The Catechism of the Summa - XXII. OF THE ANGELS: THE HIERARCHIES AND THE ORDERS (C)

(C) 

Are there several hierarchies among the angels?

Yes (CVIII. 1).

How many hierarchies are there?

There are three hierarchies among the angels (ibid.).

Is it possible to say how these hierarchies among the angels are differentiated?

These three hierarchies among the angels are differentiated according to the threefold way of knowing the reasons of things which relate to the divine government (ibid.).

In what way does the first hierarchy know the reasons of things which relate to the divine government?

It knows them according as these reasons proceed from the First Universal Principle, which is God (ibid.).

What does this import on the part of the angels of this first hierarchy?

On the part of the angels of this first hierarchy, this imports that their place is near to God in such wise that all the orders of this hierarchy are named from some office which has for its object God Himself (CVIII. 1, 6).

In what way does the second hierarchy know the reasons of things which relate to the divine government?

It knows them according as this kind of reasons depend upon created universal causes (CVIII. 1).

What does this import on the part of the angels of this second hierarchy?

For the angels of the second hierarchy, this imports that they receive their illumination (knowledge) from the first hierarchy, and that their orders are named from some office having reference to the universality of creatures governed by God (CVIII. 1, 6). In what way does the third hierarchy know the reasons of things which relate to the divine government? It knows them according as they are applied to particular things in so far as these things depend from their proper causes (CVIII. 1).

What does this imply on the part of the angels of this third hierarchy?

For the angels of this third hierarchy, this imports that they receive the divine light, according to certain particular forms which enable them to have communion with our minds in this life -- and it further implies that their orders are named from acts relating to some one human being as, for instance, the guardian angels, or to some one province as, for instance, the Principalities (CVIII. 1, 6).

Is it possible to find some illustration of this threefold kind of hierarchy in the things of this world?

Yes, there are illustrations of this threefold kind of hierarchy in the things of this world; for instance, among. the ministers of a king there are chamberlains, councillors, and attendants who are always near the person of the prince; further, there are officers of the royal court whose duty it is to look after the affairs of the whole kingdom in a general way; lastly, there are officers whose duty it is to look after this or that particular section of the kingdom (CVIII. 6).

Are the orders distinct from the hierarchies among the angels?

Yes (CVIII. 2).

In what consists this distinction?

It consists in this, that the hierarchies constitute divers multitudes of angels forming divers principalities under the same divine government, whereas the orders constitute divers classes in each multitude which forms a hierarchy (CVIII. 2).

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Pegues OP, R P Thomas. Catechism of the "Summa Theologica" of Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Use of the Faithful (pp. 96-99). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition.