The Glories of the Holy Angels
Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux
PRACTICE SECOND
To honour specially the Powers, Virtues, and Dominations.
The Second Hierarchy of Angels is composed of the Powers, Virtues, and Dominations. The Dominations, as the principal Choir, give or dispense the orders which they receive from the higher Angels—the Virtues enable us to execute them— and the Powers to surmount the obstacles which the Devils oppose thereto. We have elsewhere demonstrated the malicious arts of these wicked spirits; it is to the Powers that God has given the special grace to defeat them. Hence it is of the greatest importance in the spiritual life to honour these blessed spirits. We cannot detail the happy effects which proceed from it. When we see storms raised in the Church, or opposition excited against those who labour for the increase of divine glory—if we recur to the holy Powers, we shall soon perceive how wonderful they are in overturning; and defeating the machinations of hell.
With all our good desires, we do very little; our tongues are longer than our arms. It seems as if nothing could arrest our course—and when we make a few steps, we grow tired and think of reposing. Poor, weak creatures! Our senses and inclinations overcome us; we yield to them for a trifle, and yet we are still weaker than we think. Let devotion to the Virtues be then our resource. St. Gregory supposes that it is by them God generally operates the greater number of miracles. Let us invoke them in our weaknesses, and counsel those who often fail, notwithstanding their good desires, to do so too. Let us call on them in the hour of temptation, and praise and thank them when we have gained the victory.
If the Dominations dispense the orders of God to the other Angels, they manifest his holy will to man. O! how happy should we be, if we always discerned this blessed will! But alas ! we often mistake for it the will of the creature, and still oftener, when we know it, we find it difficult to submit to it. We wish that the will of God may be done, but in such a manner as we wish. This is not true conformity. A soul touched with the love of God would fly to the remotest corner of the earth at his nod; she wishes that God may be absolute in her and in all creatures—that his will may be done as he pleases, and because he pleases. If at any time she is ignorant of this will, and prays to the Dominations, they will not fail to manifest it to her, being Secretaries of State to the great King Jesus.
O my God ! how just it appears, that all should serve and be subject to you ! “All the nations are before you as a drop of dew.” He who knows your will, and does it not, deserves punishment indeed. O! may it be done in all things—and may we seek our peace only in its accomplishment. Amen.
