Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Objection 1: It would seem that the beatified angels can advance in beatitude. For charity is the principle of merit. But there is perfect charity in the angels. Therefore the beatified angels can merit. Now, as merit increases, the reward of beatitude increases. Therefore the beatified angels can progress in beatitude.

Objection 2: Further, Augustine says (De Doctr. Christ. i) that "God makes use of us for our own gain, and for His own goodness. The same thing happens to the angels, whom He uses for spiritual ministrations"; since "they are all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation" (Heb. 1:14). This would not be for their profit were they not to merit thereby, nor to advance to beatitude. It remains, then, that the beatified angels can merit, and can advance in beatitude.

Objection 3: Further, it argues imperfection for anyone not occupying the foremost place not to be able to advance. But the angels are not in the highest degree of beatitude. Therefore if unable to ascend higher, it would appear that there is imperfection and defect in them; which is not admissible.

On the contrary, Merit and progress belong to this present condition of life. But angels are not wayfarers travelling towards beatitude, they are already in possession of beatitude. Consequently the beatified angels can neither merit nor advance in beatitude.

I answer that, In every movement the mover's intention is centered upon one determined end, to which he intends to lead the movable subject; because intention looks to the end, to which infinite progress is repugnant. Now it is evident, since the rational creature cannot of its own power attain to its beatitude, which consists in the vision of God, as is clear from what has gone before (Question 12, Article 4), that it needs to be moved by God towards its beatitude. Therefore there must be some one determined thing to which every rational creature is directed as to its last end.

Now this one determinate object cannot, in the vision of God, consist precisely in that which is seen; for the Supreme Truth is seen by all the blessed in various degrees: but it is on the part of the mode of vision, that diverse terms are fixed beforehand by the intention of Him Who directs towards the end. For it is impossible that as the rational creature is led on to the vision of the Supreme Essence, it should be led on in the same way to the supreme mode of vision, which is comprehension, for this belongs to God only; as is evident from what was said above (Question 12, Article 7; Question 14, Article 3). But since infinite efficacy is required for comprehending God, while the creature's efficacy in beholding is only finite; and since every finite being is in infinite degrees removed from the infinite; it comes to pass that the rational creature understands God more or less clearly according to infinite degrees. And as beatitude consists in vision, so the degree of vision lies in a determinate mode of the vision.

Therefore every rational creature is so led by God to the end of its beatitude, that from God's predestination it is brought even to a determinate degree of beatitude. Consequently, when that degree is once secured, it cannot pass to a higher degree.

Reply to Objection 1: Merit belongs to a subject which is moving towards its end. Now the rational creature is moved towards its end, not merely passively, but also by working actively. If the end is within the power of the rational creature, then its action is said to procure the end; as man acquires knowledge by reflection: but if the end be beyond its power, and is looked for from another, then the action will be meritorious of such end. But what is already in the ultimate term is not said to be moved, but to have been moved. Consequently, to merit belongs to the imperfect charity of this life; whereas perfect charity does not merit but rather enjoys the reward. Even as in acquired habits, the operation preceding the habit is productive of the habit; but the operation from an acquired habit is both perfect and enjoyable. In the same way the act of perfect charity has no quality of merit, but belongs rather to the perfection of the reward.

Reply to Objection 2: A thing can be termed useful in two ways. First of all, as being on the way to an end; and so the merit of beatitude is useful. Secondly, as the part is useful for the whole; as the wall for a house. In this way the angelic ministerings are useful for the beatified angels, inasmuch as they are a part of their beatitude; for to pour out acquired perfection upon others is of the nature of what is perfect, considered as perfect.

Reply to Objection 3: Although a beatified angel is not absolutely in the highest degree of beatitude, yet, in his own regard he is in the highest degree, according to Divine predestination. Nevertheless the joy of the angels can be increased with regard to the salvation of such as are saved by their ministrations, according to Lk. 15:10: "There is joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance." Such joy belongs to their accidental reward, which can be increased unto judgment day. Hence some writers say that they can merit as to their accidental reward. But it is better to say that the Blessed can in no wise merit without being at the same time a wayfarer and a comprehensor; like Christ, Who alone was such. For the Blessed acquire such joy from the virtue of their beatitude, rather than merit it.

Articulus 9

Argumentum 1

Ad nonum sic proceditur. Videtur quod Angeli beati in beatitudine proficere possint. Caritas enim est principium merendi. Sed in Angelis est perfecta caritas. Ergo Angeli beati possunt mereri. Crescente autem merito, et praemium beatitudinis crescit.

Ergo Angeli beati in beatitudine proficere possunt.

Argumentum 2

Praeterea, Augustinus dicit, in libro de doctr. Christ., quod deus utitur nobis ad nostram utilitatem, et ad suam bonitatem.

Et similiter Angelis, quibus utitur in ministeriis spiritualibus; cum sint administratorii spiritus, in ministerium missi propter eos qui haereditatem capiunt salutis, ut dicitur Heb. I.

Non autem hoc esset ad eorum utilitatem, si per hoc non mererentur nec in beatitudine proficerent. Relinquitur ergo quod Angeli beati et mereri, et in beatitudine proficere possunt.

Argumentum 3

Praeterea, ad imperfectionem pertinet quod ille qui non est in summo, non possit proficere. Sed Angeli non sunt in summo.

Si ergo ad maius proficere non possunt, videtur quod in eis sit imperfectio et defectus. Quod est inconveniens.

Sed Contra

Sed contra est quod mereri et proficere pertinent ad statum viae.

Sed Angeli non sunt viatores, sed comprehensores. Ergo Angeli beati non possunt mereri, nec in beatitudine proficere.

Corpus

Respondeo dicendum quod in unoquoque motu motoris intentio fertur in aliquid determinatum, ad quod mobile perducere intendit, intentio enim est de fine cui repugnat infinitum. Manifestum est autem quod, cum creatura rationalis per suam virtutem consequi non possit suam beatitudinem, quae in visione dei consistit, ut ex superioribus patet; indiget ut ad beatitudinem a deo moveatur. Oportet igitur quod sit aliquid determinatum, ad quod quaelibet creatura rationalis dirigatur sicut in ultimum finem.

Et hoc quidem determinatum non potest esse, in divina visione, quantum ad ipsum quod videtur, quia summa veritas ab omnibus beatis secundum diversos gradus conspicitur. Sed quantum ad modum visionis, praefigitur diversimode terminus ex intentione dirigentis in finem. Non enim possibile est quod, sicut rationalis creatura producitur ad videndum summam essentiam, ita producatur ad summum modum visionis, qui est comprehensio, hic enim modus soli deo competere potest, ut ex supra dictis patet.

Sed cum infinita efficacia requiratur ad deum comprehendendum, creaturae vero efficacia in videndo non possit esse nisi finita; ab infinito autem finitum quodlibet infinitis gradibus distet; infinitis modis contingit creaturam rationalem intelligere deum vel clarius vel minus clare. Et sicut beatitudo consistit in ipsa visione, ita gradus beatitudinis in certo modo visionis. Sic igitur unaquaeque creatura rationalis a deo perducitur ad finem beatitudinis, ut etiam ad determinatum gradum beatitudinis perducatur ex praedestinatione dei. Unde consecuto illo gradu, ad altiorem transire non potest.

Ad 1

Ad primum ergo dicendum quod mereri est eius quod movetur ad finem. Movetur autem ad finem creatura rationalis, non solum patiendo, sed etiam operando. Et si quidem finis ille subsit virtuti rationalis creaturae, operatio illa dicetur acquisitiva illius finis, sicut homo meditando acquirit scientiam, si vero finis non sit in potestate eius, sed ab alio expectetur, operatio, erit meritoria finis. Ei autem quod est in ultimo termino, non convenit moveri, sed mutatum esse. Unde caritatis imperfectae, quae est viae, est mereri, caritatis autem perfectae non est mereri, sed potius praemio frui. Sicut et in habitibus acquisitis, operatio praecedens habitum est acquisitiva habitus, quae vero est ex habitu iam acquisito, est operatio iam perfecta cum delectatione. Et similiter actus caritatis perfectae non habet rationem meriti, sed magis est de perfectione praemii.

Ad 2

Ad secundum dicendum quod aliquid dicitur utile dupliciter.

Uno modo, sicut quod est in via ad finem, et sic utile est meritum beatitudinis. Alio modo, sicut pars est utilis ad totum, ut paries ad domum. Et hoc modo ministeria Angelorum sunt utilia Angelis beatis, inquantum sunt quaedam pars beatitudinis ipsorum, diffundere enim perfectionem habitam in alia, hoc est de ratione perfecti inquantum est perfectum.

Ad 3

Ad tertium dicendum quod, licet Angelus beatus non sit in summo gradu beatitudinis simpliciter, est tamen in ultimo quantum ad seipsum, secundum praedestinationem divinam. Potest tamen augeri Angelorum gaudium de salute eorum qui per ipsorum ministerium salvantur; secundum illud Luc. XV, gaudium est Angelis dei super uno peccatore poenitentiam agente.

Sed hoc gaudium ad praemium accidentale pertinet, quod quidem augeri potest usque ad diem iudicii.

Unde quidam dicunt quod, quantum ad praemium accidentale, etiam mereri possunt.

Sed melius est ut dicatur quod nullo modo aliquis beatus mereri potest, nisi sit simul viator et comprehensor, ut christus, qui solus fuit viator et comprehensor. Praedictum enim gaudium magis acquirunt ex virtute beatitudinis, quam illud mereantur.