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Objection 1: It would seem that the virtues of heaven will not be
moved when our Lord shall come. For the virtues of heaven can de.
note only the blessed angels. Now immobility is essential to
blessedness. Therefore it will be impossible for them to be moved.
Objection 2: Further, ignorance is the cause of wonder (Metaph.
i, 2). Now ignorance, like fear, is far from the angels, for as
Gregory says (Dial. iv, 33; Moral. ii, 3), "what do they
not see, who see Him Who sees all." Therefore it will be
impossible for them to be moved with wonder, as stated in the text
(Sent. iv, D, 48).
Objection 3: Further, all the angels will be present at the Divine
judgment; wherefore it is stated (Apoc. 7:11): "All the
angels stood round about the throne." Now the virtues denote one
particular order of angels. Therefore it should not be said of them
rather than of others, that they are moved.
On the contrary, It is written (Job 26:11): "The pillars
of heaven tremble, and dread at His beck." Now the pillars of
heaven can denote only the virtues of heaven. Therefore the virtues of
heaven will be moved.
Further, it is written (Mt. 24:29): "The stars shall fall
from heaven, and the virtues of heaven shall be moved."
I answer that, Virtue is twofold as applied to the angels, [FP,
Question 108, Article 5, ad 1] as Dionysius states (Coel.
Hier. xi). For sometimes the name of "virtues" is appropriated to
one order, which according to him, is the middle order of the middle
hierarchy, but according to Gregory (Hom. in Evang. xxxiv) is
the highest order of the lowest hierarchy. In another sense it is
employed to denote all the angels: and then they are said to the
question at issue it may be taken either way. For in the text
(Sent. iv, D, 48) it is explained according to the second
acceptation, so as to denote all the angels: and then they are said to
be moved through wonder at the renewing of the world, as stated in the
text. It can also be explained in reference to virtue as the name of a
particular order; and then that order is said to be moved more than the
others by reason of the effect, since according to Gregory (Hom. in
Evang. xxxiv) we ascribe to that order the working of miracles which
especially will be worked about that time: or again, because that
order---since, according to Dionysius (Coel. Hier. xi), it
belongs to the middle hierarchy---is not limited in its power,
wherefore its ministry must needs regard universal causes.
Consequently the proper office of the virtues is seemingly to move the
heavenly bodies which are the cause of what happens in nature here
below. And again the very name denotes this, since they are called
the "virtues of heaven." Accordingly they will be moved then,
because they will no more produce their effect, by ceasing to move the
heavenly bodies: even as the angels who are appointed to watch over men
will no longer fulfill the office of guardians.
Reply to Objection 1: This movement changes nothing pertaining to
their state; but refers either to their effects which may vary without
any change on their part, or to some new consideration of things which
hitherto they were unable to see by means of their concreated species,
which change of thought is not taken from them by their state of
blessedness. Hence Augustine says (Gen. ad lit. viii, 20)
that "God moves the spiritual creature through time."
Reply to Objection 2: Wonder is wont to be about things surpassing
our knowledge or ability: and accordingly the virtues of heaven will
wonder at the Divine power doing such things, in so far as they fail
to do or comprehend them. In this sense the blessed Agnes said that
the "sun and moon wonder at His beauty": and this does not imply
ignorance in the angels, but removes the comprehension of God from
them.
The Reply to the Third Objection is clear from what has been said.
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