasizing Catholic perspectives as they offer detailed distinctions. The discussion aims to address the similarities and differences, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers interested in religious studies or personal spiritual reflection.Introduction to Adoration in Christian TheologyAdoration, often referred to as latria in theological terms, is the highest form of worship reserved exclusively for God. It involves recognizing God's supreme perfection, dominion, and the creature's dependence on Him. In contrast, dulia is veneration or honor given to saints and angels, and hyperdulia is a special veneration for the Blessed Virgin Mary due to her unique role. These distinctions are crucial for understanding how adoration functions across different beings—humans, angels, and saints.The question at hand is how your adoration, as a human, compares to that of angels and saints, particularly in their adoration of God. To address this, we will explore the similarities and differences, considering both current earthly states and eschatological (future, heavenly) states.

https://opusangelorum.org/the-holiness-of-god-and-adoration/

Similarities in AdorationResearch suggests that both humans, angels, and saints share a common act of adoring God. This is evident from various theological sources:

All three entities recognize God's infinite holiness and perfection. For humans, this is expressed through latria, which includes interior acts of the mind and will, as well as exterior expressions like prayer, sacrifice, and gestures such as bowing or kneeling [Catholic Answers Encyclopedia on Adoration, https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/adoration].
Angels are described as constantly adoring God in heaven, with seraphim leading worship by singing endless praises, such as "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Isaiah 6:3), and saints, as glorified humans, join in this heavenly adoration [St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology on Angels in Christian Theology, https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/AngelsinChristianTheology].
In heaven, humans (as saints) will adore God alongside angels, suggesting a shared participation in the eternal liturgy. This is supported by the idea that adoration is a foretaste of heaven, where "we will adore God with the angels and saints" [Catholic Culture on Adoration, https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6558].

This shared adoration underscores a fundamental unity: all are worshipers of God, acknowledging His supremacy.Differences in AdorationThe evidence leans toward significant differences in how humans, angels, and saints adore God, primarily due to their differing natures and states of existence. Below, we detail these differences:

Human Adoration on Earth: As a human, your adoration is often imperfect due to distractions, sins, and limitations. Theological reflections highlight this, noting that some humans may approach adoration with less reverence, allowing "vain, worldly, and even sinful thoughts" to intrude, while angels are full of awe and humility [The Blessed Eucharist: Our Greatest Treasure, Father Michael Muller, C.S.S.R., p32-33, 1868; TAN 1994]. Your adoration involves both interior acts (mind and will) and exterior expressions, such as prayer and sacrifice, but it may not always reflect the same focus as heavenly beings.
Angelic Adoration: Angels, being pure spirits created before humans, are already in heaven and adore God perfectly and continuously. They are described as leading worship, with seraphim proclaiming the Sanctus and other orders facilitating heavenly liturgy [St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology, https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/AngelsinChristianTheology]. Their adoration is without the distractions of a physical body, and they are depicted as trembling before God's greatness, veiling their presence before His splendor [Catholic Culture on Adoration, https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6558].
Saintly Adoration: Saints, as glorified humans in heaven, also adore God perfectly and continuously. Having died and reached their eternal reward, they are free from sin and fully united with God. Their adoration is both spiritual and physical, in their glorified state, and they join angels in the heavenly liturgy [All Saints’ Day | EWTN, https://missions.ewtn.com/seasonsandfeastdays/allsaints/].
Eschatological Perspective: The evidence suggests that in the future, when you reach heaven as a saint, your adoration will become perfect and similar to that of angels and saints. This is supported by the idea that humans will participate with angels in the eternal heavenly liturgy, sharing their immortal condition [St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology, https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/AngelsinChristianTheology]. This future state bridges the current gap, aligning human adoration with the heavenly standard.

https://www.kressconservation.org/conserved-artwork/artwork/87772efabecf70d0aa3c28c3f844a0169de519055646815ac66d4f414a42bf98

Theological Distinctions and ClarificationsIt is crucial to clarify that humans do not adore angels or saints; they venerate them (dulia). Adoration (latria) is reserved for God alone, as emphasized in multiple sources [Catholic Answers Encyclopedia, https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/adoration; Catholic Culture, https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6558]. This distinction is rooted in early Christian theology, where veneration of angels was permissible, provided it was clearly distinguished from latria [St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology, https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/AngelsinChristianTheology].Theological writings also encourage humans to learn from angels in their adoration, asking for the assistance of guardian angels to enhance reverence [Catholic Culture on Adoration, https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6558]. This cooperative aspect highlights the supportive role angels play in human spiritual life, further distinguishing their roles.ConclusionIn summary, you share with angels and saints the act of adoring God, a fundamental similarity in recognizing His supremacy. However, current differences arise from your earthly state, where adoration is often imperfect due to human limitations, compared to the perfect, continuous adoration of angels and saints in heaven. In the future, as a saint in heaven, your adoration will align with theirs, becoming perfect and eternal. This exploration underscores the dynamic nature of adoration, inviting reflection on how you can strive for greater reverence, inspired by the example of heavenly beings.

https://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/2016/06/11/eucharistic-adoration-a-fount-of-heavenly-graces/

This analysis is grounded in Christian theological perspectives, particularly Catholic teachings, as of July 27, 2025, and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding for personal and academic reflection.
*https://x.com/i/grok/share/zNP6hYTavB5u9gT7VEFlD73lu*

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The kingdom of God is among you

Luke 17:20-25 Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’ He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’

Live Adoration from Tyburn Convent

Adoration, also known as Eucharistic Adoration, is a Catholic prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is a sign of devotion and worship to Jesus Christ, who is believed to be present in the consecrated host. During adoration, Catholics pray to Jesus Christ before the Eucharist at their local parish. The Eucharist is typically kept in a tabernacle at the parish church, and may be presented in front of a closed tabernacle or in front of the exposed host in a monstrance. A monstrance is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Anglican, High Church Lutheran, and Old Catholic churches. It is a stand made of precious metal that holds the Blessed Sacrament during adoration. The word "monstrance" comes from Latin and means "to show".

It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household. ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. ‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’ When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

The beheading of John the Baptist

Matthew 14:1-12 Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

Psalms 9:16

The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah - Question: What does Higgaion and Selah mean? Answer: Both Higgaion and Selah are used numerous times in the Old Testament. They occur together in Psalm 9:16. The meanings of these words are uncertain. We observe Higgaion in such passages as Psalm 9:16; 19:14; 42:3; Lamentations 3:63. In Arabic, the root gives a deep vibrating sound, like the murmering sound of a harp (Psa. 92:3). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states that it may be derived from the Greek versions of Psalm 9:16 and takes it to mean an instrumental interlude. It may also mean a soliloquy or meditation such as concerning the judgment of God (Psa. 9:16), the words and work of God (Psa. 19:14), and the loving kindness and faithfulness of God (Psa. 92:2-3). In the Septuagint, Selah is translated as daplasma (meaning a division). It occurs in Habakkuk 3:3, 9, 13 and 71 times in the Psalms. It is used in 39 of our 150 psalms. Of those 39 psalms, 31 they are ones handed over to "the chief Musician." So, pause and meditation may be the predominate idea. In addition, it may mean to lift up (Hebrew, salal) or, in some definitions, a repetition, end of a strophe, or a recurring symphony. In his sermon named "HIGGAION!" about Psalm 9:16, Archibald G. Brown, on August 17, 1873, at the East London Tabernacle said this: "When the psalmist wrote this verse, and reached the words 'The wicked shall be snared in the work of his own hands', he seemed to be overpowered at the terror of the thought, and so put a full stop and wrote in the word 'Higgaion!' As much as to say, 'O my soul, meditate on the tremendous truth my hand has penned, and let all who read the same meditate.' And then after 'Higgaion' he puts 'Selah'. He would have there to be a solemn pause. Oh, I would that there could be just one moment's solemn pause in our meeting tonight. Would that there could be a Selah, a Higgaion! Friends, shall there be? I put it to you. 'The Lord is known by the judgment which he executes; and the wicked shall be snared in the work of his own hands!" Now let us just for a moment meditate on that. Let there be a solemn Higgaion, and let every heart ask itself the question, 'How do I stand in reference to this tremendous truth?' *Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr. (https://thirdmill.org/answers/answer.asp/file/47892)*

The Rant

Mission Statement

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

How am I similar or different in my adoration compared to the adoration of the angels and saints?

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How am I similar or different in my adoration compared to the adoration of the angels and saints?

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