The Catholic Defender: celestial Choir of Powers
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers, may the Lord vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
The powers (dunameis) form the third and last choir of the second angelic hierarchy, according to Pseudo-Dionysius, while other scholars and spiritual writers consider them to be the fifth choir.
This choir is mentioned occasionally in the Old Testament, such as in the book of Daniel where we read, “Bless the Lord, all powers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever” (Dan. 3:39).
Some scholars maintain that the name “powers” is also used to indicate angels in general, since it is the Septuagint’s translation of the Hebrew sabaoth.
Role in Spiritual Warfare: Powers are considered "soldiers" of Heaven who defend the universe, maintain cosmic order, and repel attacks from demonic forces.
In Hebrew, Sabaoth translates to "hosts" or "armies". It is primarily used as a title for God, denoting His supreme authority over all creation.
Protection of Creation: They are entrusted with safeguarding the laws of physical creation and protecting the world from evil spirits.
Guide and Strengthen: They aid in spiritual growth, providing courage and strength to humans.
In the New Testament St. Paul writes that there are powers who have remained faithful to God and powers who have fallen away and become part of the empire of Satan (Eph. 6:12).
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Eph. 6:12
The choir of powers is thought to introduce man to the higher mysteries while repressing the attacks of the “hostile powers” of Hell against the deepest laws of physical creation.
Definition: It is the feminine plural of the Hebrew word tsaba (צָבָא), which means "army," "warfare," or "service".
The Title: When paired with the divine name, Yahweh Sabaoth (or Jehovah Sabaoth), it is translated as "The LORD of Hosts" or "The LORD of Armies".
Biblical Scope: The term appears over 280 times in the Old Testament, particularly in prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah. It first appears in 1 Samuel 1:3.
Each year this man went up from his city to worship and offer sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were ministering as priests of the LORD. 1 Samuel 1:3
The "Hosts": The term refers to three types of "armies"
Celestial Armies: Multitudes of angels
Cosmic Hosts: The sun, moon, and stars
Earthly Armies: The forces of Israel or all people.
New Testament: The Greek transliteration Sabaōth appears twice in the New Testament (Romans 9:29 and James 5:4) to maintain the original Hebrew emphasis.
Devotion: In the Chaplet of St. Michael and the 9 Choirs of Angels, the faithful pray for the intercession of the Powers to protect them from the snares of the devil.
Comments