Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/52

 on harps;  or  again,  the  holy  archangel  Gabriel  is  represented  as  a youth  with  wings,  holding  a lily  in  his  hand,  and  with  a glory  round his head. Why should  they  be  drawn  like  that? They are  represented as boys  or  youths,  because  they  never  grow  old,  but  are  everlastingly young, and  are  immortal. The wings  signify  that  the  angels  are  swift as thought,  and  fulfil  God's  commands  quickly  and  willingly. The harps are  to  remind  us  that  the  angels  ceaselessly  sing  God’s  praises. The lily  signifies  their  purity,  and  the  glory,  their  heavenly  splendour. Very often  angels  are  pictured  as  children’s  heads  without  bodies,  to signify  that  they  have  understanding  and  free-will,  but  that  they  are spirits without  bodies.

God is  good. Of  His  love  God  created  the  angels,  and  loaded them with  natural  and  supernatural  gifts.

God is  just.  God’s  justice  is  manifested  by  the  punishment  of the  bad  angels  and  the  reward  of  the  good. How did  God  punish  the bad angels? For how  long  must  they  remain  in  hell? For ever  and ever! They must  suffer  everlasting  torments! They are  rejected  by  God and are  banished  from  Him  for  ever  and  everl  They  hardened  themselves against  Him,  therefore  repentance  was  impossible. “God spared not the  angels  that  sinned: but  delivered  them,  drawn  down  by  infernal ropes to  the  lower  hell,  unto  torments  to  be  reserved  unto  judgment” (2 Pet.  2,  4).

The evil  of  mortal  sin.  God  punishes  us  according  to  our  deserts: He never  punishes  us  too  severely. If, therefore,  He  condemned  the fallen angels  to  the  eternal  torments  of  hell,  we  can  see  what  a terrible evil  sin  is  in  His  sight. One single  mortal  sin  deserves  everlasting punishment.

The consequences  of  sin.  Just  think  what  befell  the  angels  through sin! Before their  fall  they  were  the  friends  and  beloved  of  God,  most beautiful, most  holy,  full  of  the  love  of  what  is  good,  and  rich  in  their happiness and  glory. But since  their  fall  they  have  been  enemies  of God,  horrible,  hideous,  and  eternally  miserable  devils! Who, after  contemplating this  ruin  caused  by  sin,  could  possibly  think  that  sin,  and especially mortal  sin,  is  a trifle  which  God  will  not  deal  with  severely? Nol mortal  sin,  far  from  being  a trifle,  is  the  greatest  of  all  evils. It changed angels  into  devils,  and  cast  them  into  hell!

Pride. What  was  the  cause  of  the  fallen  angels’  disobedience? Instead of  giving  glory  to  God,  from  whom  they  had  received  all  things, they became  proud  of  their  great  gifts,  and,  with  their  leader,  said: “We will  ascend  above  the  heights  of  the  clouds,  we  will  be  like  the Most High”  (Is.  14,  14). Therefore, Holy  Scripture  says:  “Pride  is  the beginning of  all  sin”  (Ecclus.  10,  15).

Happiness of  the  Angels. Almighty  God  richly  rewarded  those angels who  remained  faithful. They gaze  upon  Him  face  to  face,  they