Angelic Hierarchy
Jesus confirms in the gospel today that there are angels. Several times angels are described doing various things for God. What we know in addition to this comes from tradition. Here is some more information about angels.
Angelic Hierarchy according to St. Thomas Aquinas:
Seraphim – Cherubim – Thrones
Dominions – Virtues – Powers
Principalities – Archangels – Angels
From the Summa Theologiae I-I q55, a3, in treating of the angelic knowledge, there are three grades among the angels. Thus does St. Thomas speak of the three-fold division of the angelic hierarchy into three hierarchies, each with three choirs of angels. In the highest hierarchy (Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones) the Divine Ideas take on their most universal character. Oriented immediately to God these choirs of pure spirits understand in the broadest, most general, way the knowledge committed to them by God. As the Eternal Word is the uncreated undivided Image of the Father, these angels possess the most simple, and therefore most profound, understanding of that Word, in whose image all created realities were made (Col. 1:15-17).
In the second hierarchy (Dominions, Virtues and Powers) the Divine ideas begin to be multiplied, so as to have effect in the created universe. For St. Thomas God, the First Cause, brings about His plan for creation, except for those matters which require the divine power – such as creating out of nothing, through the secondary causation of the angels. Thus, we can say that the Divine Idea of creation and its laws, which in God is one and simple in the Eternal Word, becomes more specific and suited to material reality as it proceeds down through the angelic hierarchy.
Finally, the lowest hierarchy (Principalities, Archangels and Angels) understands the knowledge communicated from the higher choirs as it relates to particular realities and serves to effect in creation the will of God, such as the laws of nature, and the guardianship of societies and individuals.
Archangels
Sacred Scripture provides us with the names of three of the Archangels. St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael (and Companions)
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back (Rev. 12:7) [cf. Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 1:9]. Michael is Hebrew for Who is Like God
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27) [cf. Daniel 8:16, 9:21; Luke 1:19]. Gabriel is Hebrew for Man of God, often rendered Strength of God
I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” (Tobit 12:15; cf. Tobit all]. Raphael is Hebrew for God heals.
From Tobit 12:15 the Church has deduced that there are seven archangels in all. Although various ecclesiastical traditions ascribe names to the remaining four, at places such as Polermo in Sicily and St. Michael’s Shrine in Tlaxcala, Mexico, these names vary from place to place and are not accepted by the Church for purposes of veneration by Catholics. Veneration of the Seven Archangels is permitted, however, and in Rome’s Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels and the Jesuit church Gesu there are chapels dedicated to the 7 archangels.
St. Thomas tells us that the Archangels bear the greatest messages of God to man. They are the chief messengers; ruling, as well, over the lesser messengers, or angels, as their chiefs. It is from this latter choir that St. Thomas asserts that the Guardian Angels of individuals are taken.
There is much more to study about angels. But be careful and stay to the teachings of the Church. There is much misinformation about angels.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen