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Reply. The ultimate end must be obtained by merit. But
happiness for the intellectual creature is the ultimate end
that is not effected but (attained), which consists in
the supernatural vision of God. Therefore the angels
merited happiness.
When did they merit their happiness? Certainly before
they attained it since merit has the nature of a road
leading to an end. As St. Thomas remarks: "He who
is already at the terminus is not moved toward that
terminus, just as no one merits what he already has,"
and "Free will cannot be informed at the same time by
imperfect grace, which is the principle of meriting, and
perfect grace, which is the principle of fruition."
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