The Second Hierarchy and the Third Hierarchy (Of the Angels)
Excerpt from the book Meditations on Christian Dogma, Volume I
In these two meditations we consider the second and third levels of angels in the hierarchy of the Heavenly Kingdom. In the second hierarchy are the Dominations, the Virtues, and the Powers. In the third hierarchy are the Principalities, the Archangels, and the Angels. Each class of angel in the hierarchy serves God in a particular way and all are more beautiful and intelligent than we can imagine.
Yours in Jesus and Mary.
These meditations are from the book Meditations on Christian Dogma, Volume I by Right Reverend James Bellord, D. D. (Convent of Mercy, 1906, pages 140-143).
The Second Hierarchy
I. The three choirs of the second hierarchy are, according to St. Dionysius, associated with the external rule of God over creatures. The Dominations are the first of these. They represent the universal sovereignty of the Creator over all things, they manifest that perfection, assert it, and promote it. The petition of the Our Father, "Thy kingdom come," expresses the object of their existence. The special virtues of these angels are, therefore, profound adoration towards the majesty of God, zeal for the maintenance of His authority, hostility to all those numerous forms of usurpation by which the devil, or the world, or the flesh, thrust themselves into the place of God as supreme objects of human homage and service.
You require the spirit of these holy Dominations in yourself, and their aid in your work for God. A contest is always in progress between the two standards of Christ and Satan. A large portion of mankind have adopted, more or less consciously, the spirit of him who said "I will not serve," and have cast off the yoke which is sweet and the burthen which is light. The honorable service of God is the only true liberty. Those who cast it off only change masters, and they become the bond-slaves of evil, of misery, and of Satan. As far as you can, promote the reign of God in yourself and others.
II. The second choir is that of the Virtues. The meaning of the word in this connection is rather that of Scripture than of common parlance. It does not mean moral excellences such as patience, faith, etc., but the strength, energy, and overwhelming force of God. So, the frequent expression of the Psalms "Dominus Deus Virtutum" is rendered "the Lord God of Hosts." In the New Testament we read, "the power (virtus) of the Lord was to heal them" (Luke 5:17). The function of these spirits is to represent that perfection of God which "reacheth from end to end mightily" (Wisdom 8:1), and compels all things to His will. This is that power of God which produces miraculous effects in the realms of matter and of mind. It may well be supposed that God entrusts to this choir of spirits the execution of His great works of power, and the duty of aiding others who are so engaged. The moral virtue that corresponds is Fortitude; it is the quality of Apostles and Martyrs, of mighty workers and sufferers. You need the aid of this blessed choir; you are so subject to weakness, discouragement, cowardice. "The scourge is come upon thee and thou faintest, it hath touched thee and thou art troubled. Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection of thy ways?" (Job 4:5-6). Only in the power of thy God.
III. The Powers represent that second aspect of the might of the Lord by which "He ordereth all things sweetly" (Wisdom 8:1). This is a force in which there is no feverish exertion or abusive excess of power. The peculiarity of this choir is expressed in the Beatitude: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land" (Matthew 5:4). It is exhibited notably in the Church, which is always oppressed and always victorious; which does not take the sword of the flesh for her defense, and therefore cannot perish by the sword; and which finds that the blood of her martyrs is the seed of abounding harvests. In accordance with this, when the power of the Almighty was manifested to Elias, it was not in the great strong wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, "but in the sound of gentle stillness" (3 Kings 19:12). To these angels is also attributed a special power against Satan and his hosts. Do not attach too much importance to mere natural vigour of character, to a restless animal activity, to excitement and enthusiasm in good works. Quiet effort united with prayer is the most efficient and lasting force.
The Third Hierarchy
I. The spirits of the third hierarchy are considered as entrusted by God with what we may call executive powers. They act upon the external world more directly than the other orders, and, as we gather from Holy Scripture, act as guides, directors, messengers, in carrying out the divine decrees regarding this world. The first of these three choirs is that of the Principalities. We assign to this class such spirits as the one whom the Prophet Daniel calls the "Prince of the Kingdom of the Persians." (Daniel 10:13) These are the angels who have the guardianship of kingdoms and peoples: and they are endowed accordingly with wisdom, force, and authority for that purpose.
When men are entrusted with such preeminence under God, they too frequently employ it for their own private advantage; they forget that they are the servants of God and the people, and place their interests above the claims of morality and religion; they exalt themselves as if there were no God above them, and enforce their will as if there were no hereafter. On the other hand the characteristic of the celestial Principalities is the purity of intention with which they use their powers, seeking not themselves, but the glory of God and the utility of His creatures. Take care to employ with similar conscientiousness and unselfishness whatever preeminence you have received from God over others.
II. The Archangels are described by one of them, Raphael, as "the seven who stand before the Lord" (Job 12:18). They appear to be the immediate chiefs of the last order of heavenly spirits, to be entrusted with the more important missions to men, and to be possessed of a more abundant grace, and splendor, and power. We learn from Holy Writ that the Archangel Michael was the leader of the hosts of heaven in the primaeval contest between good and evil, when Satan and his followers revolted against their Maker and were cast out from His presence (Apocalypse 12:7). Daniel calls him "the great Prince who standeth for the children of the people" (Daniel 12:1). He was the protector of the Church of the Old Testament, and now of its successor the Church Catholic. The Archangel Raphael was sent to Tobias in order to exemplify the great doctrine of the angels being the instruments of God’s Providence towards men. The Archangel Gabriel was entrusted with the messages from God to those concerned with the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity. Pay due homage to those great spirits. Glorify God on account of them. Implore their powerful assistance.
III. The Angels, in the specialized sense of the word, are the lowest of the nine choirs of blessed spirits; to all of whom, however, the name is applied in a general sense. These are the ordinary messengers of God, so often mentioned in the Old and New Testaments; and to them is committed the guardianship of individual men. They are "all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14).
Although they are the lowest of the celestial spirits and inferior to many others in their endowments, yet they far surpass in intelligence, and holiness, and power, and beauty, all that we can conceive; so that those to whom they appeared sometimes thought they had seen the Divinity Itself (Judges 13:22). The virtues that most strike us in them are their humility in undertaking lowly tasks, such as the guardianship of vile beings so inferior to themselves; their contentment with such duties; their devotion towards their Master, which makes them feel that nothing done for His sake can be ignoble; and the perfection and exactness with which they carry out His smallest commands. How pleasing to God is such service, and how glorious. Endeavour to serve Him in the same spirit.