Angels Don't Fly

Three Surprising Truths That Defy Space and Time.
When we think of angels, a familiar image often comes to mind: radiant, human-like beings with magnificent wings, soaring through the heavens. This picture, popularized by centuries of art and scripture, represents their divine role as God's messengers, ready to act with heavenly speed. We imagine them traveling from heaven to earth, traversing vast celestial distances in the blink of an eye.

But what if this familiar image is a beautiful placeholder for a reality far more profound? What if their movement and presence operate on a level that defies our fundamental understanding of space and time? Classic theological thought suggests that the reality of these beings is more complex, abstract, and fascinating than we typically imagine.

This article explores three profound ideas about the nature of angels drawn from classic spiritual reflection. These concepts challenge our material assumptions and invite us to consider a reality that operates beyond the physical laws we take for granted.
They Don't Move Through Space
The first challenging idea is that angels are not subject to the laws of space. While we picture them flying, they don’t actually "travel" from point A to point B or pass through the space in between. Their movement isn't a journey, but an instantaneous application of their will.

In reality the angels are not subject to the laws of space... They do not pass through intervening spaces, nor, strictly, do they pass from place to place. They become present here or there by acting or appearing in such a place or places.
To grasp this, consider how speed relates to immateriality in our own world. Sound is rapid. Light, electricity, and nerve impulses are vastly more so. Gravitation acts instantaneously—it has no travel time between two bodies. Following this logic, angels, being "much more immaterial" than even these forces, operate entirely outside the paradigm of travel. This "instantaneous promptitude" is presented not just as a fascinating metaphysical trait, but as a model for human spirituality—a call to act on the inspirations of grace with the same immediate resolve.

They Are Present in a Place, but Don't Occupy It

While an angel can be present in a specific, definite place—unlike God, whose presence is infinite and simultaneous everywhere—they do not occupy that place in a physical sense. They have no length, breadth, or thickness that can be measured. They are present in a location without taking up any space within it.

To understand this paradox, we can use the analogy of the human soul in the body. The soul is present in every part of the body, from head to toe, yet the soul itself has no measurable size or physical dimension. In the same way, an angel's presence is localized and definite, but it is not dimensional. They can be here rather than there, but their "hereness" is not defined by a physical footprint.

This idea directly challenges our materialist assumptions, suggesting a mode of being that is localized yet non-dimensional. It points to a reality where "being somewhere" doesn't require a body. In doing so, it offers a powerful parallel for our own inner lives: an invitation to cultivate a spiritual reality that coexists with—but is not defined by—our physical existence on the material plane.

They Are Immaterial, Yet They Can Influence the Material World
Despite their non-physical, non-dimensional nature, angels can exert significant and direct power over the material world. Their existence as immaterial spirits does not render them powerless spectators; on the contrary, they are described as potent agents in the physical realm.

Classic accounts provide dramatic examples of this power: an angel conveyed Habacuc from Judea to the lions’ den, another slew the first-born in Egypt, one destroyed the army of Sennacherib, and others scourged Heliodorus for intruding into the temple. Notably, this ability is not limited to benevolent beings; the source text points out that “Satan also transported Our Lord to the pinnacle of the temple.”

The theological significance of this is profound, illustrating how Providence often works through created agencies. These "mighty spirits" are not just messengers but active participants with duties "proportioned to their great powers." The fact that this influence can be wielded by both benevolent and malevolent forces reveals a deeper truth: this power is a function of a being's spiritual nature, not its moral alignment. They bridge the gap between the purely spiritual and the solidly material.

A Higher Reality

These three takeaways paint a picture of angelic beings that is far removed from the simple winged figures of popular imagination. They operate outside our familiar concepts of travel, spatial dimension, and the strict separation of the material and immaterial worlds. Their existence challenges us to think beyond our physical limitations and consider different planes of reality.

This reimagining of angelic nature isn't just a theological curiosity; it invites us to reconsider the very fabric of our own world. If these beings operate on such a different framework of existence, what does it suggest about the unseen forces and spiritual dimensions that might influence our own lives?