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The question is whether the angels merited happiness in
the first instant of creation, if they were created in the
state of grace? What is angelic time? Is it continuous
or discrete? Is it the measure of some movement? It is
the measure of the succession of the thoughts and
affections of the angels. One angelic instant may perdure
as long as several hours and days of our time, just as the
contemplation of the same object by the saints in an
ecstasy lasts for several hours.
"In all the angels the first operation was good,"
because this first operation was under the special
inspiration of God. But in this operation there was as
yet no full merit because the angels were moved by God and
they did not yet move themselves. Immediately after this
some of them turned to God the author of grace with full
merit, while others inflated by pride turned away from
God the author of grace.
In this second instant why was one act in the angels
sufficient for merit or demerit?[1220]
Reply. Because grace perfects nature according to the
mode of the nature. It is a characteristic of the angelic
nature that it acquires a natural perfection not
discursively but immediately in one act. Therefore
immediately after one fully meritorious act the angels
attained supernatural happiness, which the devil would
also have attained if he had not immediately placed the
obstacle of sin.[1221]
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