The Catholic Book Blogger
The angels’ immortality depends upon God’s will
The angels are immortal, says St. Ambrose, but they don’t have the same kind of immortality that God has. God is immortal by nature; angels are immortal because God gives them immortality.
The immortality of God’s nature is one thing, and the immortality of ours is another. Perishable things cannot be compared to divine things. The God- head is the only Substance that death cannot touch, and therefore it is that the Apostle, though knowing that both our soul and the angels are immortal, declared that God only had immortality (1 Tim. 6:16). In truth, even the soul may die: “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:20). And an angel is not absolutely immor- tal, because his immortality depends on the will of the Creator.
Do not hastily reject this, because Gabriel does not die, or Raphael, or Uriel. Every creature has within it the possibility of corruption and death, even if it is not dying or committing sin right now. And if it does not hand itself over to sin in anything, this blessing does not come from its immortal nature, but from discipline or grace. Immortality, then, that comes as a gift is one thing; immortality without the possibility of change is another. –St. Ambrose, Exposition of the Christian Faith, 3.3
IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
God wills my soul to be immortal like the good angels. Am I cooperating with God’s will, as Gabriel and Raphael do?
CLOSING PRAYER
Guardian Angel, lead me to hear the life-giving commandments of the Lord, so that I may be found worthy to spend eternity in your company.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Mike Aquilina and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In