Choose a topic from Part 1:
1. Superior rules inferior; hence angels rule the bodilyworld. St. Gregory says that in this visible world nothing occurswithout the agency of invisible creatures.
2. Angels, however, have not power to produce or transformbodies at will. God alone gives first existence to things; afterfirst creation, bodies come from bodies. But angels can stir bodilyagencies to produce change in bodies.
3. Angels can directly control the local movement ofbodies, for this is an accidental change in bodies, not asubstantial production of bodies nor a substantial change.
4. Angels cannot, of themselves, work miracles. Amiracle, by definition, is a work proper to God alone. Of course,angels can serve, even as holy men may serve, as ministers orinstruments in the performing of miracles. Angels, good or bad, cando wonderful things, but only such as lie within the power ofangelic nature, and a miracle surpasses the powers of all creatednatures.
"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God."
Thomas á Kempis
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"It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come."
Thomas á Kempis
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