| V. Choir | 24 January |
|---|---|
| Angel of the Doctors of the Church | Timothy, Bertram |
As the twenty-four elders are the human representatives of creation before the Throne of God, so are the twenty-four angels: the twelve guardian angels of the gates of the New Jerusalem (from the Choir of High Dominions) and the twelve High Powers, the angelic attendants and angelic representatives before the Throne of God.
Of the twenty-four elders, twelve are from the Old Covenant and twelve are from the New Covenant.
The twelve angels on the gates of the New Jerusalem bear the sign of the twelve tribes of Israel as well as the sign of the twelve apostles, so they stand for all twenty-four here.
The twelve High Powers, however, divide again into six who bear the covenant of God with the Old Covenant, with the people of Israel, and six who bear the covenant of God with the Holy Church, the New Covenant.
The intercessor of this day,
Saint Nathaniel,
belongs to the latter six High Powers; as the third of the six for the New Covenant. He carries the book (the scroll) for the Holy Apostle Paul and for all the Doctors and Fathers of the Church. Along with the book, he carries a sword: This represents not just the sign of victory of the Holy Apostle Paul, who was beheaded, but it also points to the power of the Word as it is preached. Does not the Lord Himself say, “I bring the sword…”? The Lord alone shall we hear! Saint Paul says of Him:
He appeared in the flesh,
cf. 1 Tim. 3:16
Justified in the Spirit,
Made known to the angels,
Proclaimed to the nations,
Believed in the world,
Taken up in glory.
Prayer: Lord, according to Thine admonitions let us read and re-read the Holy Scriptures—the Book of all books—that we may be strengthened by their wisdom and enkindled by their love. Amen.