The three kinds of intelligence, Angels: Day 004

Last updated on: July 25, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

The three kinds of intelligence, Angels: Day 004 2016-07-18T18:02:27-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The three kinds of intelligence

St. Gregory of Nyssa remembers the opinions of his sister, St. Macrina, whom

he always calls “the Teacher,” on a famous passage in Philippians. She inter– prets St. Paul as referring to the three kinds of intelligent beings, all of which will eventually praise Christ.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth (Phil. 2:9-10).

I do not think (she replied) that the divine Apostle divided the intellectual world into places when he named part as in Heaven, part as on Earth, and part as under the Earth.

There are three states in which reasoning creatures can be: one from the very first received an immaterial life, and we call it the angelic; another is in union with the flesh, and we call it the human; a third is released by death from fleshly entanglements, and is to be found in souls pure and simple.

Now I think that this was what the divine Apostle, in his deep wisdom, was thinking of when he revealed the future concord of all these reasoning beings in the work of goodness; and that he puts the bodiless angel-world in Heaven, and the world still involved with a body on earth, and the world released from a body under the earth.

–St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Since we are human, we are composed of body and soul. When our flesh is sub- ordinated to our spirit, as God intended, we can live with the happiness enjoyed by the heavenly spirits, the angels, even now.

CLOSING PRAYER

Guardian Angel, help me to be purified from all pollution of flesh and spirit, and from every shameful and foolish thought.

_______________________________________________________________________________
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.

A Year with the Angels

Mike Aquilina

Saint Benedict Press

Saint Gregory of Nyssa

Previous Post

July 25, 2016

CBB Interview with Mike Aquilina

Next Post

July 26, 2016 CBB Interview with Ramona Trevino

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz