(A)
Do the pure spirits or the angels also act one upon the other?
Yes.
What is this action of one angel upon another called?
It is called illumination (CVI. 1).
Why is it called illumination?
Because angels act one upon the other only for the reason of transmitting the light (knowledge) they receive from God concerning the course of His government (ibid.).
Is this light, imparted by God to angels, communicated to them in some graduated and ordered scale?
Yes.
What is meant by this?
By this is meant that God imparts this light first of all to those who are nearer to Him, and these in their turn impart the light to other angels; thus, from the highest to the lowest the light is communicated in such wise that the first imparts it to the last by the action of those who are midway (CVI. 3).
There is then in this action of the angels whereby they communicate one to the other the light imparted by God to them the subordination of first, midway, and last?
Yes (CVIII. a).
Is it possible to give some illustration of this subordination of this action of pure spirits one upon the other whereby they communicate the light imparted to them by God?
One might compare it to a stream of light which falls translucently from rock to rock, and is fed everlastingly by the waters of some beautiful lake situate in the height. of the mountain.
Next - The Catechism of the Summa - XXII. OF THE ANGELS: THE HIERARCHIES AND THE ORDERS (B)
Pegues OP, R P Thomas. Catechism of the "Summa Theologica" of Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Use of the Faithful (pp. 92-93). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition.
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