Christian Classics
‹ Summa Theologica

Thomas Aquinas · 1502 of 3516

Article. 3 - Whether charity is infused according to the capacity of our natural gifts?

Objection 1: It would seem that is infused according to the capacity of our natural gifts. For it is written (Mat. 25:15) that "He gave to every one according to his own virtue [Douay: 'proper ability']." Now, in man, none but natural virtue precedes , since there is no virtue without , as stated above (Q[23], A[7]). Therefore God infuses into man according to the measure of his natural virtue.

Objection 2: Further, among things ordained towards one another, the second is proportionate to the first: thus we find in natural things that the form is proportionate to the matter, and in gratuitous gifts, that glory is proportionate to . Now, since is a perfection of nature, it is compared to the capacity of nature as second to first. Therefore it seems that is infused according to the capacity of nature.

Objection 3: Further, men and angels partake of happiness according to the same measure, since happiness is alike in both, according to Mat. 22:30 and Lk. 20:36. Now and other gratuitous gifts are bestowed on the angels, according to their natural capacity, as the Master teaches (Sent. ii, D, 3). Therefore the same apparently applies to man.

On the contrary, It is written (Jn. 3:8): "The Spirit breatheth where He will," and (1 Cor. 12:11): "All these things one and the same Spirit worketh, dividing to every one according as He will." Therefore is given, not according to our natural capacity, but according as the Spirit wills to distribute His gifts.

I answer that, The quantity of a thing depends on the proper cause of that thing, since the more universal cause produces a greater effect. Now, since surpasses the proportion of human nature, as stated above (A[2]) it depends, not on any natural virtue, but on the sole of the Who infuses . the quantity of depends neither on the condition of nature nor on the capacity of natural virtue, but only on the will of the Who "divides" His gifts "according as He will." Hence the Apostle says (Eph. 4:7): "To every one of us is given according to the measure of the giving of Christ."

Reply to Objection 1: The virtue in accordance with which God gives His gifts to each one, is a disposition or previous preparation or effort of the one who receives . But the forestalls even this disposition or effort, by moving man's mind either more or less, according as He will. the Apostle says (Col. 1:12): "Who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the in light."

Reply to Objection 2: The form does not surpass the proportion of the matter. In like manner and glory are referred to the same genus, for is nothing else than a beginning of glory in us. But and nature do not belong to the same genus, so that the comparison fails.

Reply to Objection 3: The angel's is an intellectual nature, and it is consistent with his condition that he should be borne wholly whithersoever he is borne, as stated in the FP, Q[61], A[6]. Hence there was a greater effort in the higher angels, both for good in those who , and for evil in those who fell, and consequently those of the higher angels who remained steadfast became better than the others, and those who fell became worse. But man's is a rational nature, with which it is consistent to be sometimes in potentiality and sometimes in act: so that it is not necessarily borne wholly whithersoever it is borne, and where there are greater natural gifts there may be less effort, and vice versa. Thus the comparison fails.