The Oxford Handbook of Aquinas (Oxford Handbooks) by Brian Davies

Author:Brian Davies
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2012-01-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHARITY, FORM OF THE VIRTUES

Aquinas returns repeatedly to a favorite designation of charity. Whether discussing the virtues in general (in the Prima Secundae) or the theological virtues individually (in the Secunda Secundae), he refers to charity as the “form of the virtues.”70 Here he is referring to charity not as a formal but as an efficient cause. There are acts particular to the various virtues. These virtues each have their distinctive good, to which the act is ordered. The will commands these other acts; and, when the will is perfected by the virtue of charity, by the charitable will, these acts are ordered to the ultimate end, to the God who beatifies. They are put, as it were, in a larger context, and they are made conducive of attaining the supernatural end to which human beings are called by God.

Aquinas has other designations to make the same point. Charity is too the “root of the virtues” as directing them to the beatifying God; in the same way, it is their “mother.”71 Aquinas can also convey the teaching in a more negative way. Every habit that gives rise to a good act that attains the good of that habit is a virtue. The acquired virtues are virtues, with regards to the end that is connatural to a human being as human. The theological virtues of faith and hope order the person to the supernatural end. But, without charity, all of these, including faith and hope, are only imperfect virtues, not virtues in the full, perfect sense.72 Charity perfects them, makes them complete, by directing them to God as supernatural end. In performing these acts, as under charity, these acts will be meritorious of eternal life.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.