Article 3

In the third article, the question is raised whether the angels move the celestial bodies by their own command, by the power handed over to them by God.

I do not fully see how one can have a doubt about this because I do not think anyone would doubt that everything which the angels do is done in virtue of power given them by God. If, however, it were to be called into question because they are said to move the celestial bodies by their own power, this too, would seem to be an unreasonable doubt. After all, since the angels are incorporeal, they are not able to move some body by physical quantitative contact, but only by a contact of power. For nothing is higher in the angels than their intellects, since they themselves are named intellects or minds by Dionysius. Accordingly, their motions go forth from the power of their intellect. Inasmuch as the conception itself of the intellect has some power to change something, it is called a command. Accordingly, if they move, they are in no way able to do so except by a command.