There is an order in heaven, Angels: Day 032

There is an order in heaven

Arguing against the heretic Jovianus, St. Jerome explains that there are ranks even of  angels; we shouldn’t be surprised, therefore, to hear that there will be ranks among the saints.

Christ tells us that in Heaven there are many different mansions, prepared for many different virtues, and they will be awarded, not to persons, but to persons’ works.

But if there are not many mansions, then how does the Old Testament teach, like the New, that the chief priest has one rank, the priests another, the Levites an- other, the doorkeepers another, the sacristans another? How is it that in the book of Ezekiel, which gives a description of the future Church and of the heavenly Jerusalem, the priests who have sinned are degraded to the rank of sacristans and doorkeepers (Ez. 44:10-14), and although they are in the temple of God, that is on the right hand, they are not among the rams, but among the poorest of the sheep? How again is it that in the river which flows from the temple, and replenishes the salt sea, and gives new life to everything, we read there are many kinds of fish? Why do we read that in the kingdom of Heaven there are Archangels, Angels, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Cherubim, and Seraphim, and every name that is named, not only in this present world, but also that which is to come?

A difference of name is meaningless where there is not a difference of rank. An Archangel is of course an Archangel to other inferior angels, and Powers, and Dominions have other spheres over which they exercise authority. This is what we find in Heaven and in the administration of God. –St. Jerome, Against Jovianus, 2.28

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

If there are ranks in Heaven, am I striving to earn the highest rank? Or am I just scraping by?

CLOSING PRAYER

Guardian Angel, help me to know my particular gifts clearly, that I may work to perfect them for God’s use on Earth, and through them give praise to him forever in Heaven.

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