A Manual of Ascetical Theology: or, The supernatural life of the soul on earth and in heaven by Rev. Arthur Devine

Author:Rev. Arthur Devine [Devine, Rev. Arthur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual Theology
Published: 2020-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

Part II: The Growth And Increase Of The Supernatural Life: The Means Of Its Increase

Chapter IV: Merit In Its Relation To Grace And Charity

i. It is the teaching of the Church that there can be no supernatural merit without grace. This we have demonstrated in the preceding chapter, when dealing with the general conditions of merit required by all the schools and all the doctors of theology. There is, however, a further question to be examined as to whether a special actual grace is required in order that every work of a just man may be meritorious, or is it sufficient for merit that the works proceed from a man in a state of grace, acting under the general motion of God by virtue of the infused habits which accompany grace.

There is no doubt as to the necessity of special actual grace that a just man be able to avoid all venial sins for a long time, to keep all the commandments of God, to overcome very grave temptations, and to persevere to the end. No one supposes that a just man can continue very long in the practice of virtue, much less always, without special graces by which the Holy Ghost enlightens the mind and moves the will; but whether this special aid is necessary for the merit of our ordinary acts, or for all the acts of piety that a just man performs, is the question now to be considered.

2. Billuart, one of the best interpreters of St. Thomas, gives us, I think, the solution of this difficult question in a very satisfactory manner. He says: ' For a just man, besides habitual grace and the infused virtues annexed to it, the general motion of God, as the supernatural Author, is necessary for all acts of piety, and suffices for some; this motion may in a certain sense be said to be special and gratuitous; but that a just man may persevere in such acts for a long time it is necessary that a special grace be superadded. It does not require any proof to show that the general motion of God is required, for every creature, whether corporeal or spiritual, is dependent on God as its first cause, and cannot move or act without that general motion of God. As the natural powers, namely, the intellect and will, even when possessed of the acquired virtues which give the power to do acts morally good, in order that they may actually do them, need to be applied and moved by the general motion of God as the natural Author; so the same powers, informed by grace and the infused virtues, which give the power to do supernatural acts, in order actually to do them, need the same general motion of God as the supernatural Author.'

In proof of the proposition that this general motion suffices for some acts of piety, Billuart reasons as follows: ' Sanctifying grace and the infused virtues annexed to it hold the same relation to

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