The Nine Angelic Choirs

The Nine Choirs in the Bible and Theology

Each order, adhering to divine conformity or imitation, receives light, knowledge, and goodness, transmitting them according to a process of purification, illumination, and perfection.

The contemplation of the Trinitarian mystery passes through initiation into the angelic hierarchies. The Nine Angelic Choirs are grouped into three Hierarchies:

1. Supreme Order or Hierarchy (participates in divine transcendence): Composed of Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones.
2. Middle Order or Hierarchy (receives divine light, animates and orders the world, clothes it with beauty): Composed of Dominions, Virtues, Powers.
3. Lower Order or Hierarchy (agent of the divine economy toward humanity): Composed of Principalities, Archangels, Angels.

Supreme Hierarchy

Seraphim (those who burn): They continuously burn with Divine Love that overflows from the sweet furnace of true love, without ever being consumed. They are ardent, burn within themselves, and ignite others with the fire of divine love. They stand firm by the power of love fixed in God and inexhaustible. They operate through the impetus of a perennial love, urging with strong calls the continuous and diligent act of thanksgiving.

Cherubim (fullness of knowledge): After the Seraphim, they penetrate the divine mysteries closely and know how to abundantly communicate to others the light of the divine Wisdom received. Ezekiel narrates that the Cherubim moved their wings, spread them, and covered themselves (Ez 10). The wings express the rest of contemplation: the elevation of the mind that listens to the voice of God.

Thrones: They enjoy an imperturbable peace, placed around the Most High God in a secure and firm manner. Above the Thrones sits "He who judges the righteous". This order consists in the impossibility of failing the truth of judgment, tending upwards to conform in everything to the divine judgment, transmitting divine judgments to the lower choirs.

Middle Hierarchy

Dominions: They possess a sense of eternity, liberality, and severity. They do not seek the satisfaction of their ambitions in honors, but the usefulness of the flock. They do not aim at temporal things, but at what remains forever, being inflexible in the application of laws and generous in granting graces.

Virtues (steadfast courage): It is up to them to overturn kingdoms, depose the mighty from their thrones, and instill in subordinates respect for their superiors. They assign tasks to the lower orders and keep them constantly ordered to God.

Powers: They are those who repel the attacks of evil. Through them, the demonic assault is weakened, holding tyrannies in check so that they do not cross the boundary beyond which they are not allowed to hurl themselves against us.

Lower Hierarchy

Principalities: They possess a sovereign character with the power of command within the divine order. They are superior through a fortitude that manifests in performing miracles, attracting celestial gifts, and redistributing them. We must conform to these spirits to be strong in fighting against vices and profound in the knowledge of divine things.

Archangels: They directly direct the activity of the Angels and are sometimes sent by God with assignments of great importance to act directly among men. They are the only ones mentioned by name in the sacred texts (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael).

Angels: They are the way to the Word, the perfect refuge of divine light. They are often sent to announce divine wills to us. They communicate to us divine power in the conversion of sinners, wisdom in the revelation of secrets, mercy in the glorification of the righteous, and justice in the condemnation of the wicked.

The Nine Angelic Choirs are necessary to the Lord to obtain that celestial melody and harmony which is the symphony of His ardent LOVE.