Angels know the truth because they love God, Angels: Day 101

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

Angels know the truth because they love God, Angels: Day 101 2016-10-23T12:49:54-05:00 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.

Demons often predict the future, says St. Augustine, because they’re intelligent, and they can see things we can’t. But they often get it wrong. Angels always know the truth even about worldly things, because they love God and make his will their own.

The good angels, therefore, put little value on the knowledge of mate- rial and transitory things that the demons are so proud of possessing. It’s not that they’re ignorant of these things. But the love of God, by which they are sanctified, is very dear to them. Compared to that not merely immaterial but also unchangeable and ineffable beauty that they love with such a fire, they disdain everything beneath it, and everything that isn’t it, so that they may enjoy that good, the source of their goodness, with all the good that is in them.

And therefore they have a more certain knowledge even of those worldly and changeable things, because they contemplate their principles and causes in the Word of God, by which the world was made—those causes by which one thing is approved, another rejected, and everything arranged.

But the demons do not see the wisdom of God, so they don’t see these eter- nal and (so to speak) fundamental causes of worldly things, but only foresee a larg- er part of the future than we do, because they know more about the signs that are hidden from us. Sometimes, they’re predicting what they themselves intend to do.

And, finally, the demons are often wrong, but the angels never are. For it is one thing, by the aid of worldly and changeable things, to guess what changes may happen in time, and to change such things by one’s own will and power—and this is to a certain extent permitted to the demons. But it is another thing to foresee the changes of times in the eternal and immutable laws of God, which live in his wisdom, and to know the will of God, the most infallible and powerful of all causes, by participating in his spirit. This is granted to the holy angels by God’s just choice. –St. Augustine, City of God, 9.22

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I desire to know the truth? Do I take the steps necessary to grow in my under- standing of doctrine? Do I ask the help of my guardian angel as I undertake the prayerful study of Christian doctrine?

CLOSING PRAYER

Guardian Angel, who gaze upon the loveliness of God even as you guide my every step: help me to see what you see and behold the loveliness of God as much as I can even today.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Augustine

Saint Benedict Press

Previous Post

October 29, 2016

Angels have no creative power, Angels: Day 100

Next Post

October 31, 2016 Covetousness made an archangel the devil, Angels: Day 102

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