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Objection 1: It would seem that prophetic revelation does not come
through the angels. For it is written (Wis. 7:27) that Divine
wisdom "conveyeth herself into holy souls," and "maketh the friends
of God, and the prophets." Now wisdom makes the friends of God
immediately. Therefore it also makes the prophets immediately, and
not through the medium of the angels.
Objection 2: Further, prophecy is reckoned among the gratuitous
graces. But the gratuitous graces are from the Holy Ghost,
according to 1 Cor. 12:4, "There are diversities of graces,
but the same Spirit." Therefore the prophetic revelation is not made
by means of an angel.
Objection 3: Further, Cassiodorus [Prol. in Psalt. i] says
that prophecy is a "Divine revelation": whereas if it were conveyed
by the angels, it would be called an angelic revelation. Therefore
prophecy is not bestowed by means of the angels.
On the contrary, Dionysius says (Coel. Hier. iv): "Our
glorious fathers received Divine visions by means of the heavenly
powers"; and he is speaking there of prophetic visions. Therefore
prophetic revelation is conveyed by means of the angels.
I answer that, As the Apostle says (Rm. 13:1), "Things
that are of God are well ordered." Now the Divine ordering,
according to Dionysius [Coel. Hier. iv; Eccl. Hier. v], is
such that the lowest things are directed by middle things. Now the
angels hold a middle position between God and men, in that they have a
greater share in the perfection of the Divine goodness than men have.
Wherefore the Divine enlightenments and revelations are conveyed from
God to men by the angels. Now prophetic knowledge is bestowed by
Divine enlightenment and revelation. Therefore it is evident that it
is conveyed by the angels.
Reply to Objection 1: Charity which makes man a friend of God, is
a perfection of the will, in which God alone can form an impression;
whereas prophecy is a perfection of the intellect, in which an angel
also can form an impression, as stated in the FP, Question 111,
Article 1, wherefore the comparison fails between the two.
Reply to Objection 2: The gratuitous graces are ascribed to the
Holy Ghost as their first principle: yet He works grace of this kind
in men by means of the angels.
Reply to Objection 3: The work of the instrument is ascribed to the
principal agent by whose power the instrument acts. And since a
minister is like an instrument, prophetic revelation, which is
conveyed by the ministry of the angels, is said to be Divine.
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