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MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD
BOOK 1
CHAPTER 7.
HOW THE MOST HIGH, GAVE A BEGINNING TO HIS WORKS, AND CREATED ALL MATERIAL THINGS FOR
THE USE OF MAN; WHILE ANGELS AND MEN WERE CREATED TO BE HIS PEOPLE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE INCARNATE WORD.
80. The Cause of all causes is God, who created all things that have being. His powerful arm
gave existence to all his wonderful works ad extra, when and how He chose. The beginning
and succession of the work of Creation is described by Moses in the opening chapter
of Genesis. Since the Lord has given me an understanding thereof, I will mention what
I think useful for elucidating the mysterious origin of the Incarnation of the Word, and
of our Redemption.
81. The words of the first chapter of Genesis are as follows:
1. "In the beginning God created heaven and earth.
2. "And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and
the spirit of God moved over the waters. 3. "And God said: Be light made. And light
was made. 4. "And God saw the light that it was good;
and he divided the light from the darkness. 5. "And he called the light day, and the darkness
night; and there was evening and morning, one day," etc.
Of the first day Moses says that "In the beginning God created heaven and earth." Though He himself
is immutable in being, the almighty God, in calling creatures into existence, issued,
so to say forth, from his own Self and gave to creatures a being of their own, in order
that He might, as it were, rejoice in the works of his own hands, as being the perfect
and adequate results of his operations. And before creating intellectual and rational
creatures, desiring also the order of executing these works to be most perfect, He created
heaven for angels and men; and the earth as a place of pilgrimage for mortals. These places
are so adapted to their end, and so perfect, that as David says of them, the heavens publish
the glory of the Lord, the firmament and the earth announce the glory of the works of his
hands.
(Psalm, 18, 2).
The heavens in their beauty, manifest his magnificence and glory, because in them is
deposited the predestined reward of the just. And the earthly firmament announced that there
would be creatures and men to inhabit the earth and that men should journey upon it
to their Creator. Before He created them the Most High wished to provide for them and create
that which is necessary for the attainment of their end, and for living in the manner-ordained
for them. Thus all parts of the creation would be compelled as it were to obey, and love
their Maker and Benefactor and by his works to learn of his holy name and of his perfections.
(Romans 1, 20).
82. Of the earth Moses says, that it was void, which he does not say of the heavens; for
God had created the angels at the instant, indicated by the word of Moses:
"God said: Let there be light, and light was made." He speaks here not only of material
light, but also of the intellectual, or angelic lights. He does not make express mention of
them, but merely includes them in this word, on account of the proclivity of the Hebrews
to attribute Divinity to new things, even of much greater inferiority than the angels.
But the metaphor of light was very appropriate to signify the angelic nature and mystically,
the light of their science and grace, with which they were endowed at their creation.
God created the earth conjointly with the heavens, in order to call into existence hell
in its centre; for, at the instant of its creation, there were left in the interior
of that globe spacious and wide cavities, suitable for hell, purgatory and limbo. And
in hell was created at the same time material fire and other requisites, which now serve
for the punishment of the damned. The Lord was presently to divide the light from the
darkness and to call the light day and the darkness night. And this did happen not only
in regard to the natural night and day, but in regard to the good and bad angels; for
to the good, He gave the eternal light of his vision and called it day, the eternal
day; and to the bad, the night of sin, casting them into the eternal darkness of hell. Thus
we were to be taught the intimate relation between the merciful liberality of the Creator
and Vivifier and the justice of the most just Judge in punishment.
83. The angels were created in the empyrean heavens and in the state of grace by which
they might be first, to merit the reward of glory. For although they were in the midst
of glory, the Divinity itself was not to be made manifest to them face to face and unveiled,
until they should have merited such a favor by obeying the divine will. The holy angels,
as well as the bad ones, remained only a very short time in the state of probation; for
their creation and probation with its result were three distinct instants or moments, separated
by short intermissions. In the first instant they were all created and endowed with graces
and gifts, coming into existence as most beautiful and perfect creatures. Then followed a short
pause, during which the will of the Creator was propounded and intimated, and the law
and command was given them, to acknowledge Him as their Maker and supreme Lord, and to
fulfill the end for which they had been created. During this pause, instant, or interval, Saint
Michael and his angels fought that great battle with the dragon and his followers, which is
described by the apostle Saint John in the twelfth chapter of the Apocalypse. The good
angels, persevering in grace, merited eternal happiness and the disobedient ones, rebelling
against God, merited the punishment, which they now suffer.
84. Although all this of the second instant, could have happened in a very brief time on
account of the subtle nature of the angels and the power of God, nevertheless I understood,
that the kind consideration of the Most High permitted a certain delay. With the interposition
of some intervals of time, He proposed to them the good and the bad, truth and falsehood,
justice and injustice, divine grace and friendship as opposed to sin and enmity of God. They
were enabled to see eternal reward and eternal punishment, the perdition of Lucifer and of
those that would follow him. His Majesty showed them hell, and its pains. They saw it all;
for, by virtue of their superior and excellent nature, they understood the essence of other
more qualified and limited creatures; so that, before falling from grace, they were clearly
aware of the place of their chastisement. Although they did not know in the same manner
the reward of glory, they-had-of-it, other knowledge, and besides, they had the-manifest,
and express promise of the Lord. The Most High had therefore justified his cause, and
proceeded with the greatest equity and justice. But as all this goodness and equity did not
suffice to restrain Lucifer and his followers, they were chastised in their stubbornness
and hurled into the depths of the hellish caverns, while the good-angels were confirmed
in eternal grace and glory. All this was consummated in the third instant, and thus it became truly
manifest, that no being outside of God himself is impeccable by nature, since the angel,
who held such an exalted position and was adorned with so many great gifts of knowledge
and grace, nevertheless sinned, and was lost. What will become of human frailty, if the
divine power does not defend it, and if it forces God to forsake it?
85. It remains to investigate the motive, which urged Lucifer and his confederates to
sin, and what was the occasion of their disobedience and fall, for this is the point to which I
wanted to come. In regard to this, it was made known to me that they could commit many
sins as far as the guilt of sin (secundum reatum) is concerned, although they did not
consummate them in acts. However, on account of those which they did actually commit freely
and of their own depraved will, they acquired the disposition to all bad acts, inducing
others to commit and approving in others those sins, which they could not commit themselves.
Following the bad inclinations, which from that time on filled Lucifer, he fell into
a most disorderly self-love, which arose from the consciousness of being endowed with greater
gifts and greater beauty of nature and grace, than the other inferior angels. He tarried
with inordinate pleasure in this consciousness; and thus self-satisfied he became lax and
remiss in the gratitude, which was due to God as the sole cause of all that he had received.
Turning again and again in admiration toward himself, he took pleasure in his own beauty
and grace, attributing them to himself and loving them as his own. This disorderly self-love
not only caused him to exalt himself on account of the superior virtues, which he had received,
but also induced him to harbor,envy and covetousness for other gifts and for excellences not his
own. Then, because he could not attain them, he conceived a mortal hatred and indignation
against God, who created him out of nothing, and against all his creatures.
86. Hence arose his disobedience, presumption, injustice, infidelity, blasphemy, and perhaps
also a certain kind of idolatry, for he coveted for himself the adoration and reverence due
to God. He blasphemed the divine magnificence and holiness, he failed in the trust and loyalty
due to Him; he plotted to destroy all the creatures, and presumed to be able to do all
this and much more by his own power. Thus his pride ascends continually
(Psalm, 73, 23).
and perseveres, though his arrogance is greater than his strength, for in this he cannot increase
(Isaiah, 16, 6) and in sin, one abyss calls the other
(Psalm, 14, 8).
The first angel who sinned, was Lucifer, as is described in the fourteenth chapter of
Isaiah. He induced others to follow him and therefore he is called the prince of the demons;
not on account of his natural gifts, for these would not secure to him that title, but on
account of his guilt. Those that sinned were not all of one order, or hierarchy, but among
all hierarchies there were many who sinned.
87. It is proper, that I also explain what was made known to me concerning the kind of
honor, and excellence, which Lucifer, aspired to, and envied. As in the works of God there
is measure, number and weight
(Wisdom, 11, 21).
his Providence decided to show to the angels, immediately after their creation and before
they could incline to diverse,ends, the purpose for which He had created them with such an
exalted, and perfect nature. Of all this I obtained the following information:
At first they received a more explicit intelligence of the-being of God, one in substance, trine,
in person, and that they were commanded to adore and reverence Him as their Creator and
highest Lord, infinite in his essence and attributes. All subjected themselves to this
command and, obeyed it, but with a certain difference; the good angels obeyed through
love, and on account of the justice of it, offering their love and good will, freely
admitting and believing what was above their intelligence, and obeying with joy. Lucifer,
on the other hand, submitted him-self, because the opposite seemed to him impossible. He
did not do it with perfect charity, for he, as it were, was divided in his will, between
himself and the infallible truth of the Lord. In consequence, it happened that the precept
appeared to him in a measure difficult and violent, and his fulfilling of it was wanting
in love, and in the desire to do justice. Thus he exposed himself beforehand to the
danger of not persevering. Although grace did not leave him on account of this remissness
and slowness in the accomplishment of these first, acts, nevertheless his bad disposition
began with them; for there-remained with him, a certain weakness and laxity of virtue and
spirit, and the perfection of his nature did not shine forth as it should. It appears to
me that the effect of this remissness in Lucifer, is similar to that, which is caused in the
soul by a deliberate venial sin. I do not say that he sinned mortally, nor even venially
at that-time since he fulfilled the precept of God; but this fulfillment was remiss and
imperfect, springing more from a sense of overwhelming compulsion, than from a loving
willingness to obey. Thus he put himself in danger of falling.
88. In the second place, the angels were informed that God was to create a human nature and
reasoning creatures lower than themselves, in order that they too should love, fear and
reverence God, as their Author and eternal Good. They were informed that these were to
stand in high favor, and that the second Person of the blessed Trinity was to become incarnate,
and assume their nature, raising it to the hypostatic union and to divine Personality;
that therefore they were to acknowledge Him as their Head, not only as God, but as God
and man, adoring Him and reverencing Him as God -man. Moreover, these same angels were
to be his inferiors in dignity and grace and were to be his servants. God gave them an
intelligence of the propriety and equity, of the justice and reasonableness of such
a position. For the acceptation of the merits foreseen of this Man -God was exhibited to
them, as the source of the grace which they now possessed, and off the glory which they
were to obtain. They understood also that they themselves had been, and all the rest
of the creatures should be created for his glory, and that He was to be their Head. All
those that were capable of knowing and enjoying God, were to be the people of the Son of God,
to know and reverence Him as their Chief. These commands were at once given to the angels.
89. To this command all the obedient and holy angels submitted themselves and they gave
their full assent and acknowledgment with an humble and loving subjection of the will.
But Lucifer, full of envy and pride, resisted and induced his followers to resist likewise,
as they in reality did, preferring to follow him and disobey the divine command. This wicked
prince persuaded them, that he would be their chief and that he would set up a government
independent and separate from Christ. So great was the blindness which envy and pride could
cause in an angel, and so pernicious was the infection that the contagion of sin spread
among innumerable other angels.
90. Then happened that great battle in heaven, which St. John describes
(Apocalypse, 12).
For the obedient and holy angels, filled with an ardent desire of hastening the glory of
the Most High, and the honor of the incarnate Word, asked permission and, as it were, the
consent of God, to resist and contradict the dragon, and the permission was granted. But
also another mystery was concealed, inn all this:
When it was revealed to the angels that they would have to obey the incarnate Word, another,
a third precept was given them, namely, that they were to admit as a superior conjointly
with Him, a Woman, in whose womb the Only begotten of the Father was to assume flesh
and that this Woman was to be the Queen and Mistress of all, the creatures. The good angels
by obeying this command of the Lord, with still, increasing and more alert humility,
freely subjected themselves, praising the power and the mysteries of the Most High.
Lucifer, however, and his confederates, rose to a higher pitch of pride and boastful insolence.
In disorderly fury he aspired to be himself the head of all the human race and of the
angelic orders, and if there was to be a hypostatic union, he demanded that it be consummated
in him.
91. The decree constituting him inferior to the Mother of the Incarnate Word, our Mistress,
he opposed with horrible blasphemies. Turning against the Author of these great wonders
in unbridled indignation and calling upon the other angels, he exh -orted them, saying:
"Unjust are these commands and injury is done to my greatness; this human nature which Thou,
Lord, lookest upon with so much love and which thou favor-est so highly, I will persecute
and destroy. To this end I will direct all my power and all my aspirations. And this
Woman, Mother of the Word, I will hurl, from the position in which Thou hast proposed to
place Her, and at my hands, the plan, which Thou settest-up, shall come to naught."
92. This proud boast, so aroused the indignation of the Lord that in order to humble it, He
spoke to Lucifer:
"This Woman, whom thou refusest-too honor, shall crush thy head and by Her shalt thou
be vanquished and annihilated
(Genesis, 3, 15).
And if, through thy pride, death enters into the world
(Wisdom, 2, 24).
life, and salvation of mortals, shall enter through the humility of this Woman. Those
-that are, of the nature and likeness of that Man and Woman, shall enjoy the gifts and the
crowns, which thou and thy followers have lost." To all this the dragon, filled with
indignation against whatever he understood of the divine will, and decrees, answered
only with pride, and by threatening destruction to the whole human race. The good angels saw
the just indignation of the Most High against Lucifer; and his apostates, and they combatted
them with the arms of the understanding, reason and truth.
93. The Almighty at this conjuncture worked another wonderful mystery. Having given to
all the angels, a sufficiently clear intelligence of the great mystery of the hypostatic Union,
He showed them the image of the most holy *** by means of an imaginary vision
(I speak here according to our way of understanding such things).
They were shown the perfection of the human nature, in the revelation of an image representing
a most perfect Woman, in whom, the almighty arm of the Most High
would work more wonderfully than in all the rest of the creatures. For therein He was
to deposit the graces and gifts of his right hand in a higher and more eminent manner.
This sign, ore vision of the Queen of heaven, and of the Mother of the incarnate Word was
made known and manifest to all the angels, good and bad. The good ones at the sign of
it broke forth in admiration and in canticles of praise, and from that time on, began to
defend the honor of the God incarnate, and of his holy Mother, being armed with ardent
zeal and with the invincible shield of that vision. The dragon and his allies on the contrary
conceived implacable hatred and fury against Christ and his most holy Mother. Then happened
all that which is described in the twelfth chapter of the Apocalypse, which I will explain,
as far as it has been given me, in the following chapter.