Q: Are angels actually able to intervene in human matters, i.e. warn us of impending danger?
Our English word “angel” is derived from the Greek word “angelos,” meaning “messenger.” According to Church tradition, angels are created beings who are servants and messengers of God. Like human beings, they have intelligence and free will. Unlike human beings, who are embodied spirits, they are spirits without bodies. The bible contains many references to the intervention of angels in human life, primarily as bearers of a message related to salvation history. Consider, for example, the role of Gabriel in Luke 1:5-38 and of other unnamed angels in Luke 2:8-20. God’s voice is as present in the world today as it was 2,000 years ago, and there is no reason that God would not continue to rely on these heavenly messengers. For further reading, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 328-336.