EWTN Catholic Q&A

Angels
Question from Edz on 10-30-2012:

Hi Fr. John,

As I understand, angels do not have "sex" because they're spirits but if we will read the Bible most are masculine names. I understand that angels can take human form that is why maybe some artists portray them as females. I only assume this. But is there a chance that a passage in the Bible mentioned that they took form of a woman? I really would like to be enlightened about angel matters since I am getting confused with all the questionings of my uncle whose a member of a different sect.

Thank you for your time! :)

Answer by Fr. John Echert on 11-06-2012:

While angels are sometimes artistically pictured with long flowing hair, I believe that most Christian artists have represented them as males. Lord knows how modern New Agers picture them, which is another matter. I cannot recall a passage in which angels are represented as women. Angels are messengers and agents of God, and so when they do appear to us, they appropriately appear as males, sometimes even reflecting the Trinity of Persons or prefiguring the Incarnate Christ.