I answer that, Since every creature is subject to the laws of nature, from the very fact that its power and action are limited:  that which surpasses created nature, cannot be done by the power of any creature.  Consequently if anything need to be done that is above nature, it is done by God immediately; such as raising the dead to life, restoring sight to the blind, and such like.  Now it has been shown above (A. 5) that Happiness is a good surpassing created nature.  Therefore it is impossible that it be bestowed through the action of any creature:  but by God alone is man made happy, if we speak of perfect Happiness.  If, however, we speak of imperfect happiness, the same is to be said of it as of the virtue, in whose act it consists.

Reply Obj. 1:  It often happens in the case of active powers ordained to one another, that it belongs to the highest power to reach the last end, while the lower powers contribute to the attainment of that last end, by causing a disposition thereto:  thus to the art of sailing, which commands the art of shipbuilding, it belongs to use a ship for the end for which it was made.  Thus, too, in the order of the universe, man is indeed helped by the angels in the attainment of his last end, in respect of certain preliminary dispositions thereto:  whereas he attains the last end itself through the First Agent, which is God.

Reply Obj. 2:  When a form exists perfectly and naturally in something, it can be the principle of action on something else:  for instance a hot thing heats through heat.  But if a form exist in something imperfectly, and not naturally, it cannot be the principle whereby it is communicated to something else:  thus the intention of color which is in the pupil, cannot make a thing white; nor indeed can everything enlightened or heated give heat or light to something else; for if they could, enlightening and heating would go on to infinity.  But the light of glory, whereby God is seen, is in God perfectly and naturally; whereas in any creature, it is imperfectly and by likeness or participation.  Consequently no creature can communicate its Happiness to another.

Reply Obj. 3:  A happy angel enlightens the intellect of a man or of a lower angel, as to certain notions of the Divine works:  but not as to the vision of the Divine Essence, as was stated in the First Part (Q. 106, A. 1):  since in order to see this, all are immediately enlightened by God. ________________________

SEVENTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 5, Art. 7]

Whether Any Good Works Are Necessary That Man May Receive Happiness from God?

Objection 1:  It would seem that no works of man are necessary that he may obtain Happiness from God.  For since God is an agent of infinite power, He requires before acting, neither matter, nor disposition of matter, but can forthwith produce the whole effect.  But man’s works, since they are not required for Happiness, as the efficient cause thereof, as stated above (A. 6), can be required only as dispositions thereto.  Therefore God who does not require dispositions before acting, bestows Happiness without any previous works.