XXII. OF THE ANGELS: THE HIERARCHIES AND THE ORDERS
Do the pure spirits or the angels also act one upon the other?
Yes.
What is this action of one angel upon another called?
It is called illumination
Why is it called illumination?
Because angels act one upon the other only for the reason of transmitting the light (knowledge) they receive from God concerning the course of His government
Is this light, imparted by God to angels, communicated to them in some graduated and ordered scale?
Yes.
What is meant by this?
By this is meant that God imparts this light first of all to those who are nearer to Him, and these in their turn impart the light to other angels; thus, from the highest to the lowest the light is communicated in such wise that the first imparts it to the last by the action of those who are midway
There is then in this action of the angels whereby they communicate one to the other the light imparted by God to them the subordination of first, midway, and last.?
Yes
Is it possible to give some illustration of this subordination of this action of pure spirits one upon the other whereby they communicate the light imparted to them by God?
One might compare it to a stream of light which falls translucently from rock to rock, and is fed everlastingly by the waters of some beautiful lake situate in the height of the mountain.
Does this subordination among the angels comprise divers groups?
Yes
How many kinds are there of these groups?
These groups are of two kinds.
What are these two kinds of groups called?
They are called the hierarchies and orders or the angelic choirs.
What is meant by the word "hierarchy?"
The word" hierarchy" is derived from the Greek and means "sacred principality."
What does the word "principality" entail?
The word "principality" entails two things: a prince and a multitude organized under him
When one speaks of a "sacred principality" what is meant by that?
"Sacred principality" understood in its strict and full sense means the whole assemblage of rational creatures called to participate in things holy under the sole government of God, who is the Supreme Prince and' Sovereign King of them all
There ought then to be only one sacred principality and only one hierarchy in the world governed by God?
Yes, if one considers the sacred principality on the part of God, who is the Supreme Prince and Sovereign King of all rational creatures governed by Him, there is only one sacred principality or only one hierarchy which embraces both angels and men
Why then and in what sense does one speak of hierarchies in the plural, and even in a certain way of hierarchies in the world of pure spirits or angels only?
Because on the part of the multitude organized under a prince the principality differs according as that multitude in different ways is subject to the governing of the prince
Is it possible to give an illustration of this diversity in things human?
Yes, for under the same king are to be found cities or provinces differing from each other in that they are ruled by different laws and by different ministers of state
Is there one hierarchy for human beings and another for the angels?
Yes, as long as there are human beings on earth, there is one hierarchy for them and another for the angels
Why as long as there are human beings on earth?
Because in heaven men are included in the hierarchy of the angels
Are there several hierarchies among the angels?
Yes
How many hierarchies are there?
There are three hierarchies among the angels
Is it possible to say how these hierarchies among the angels are differentiated?
These three hierarchies among the angels are differentiated according to the threefold way of knowing the reasons of things which relate to the divine government
In what way does the first hierarchy know the reasons of things which relate to the divine government?
It knows them according as these reasons proceed from the First Universal Principle, which is God
What does this import on the part of the angels of this first hierarchy?
On the part of the angels of this first hierarchy, this imports that their place is near to God in such wise that all the orders of this hierarchy are named from some office which has for its object God Himself
In what way does the second hierarchy know the reasons of things which relate to the divine government?
It knows them according as this kind of reasons depend upon created universal causes
What does this import on the part of the angels of this second hierarchy?
For the angels of the second hierarchy, this imports that they receive their illumination (knowledge) from the first hierarchy, and that their orders are named from some office having reference to the universality of creatures governed by God
In what way does the third hierarchy know the reasons of things which relate to the divine government?
It knows them according as they are applied to particular things in so far as these things depend from their proper causes
What does this imply on the part of the angels of this third hierarchy?
For the angels of this third hierarchy, this imports that they receive the divine light, according to certain particular forms which enable them to have communion with our minds in this life -- and it further implies that their orders are named from acts relating to some one human being as, for instance, the guardian angels, or to some one province as, for instance, the Principalities
Is it possible to find some illustration of this threefold kind of hierarchy in the things of this world?
Yes, there are illustrations of this threefold kind of hierarchy in the things of this world; for instance, among. the ministers of a king there are chamberlains, councillors, and attendants who are always near the person of the prince; further, there are officers of the royal court whose duty it is to look after the affairs of the whole kingdom in a general way; lastly, there are officers whose duty it is to look after this or that particular section of the kingdom
Are the orders distinct from the hierarchies among the angels?
Yes
In what consists this distinction?
It consists in this, that the hierarchies constitute divers multitudes of angels forming divers principalities under the same divine government, whereas the orders constitute divers classes in each multitude which forms a hierarchy
How many orders are there in each hierarchy?
There are three orders in each hierarchy
Why are there three orders in each hierarchy?
Because even with us the different classes which distinguish men in one city are reduced to three principal classes, namely, the nobles, the commoners, and the peasantry
There are then in each hierarchy the higher angels, the lower angels, and the angels that come between?
Yes, and these form what are called the three orders of each hierarchy
One must distinguish then, in all, nine angelic orders?
Yes, there are nine principal angelic orders
Why nine "principal" angelic orders?
Because in each order there are yet other subordinations almost without number, each angel having his proper place and his particular duty; but it is not for us to know all this in this life
Are the nine orders the same as the nine choirs of angels?
Yes.
Why is the name "choirs" given to the angelic orders?
Because each order in fulfilling its duties in the divine government constitutes a class replete with harmony which makes manifest in a wonderful way the glory of God in this work.
What are the names of the nine choirs of angels?
They are, descending from the higher to the lower, the Seraphim, the Cherubim, the Thrones, the Dominations, the Virtues, the Powers, the Principalities, the Archangels, and the Angels
Do these orders still exist among the devils?
Yes, for the orders are consequent upon the very nature of the angels; and nature in the devils remains the same.
Is there then a subordination among the devils just as there was before their fall?
Yes
Is this order among them ever used for good?
No, it is never used except for evil
There is then no illumination among the devils?
Among the devils there is only the darkness of evil; and for this reason their empire is called the kingdom of darkness
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