Christian Classics
‹ Summa Theologica

Thomas Aquinas · 2764 of 3516

Article. 2 - Whether sacramental grace confers anything in addition to the grace of the virtues and gifts?

Objection 1: It seems that confers nothing in addition to the of the virtues and gifts. For the of the virtues and gifts perfects the soul sufficiently, both in its essence and in its powers; as is clear from what was said in the FS, Q[110], AA[3],4. But is ordained to the perfecting of the soul. Therefore cannot confer anything in addition to the of the virtues and gifts.

Objection 2: Further, the soul's defects are caused by sin. But all sins are sufficiently removed by the of the virtues and gifts: because there is no sin that is not contrary to some virtue. Since, therefore, is ordained to the removal of the soul's defects, it cannot confer anything in addition to the of the virtues and gifts.

Objection 3: Further, every addition or subtraction of form varies the species (Metaph. viii). If, therefore, confers anything in addition to the of the virtues and gifts, it follows that it is called equivocally: and so we are none the wiser when it is said that the cause .

On the contrary, If confers nothing in addition to the of the virtues and gifts, it is useless to confer the on those who have the virtues and gifts. But there is nothing useless in God's works. Therefore it seems that confers something in addition to the of the virtues and gifts.

I answer that, As stated in the FS, Q[110], AA[3],4, , considered in itself, perfects the essence of the soul, in so far as it is a certain participated likeness of the Divine Nature. And just as the soul's powers flow from its essence, so from there flow certain perfections into the powers of the soul, which are called virtues and gifts, whereby the powers are perfected in reference to their actions. Now the are ordained unto certain special effects which are necessary in the Christian life: thus Baptism is ordained unto a certain spiritual , by which man dies to vice and becomes a member of Christ: which effect is something special in addition to the actions of the soul's powers: and the same holds true of the other . Consequently just as the virtues and gifts confer, in addition to commonly so called, a certain special perfection ordained to the powers' proper actions, so does confer, over and above commonly so called, and in addition to the virtues and gifts, a certain Divine assistance in obtaining the end of the . It is thus that confers something in addition to the of the virtues and gifts.

Reply to Objection 1: The of the virtues and gifts perfects the essence and powers of the soul sufficiently as regards ordinary conduct: but as regards certain special effects which are necessary in a Christian life, is needed.

Reply to Objection 2: Vices and sins are sufficiently removed by virtues and gifts, as to present and future time. in so far as they prevent man from sinning. But in regard to past sins, the acts of which are transitory whereas their guilt remains, man is provided with a special remedy in the .

Reply to Objection 3: is compared to commonly so called, as species to genus. just as it is not equivocal to use the term "animal" in its generic sense, and as applied to a man, so neither is it equivocal to speak of commonly so called and of .