Angels And Angels

Laudate eum, omnes angelis ejus; laudate eum, omnes virtutes ejus. Quod angelus Graeca lingua dicitur, Latine nuntius interpretatur. Sed cum ad aliquid perficiendum mittitur virtus coelorum, ab officio suo hoc nomen assumit. Angelus enim ab officii dicitur nomine, non naturae. Sequitur laudate eum, omnes virtutes ejus. Hoc generale nomen est; ibi enim concluduntur omnia quae coelestis militiae dignitate grandescunt. Sed ideo forsitan hoc loco angeli virtutibus sunt praelati, quia honorabilior aestimanus est per quem Domini jussa complentur. Pulcherrime autem in laudibus Domini ab angelis fecit initium, qui inter creaturas aestimantur eximii. Cassiodorus, Expositio In Psalterium, Psalmus CXLVIII Source: Migne PG 70.1042d- 1043a

Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His powers. 1 That which is called 'angel' in the Greek tongue, is 'messenger' in Latin. When a power of heaven is sent to perform some office, from his office this name is taken. For angel is a name given by an office, not by the nature. It follows, 'Praise him, all His powers.' This is the general name, and there is included all who are made great by the dignity of being celestial soldiers. But then perhaps in this place there are angels more preeminent in power because those by whom the commands of the Lord are carried out are adjudged to be more honorable. And most rightly do angels begin the praises of the Lord, they who are adjudged to be the most excellent of created things. Cassiodorus, Commentary On The Psalms, Psalm 148 1 Ps 148.2