Sunday, July 12, 2009

Q108 A1: Whether all the angels are of one hierarchy?

No. Dionysius (Coel. Hier. vi) distinguishes three hierarchies of angels because the superior angels have a more universal knowledge of the truth than the inferior angels.

Dionysius, VI cap. Cael. Hier., distinguit tres hierarchias Angelorum quia superiores Angeli habent universaliorem cognitionem veritatis quam inferiores.

This sort of universal cognitive reception has three grades among the angels. For the formal aspects of things, concerning which the angels are enlightened, can be considered in a threefold manner.

Huiusmodi autem universalis acceptio cognitionis secundum tres gradus in Angelis distingui potest. Possunt enim rationes rerum, de quibus Angeli illuminantur, considerari tripliciter.

First as proceeding from God as the first universal principle, which mode of knowledge belongs to the first hierarchy, connected immediately with God, and, "as it were, placed in the vestibule of God," as Dionysius says (Coel. Hier. vii).

Primo quidem, secundum quod procedunt a primo principio universali, quod est Deus, et iste modus convenit primae hierarchiae, quae immediate ad Deum extenditur, et "quasi in vestibulis Dei collocatur", ut Dionysius dicit VII cap. Cael. Hier.

Secondly, inasmuch as these formal aspects depend on the universal created causes, which in some way are already multiplied; and this mode [of cognitive reception] belongs to the second hierarchy.

Secundo vero, prout huiusmodi rationes dependent ab universalibus causis creatis, quae iam aliquo modo multiplicantur, et hic modus convenit secundae hierarchiae.

Thirdly, inasmuch as these formal aspects are applied to individual things and depending on their proper causes; and this mode belongs to the lowest hierarchy.

Tertio autem modo, secundum quod huiusmodi rationes applicantur singulis rebus, et prout dependent a propriis causis, et hic modus convenit infimae hierarchiae.