{"id":5586,"date":"2016-08-25T03:30:23","date_gmt":"2016-08-25T08:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/?p=5586"},"modified":"2016-08-20T15:10:17","modified_gmt":"2016-08-20T20:10:17","slug":"the-orders-of-angels-teach-one-another-angels-day-035","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/2016\/08\/25\/the-orders-of-angels-teach-one-another-angels-day-035\/","title":{"rendered":"The orders of angels teach one another, Angels: Day 035"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"angels_dionysius\"<\/a>The orders of angels teach one another<\/strong><\/p>\n

T<\/em>he hierarchy of Heaven, like the hierarchy on Earth, keeps to a definite <\/em>or<\/em>d<\/em>er\u00a0<\/em>of teaching, according to Dionysius \u00a0the Areopagite. The higher levels teach <\/em>th<\/em>e <\/em>subordinate levels. Like some other Fathers, our writer imagines the beginning <\/em>of Isaiah 63 as a description of the scene in Heaven when Christ <\/em>a<\/em>sc<\/em>ended<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Theologians show that the superior orders of heavenly beings teach the subordinate orders the knowledge of becoming like God. The highest orders of all receive their illumination directly from God, as far as possible for them, in revelations of the divine mysteries. Some (the theologians say) were instructed by those of higher rank that he who ascended into Heaven as a man is Lord of the heavenly powers, and King of glory; others asked Jesus himself, because they wished to be taught about his divine work on our behalf, and Jesus taught them directly, showing them what he had done out of love for humanity. \u201cIt is I,\u201d Jesus said, \u201cannouncing vindication, mighty to save\u201d (Isa. 63:1).<\/p>\n

Personally, I am amazed that even the foremost of the heavenly beings, so far above all the rest, should reverently look for the divine teachings as intermediate beings. They do not ask directly, \u201cWhy is your apparel red?\u201d (Isa. 63:2). But first they raise the question among themselves. This shows that they desire to learn, and crave the knowledge of being like God, and do not demand the knowledge of what God has done before it is time for them to know.\u00a0\u2013Dionysius the Areopagite, The Celestial Hierarchy<\/em>, 7.3<\/p>\n

IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do I reverently accept the teaching authority of those to whom the Church has\u00a0given it\u2014both angels and bishops?<\/p>\n

CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord, you chose the lamp of the twelve apostles with its twelve lights, and sent them <\/em>f<\/em>or<\/em>th <\/em>to proclaim throughout the whole world and teach the gospel of your kingdom; send your <\/em>a<\/em>ngels <\/em>to keep their successors safe from all <\/em>er<\/em>r<\/em>o<\/em>r<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

___________________________________________________________________________________________
\nRemember 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.
\n