Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/115

 nity, “joy over one sinner that repenteth.” Great is the dignity of the angels, because they are the messengers of God; and great is their benignity, because they rejoice in the conversion of the sinner.

I. On the first head, it is to be noted, that the angels are called “angels of God,” as they are spoken of here; and our angels, as they are called in S. Matt, xviii. 10, “Their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.” And by this threefold calling a twofold virtue is to be noted in them, for they have the double virtue of standing by and ministering; for they stand by God, and they minister to us. They stand by God in a threefold manner. (1) In contemplation, S. Matt, xviii. 10, “ Do always behold the face of My Father.” (2) In loving, 1 S. Peter i. 12, “ Which things the angels desire to look into;" S. August., “ So great is the fulness of the Divine countenance that no one is able to behold it without love.” (3) In praising, S. Peter Dam., “It is the work of the angels to praise God in hymns.” The angels also minister to us in a threefold manner. First, in purging us ; second, in enlightening us ; third, in helping us forward. S. Dioni. Are., For by liberating us they purge us. Isaiah vi. 6, “ Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand,” &c. They illuminate by teaching. Dan. x. 13, “ Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people in the latter days.” They help by providing good things. 1 Kings xix. 5, “ An angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.”

II. On the second head, it is noted, that for three reasons the angels rejoice over the conversion of sinners. (1) On account of the fulfilment of their ministry; for they are ministers that exhort us to repentance. Heb. i. 14, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (2) On account of the confusion of the demons ; for the demons are confounded when any one is converted to repentance, which is the joy of angels. Rev. xii. 9-12, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan .... and his angels were cast out with him.” Afterwards, “ I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, .... therefore rejoice, ye heavens.” (3) On