Angels And Little Ones

Videte ne contemnatis unum ex his pusillis: dico enim vobis quia Angeli eorum in caelis semper vident faciem Patris mei qui in caelis est. Removet hic contemptum, qui est ex fastu superbiae Praelatorum. Et subjugit duas rationes: unam dignitatis, et alteram utilitatis. Dicit ergo: Videte ne contemnatis... Vae qui spernis, nonne et ipse sperneris?.... cum fatigatus desieris contemnere, contemneris. Unum, nedum plures, ex his pusillis. Nolite timere, pusillus grex, quia complacuit Patri vestro dare vobis regnum. Pusillum et magnum ipse fecit, et aequaliter est illi cura de omnibus. Dico enim vobis... Ratio est sumpta a dignitate: quia haec est dignitas animarum, quod quilibet habet Angelum custodem deputatum. Angeli eorum.. Eis deputati. Nonne omnes sunt administratorii spiritus, in ministerium missi propter eos qui haereditatem capient salutis? Nemo est adjutor meus in omnibus his, nisi Michael, princeps vester. Angelus ejus est. In caelis... Per metonymiam, hoc est, in caelestibus per contemplationem, exeuntes quocumque currant per ministerium: semper enim assistunt intimis per contemplationem. Ego sum Raphael Angelus, unus ex septem qui adstamus ante Dominum. Hoc dixit, quando ministravit in terra circa Tobiam. Semper vident... Et ideo eadem aeternitate quae Deus est, mutabilitatem naturae transcendunt. Faciem... Praesentiam. Patris... Qui vult exhibere omne quod bonum est. Mei... Per consubstantialitatem, quia substantiam vident. Qui in caelis est. Ubi exhibet claritatem vitae beatae. Millia millium ministrabant ei. Numquid est numerus militum ejus? et super quem non surgit lumen illius? Sanctus Albertus Magnus, Commentarium in Mattheum, Caput XVIII Source: Here, p321

See that you do not scorn one of these little ones. I say to you that their angels in heaven always look on the face of my Father who is in heaven. 1 Here He removes the contempt which comes from the haughtiness of proud office holders. And He adds two reasons, one of dignity and another of utility. Therefore He says: 'See that you do not scorn...' 'Woe to you who scorn, is it not that you shall be scorned?... When you weary and cease to condemn, you shall be condemned.' 2 'One...' not more, '...of these little ones.' 'Do not fear, little flock, because it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.' 3 'He made the little and the great, and He has equal care for all of them.' 4 'I say to you...' The reason for this dignity is given, because this is the dignity of a soul, that it may have an angel appointed for its guardian. 'Their angels...' Which are appointed to them. 'Is it not that they are all ministering spirits, sent to serve on account of those who shall seize on the inheritance of salvation?' 5 'No one is my helper in this but Michael, your prince.' 6 'It is his angel.' 7 'In heaven...' By metonymy, that is, they are among heavenly things by means of contemplation even when they go out, hurrying wherever they will to minister, for they are always stood amid profoundest things by contemplation. 'I am the angel Raphael, one of seven who stand before the Lord.' Which he said who ministered to Tobias on the earth. 8 'They always see...' And thus with the same eternity which is God they transcend changeable nature. 'The face...' That is, in the presence of. 'Of the Father...' He who wishes to show everything which is good. 'My...' This by consubstantiality, because they see the substance. 'Who is in heaven.' Where He shows the splendour of the blessed life. 'A thousand, thousand ministered to him.' 9 'Is there a number to his armies? Is there one on whom His light does not rise?' 10 Saint Albert The Great, Commentary On The Gospel of St Matthew, Chapter 18 1 Mt 18.10 2 Isaiah 33.1 3 Lk 12.32 4. Wisd 6.8 5 Heb 1.14 6 Dan 10.21 7 Act 12.15 8 Tob 12.15 9 Dan 7.10 10 Job 25.3