Chapter 057 - The Understanding of the Angels as Regards Material Things

Angels know material things as they are, by means of intelligible species existing in themselves. This is in harmony with the order of the universe, according to which the superior contains in a more eminent manner, with a sort of totality and simplicity, what is found in the inferior, multiple, partial, and deficient; for whatever exists in anything is there after the mode of that in which it is. The angels' being is immaterial and nearer to God; therefore, as God knows material things by His Essence, so the angels by their innate intelligible species.

And as they are ministering spirits they know particulars according to intellect and will, not in universal causes, which would not be a knowledge of particular things as they are individually. Therefore, as a man of diverse faculties knows universals by intellect, and particulars by sense, so the angels; but inasmuch as they are superior, they know both by an efflux from God, by means of a single intellectual faculty. Thus the angelic intellect contains the things which belong to universal nature, and those also which are the principles of individuation, knowing by species divinely infused, not only what belongs to universal nature, but also individualities of things, inasmuch as these all form multiplied representations of the one Simple Essence of God.

In like manner they know future events which proceed necessarily from their causes; as that tomorrow the sun will rise; and future things such as happen often, not with certainty but by conjecture; better, however, than men do, because they are more perfect, and have more universal penetration. But things which happen seldom as regards the sequence of cause and effect, such as casualties and accidents, are wholly unknown to them; while knowledge of the future in itself belongs to God alone. Who sees all present in His Eternity; a mode unknown to angels and to men.

The thoughts of hearts may be known by their effects not to angels only, but to men, by change of countenance and physical dispositions; but as they exist in themselves, in the intellect and the will, they are known to God only; for the will is subject to Him alone Who can operate in it as its First Principle and Final End.

Thus knowledge in the angels is twofold: first, natural knowledge, by mode of their essence and innate species. This does not enable them to discern the mystery of grace, for if they do not know those thoughts which depend upon the free will of others, much less can they discern what depends upon the sole Will of God. Secondly, there is the knowledge which makes them blessed; by which they see the Word, and things in the Word. This knowledge is of a different order, and by it they know mysteries - not all, or equally, but as it may please God to reveal them, whether at the Creation, or afterwards, especially the mystery of the Incarnation. All these are shown to them in general at the commencement of their Beatitude; not at once in all their details, but by successive manifestations.