| IV. Choir | 1 January |
|---|---|
| Spirit of Understanding | |
The flames beating from within the bowl which
Saint Assael,
the intercessor of this day, lifts up to God are quite steady and strong. They lie in a broad path of light, coming from the Heart of God above; this path of light, made incandescent by the flames of Saint Assael, then descends over the angel towards the earth.
Saint Assael is the first of the seven who stand like golden candlesticks around Mary, Queen of Angels and Bride of the Holy Ghost. As angels from the Choir of Dominions, these seven are angels of love above all and they stand in the heavenly order as first in the three choirs of the Ring of God’s Order and Omnipotence. Above the Dominions is the Choir of Seraphim, who also stand first in the three choirs of the Ring of Adoration; and below the Dominions are the Virtues, who stand first in the three choirs of the Ring of Redemption. These first choirs, Seraphim, Dominions and Virtues, lie in the Orbit of Light and Grace of Divine Love, which overflows upon them from the Heart of God. And so it is good to know who is above Saint Assael in the Choir of Seraphim and below him in the Choir of Virtues.
Above him stands Saint Alphai, the first of the Seraphim of the Holy Ghost; he bears the word, Let there be light! He bears the concept of God the Holy Ghost Who is the Light. The seraphim always stand in threes; with Saint Alphai stands Saint Esch, who carries the sacred fire, the burning God, and Saint Jehove, who carries the embers of the love of the Creator-God. Thus, in the Orbit of the Light of God’s Love on Saint Assael, the graces and the light of Saints Alphai, Esch and Jehove are already flowing, causing the gift of the Holy Ghost, the gift of intellect or understanding, to rise in high luminous flames.
Below Saint Assael, and from his own choir, still of the first seven of the Sealed Dominions, stands Saint Nehemiel, who will seal love as growth in the churches when the great onslaught of evil comes in the end times. Also of the first seven angels of the Lower Dominions, who carry the sacrificial bowls of humanity, there is Saint Gazar, who carries the sacrifice of praise. Still lower down in the Choir of Virtues is the first of the seven who carry the virtue of love, Saint Rachiel, with the order and harmony of love. All that the higher angels have to bestow in gracious abundance finally flows into the Ring of Redemption for the salvation of man to make him holy and sanctify him for eternity.
Prayer: Great, Holy Angel, Saint Assael, grant that even just the reflection of the flames that you bear will fall into my heart and spirit, that I may at last know God and be struck by His love. Amen.