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Question: 89 [<< | >>]
We must now consider the recovery of virtues by means of Penance, under
which head there are six points of inquiry:
(1) Whether virtues are restored through Penance?
(2) Whether they are restored in equal measure?
(3) Whether equal dignity is restored to the penitent?
(4) Whether works of virtue are deadened by subsequent sin?
(5) Whether works deadened by sin revive through Penance?
(6) Whether dead works, i.e. works that are done without charity, are
quickened by Penance?
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Question: 89 [<< | >>]
Article: 1 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that the virtues are not restored through penance. Because lost virtue cannot be restored by penance, unless penance be the cause of virtue. But, since penance is itself a virtue, it cannot be the cause of all the virtues, and all the more, since some virtues naturally precede penance, viz., faith, hope, and charity, as stated above (Question [85], Article [6]). Therefore the virtues are not restored through penance.
Objection 2: Further, Penance consists in certain acts of the penitent. But
the gratuitous virtues are not caused through any act of ours: for
Augustine says (De Lib. Arb. ii, 18: In Ps. 118) that "God forms the
virtues in us without us." Therefore it seems that the virtues are not
restored through Penance.
Objection 3: Further, he that has virtue performs works of virtue with ease
and pleasure: wherefore the Philosopher says (Ethic. i, 8) that "a man is
not just if he does not rejoice in just deeds." Now many penitents find
difficulty in performing deeds of virtue. Therefore the virtues are not
restored through Penance.
On the contrary, We read (Lk. 15:22) that the father commanded his
penitent son to be clothed in "the first robe," which, according to
Ambrose (Expos. in Luc. vii), is the "mantle of wisdom," from which all
the virtues flow together, according to Wis. 8:7: "She teacheth
temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such
things as men can have nothing more profitable in life." Therefore all
the virtues are restored through Penance.
I answer that, Sins are pardoned through Penance, as stated above (Question [86], Article [1]). But there can be no remission of sins except through the
infusion of grace. Wherefore it follows that grace is infused into man
through Penance. Now all the gratuitous virtues flow from grace, even as
all the powers result from the essence of the soul; as stated in the FS,
Question [110], Article [4], ad 1. Therefore all the virtues are restored through
Penance.
Reply to Objection 1: Penance restores the virtues in the same way as it causes
grace, as stated above (Question [86], Article [1]). Now it is a cause of grace, in so
far as it is a sacrament, because, in so far as it is a virtue, it is
rather an effect of grace. Consequently it does not follow that penance,
as a virtue, needs to be the cause of all the other virtues, but that the
habit of penance together with the habits of the other virtues is caused
through the sacrament of Penance.
Reply to Objection 2: In the sacrament of Penance human acts stand as matter,
while the formal power of this sacrament is derived from the power of the
keys. Consequently the power of the keys causes grace and virtue
effectively indeed, but instrumentally; and the first act of the
penitent, viz., contrition, stands as ultimate disposition to the
reception of grace, while the subsequent acts of Penance proceed from the
grace and virtues which are already there.
Reply to Objection 3: As stated above (Question [86], Article [5]), sometimes after the first
act of Penance, which is contrition, certain remnants of sin remain, viz.
dispositions caused by previous acts, the result being that the penitent
finds difficulty in doing deeds of virtue. Nevertheless, so far as the
inclination itself of charity and of the other virtues is concerned, the
penitent performs works of virtue with pleasure and ease. even as a
virtuous man may accidentally find it hard to do an act of virtue, on
account of sleepiness or some indisposition of the body.
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Question: 89 [<< | >>]
Article: 2 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that, after Penance, man rises again to equal
virtue. For the Apostle says (Rm. 8:28): "To them that love God all
things work together unto good," whereupon a gloss of Augustine says that
"this is so true that, if any such man goes astray and wanders from the
path, God makes even this conduce to his good." But this would not be
true if he rose again to lesser virtue. Therefore it seems that a
penitent never rises again to lesser virtue.
Objection 2: Further, Ambrose says [*Cf. Hypognosticon iii, an anonymous work
falsely ascribed to St. Augustine] that "Penance is a very good thing,
for it restores every defect to a state of perfection." But this would
not be true unless virtues were recovered in equal measure. Therefore
equal virtue is always recovered through Penance.
Objection 3: Further, on Gn. 1:5: "There was evening and morning, one day," a
gloss says: "The evening light is that from which we fall the morning
light is that to which we rise again." Now the morning light is greater
than the evening light. Therefore a man rises to greater grace or charity
than that which he had before; which is confirmed by the Apostle's words
(Rm. 5:20): "Where sin abounded, grace did more abound."
On the contrary, Charity whether proficient or perfect is greater than
incipient charity. But sometimes a man falls from proficient charity, and
rises again to incipient charity. Therefore man always rises again to
less virtue.
I answer that, As stated above (Question [86], Article [6], ad 3; Question [89], Article [1], ad 2),
the movement of the free-will, in the justification of the ungodly, is
the ultimate disposition to grace; so that in the same instant there is
infusion of grace together with the aforesaid movement of the free-will,
as stated in the FS, Question [113], Articles [5],7, which movement includes an act of
penance, as stated above (Question [86], Article [2]). But it is evident that forms
which admit of being more or less, become intense or remiss, according to
the different dispositions of the subject, as stated in the FS, Question [52],
Articles [1],2; FS, Question [66], Article [1]. Hence it is that, in Penance, according to the
degree of intensity or remissness in the movement of the free-will, the
penitent receives greater or lesser grace. Now the intensity of the
penitent's movement may be proportionate sometimes to a greater grace
than that from which man fell by sinning, sometimes to an equal grace,
sometimes to a lesser. Wherefore the penitent sometimes arises to a
greater grace than that which he had before, sometimes to an equal,
sometimes to a lesser grace: and the same applies to the virtues, which
flow from grace.
Reply to Objection 1: The very fact of falling away from the love of God by sin,
does not work unto the good of all those who love God, which is evident
in the case of those who fall and never rise again, or who rise and fall
yet again; but only to the good of "such as according to His purpose are
called to be saints," viz. the predestined, who, however often they may
fall, yet rise again finally. Consequently good comes of their falling,
not that they always rise again to greater grace, but that they rise to
more abiding grace, not indeed on the part of grace itself, because the
greater the grace, the more abiding it is, but on the part of man, who,
the more careful and humble he is, abides the more steadfastly in grace.
Hence the same gloss adds that "their fall conduces to their good,
because they rise more humble and more enlightened."
Reply to Objection 2: Penance, considered in itself, has the power to bring all
defects back to perfection, and even to advance man to a higher state;
but this is sometimes hindered on the part of man, whose movement towards
God and in detestation of sin is too remiss, just as in Baptism adults
receive a greater or a lesser grace, according to the various ways in
which they prepare themselves.
Reply to Objection 3: This comparison of the two graces to the evening and
morning light is made on account of a likeness of order, since the
darkness of night follows after the evening light, and the light of day
after the light of morning, but not on account of a likeness of greater
or lesser quantity. Again, this saying of the Apostle refers to the grace
of Christ, which abounds more than any number of man's sins. Nor is it
true of all, that the more their sins abound, the more abundant grace
they receive, if we measure habitual grace by the quantity. Grace is,
however, more abundant, as regards the very notion of grace, because to
him who sins more a more "gratuitous" favor is vouchsafed by his pardon;
although sometimes those whose sins abound, abound also in sorrow, so
that they receive a more abundant habit of grace and virtue, as was the
case with Magdalen.
To the argument advanced in the contrary sense it must be replied that
in one and the same man proficient grace is greater than incipient grace,
but this is not necessarily the case in different men, for one begins
with a greater grace than another has in the state of proficiency: thus
Gregory says (Dial. ii, 1): "Let all, both now and hereafter, acknowledge
how perfectly the boy Benedict turned to the life of grace from the very
beginning."
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Question: 89 [<< | >>]
Article: 3 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that man is not restored by Penance to his former
dignity: because a gloss on Amos 5:2, "The virgin of Israel is cast
down," observes: "It is not said that she cannot rise up, but that the
virgin of Israel shall not rise; because the sheep that has once strayed,
although the shepherd bring it back on his shoulder, has not the same
glory as if it had never strayed." Therefore man does not, through
Penance, recover his former dignity.
Objection 2: Further, Jerome says: "Whoever fail to preserve the dignity of
the sacred order, must be content with saving their souls; for it is a
difficult thing to return to their former degree." Again, Pope Innocent I
says (Ep. vi ad Agapit.) that "the canons framed at the council of
Nicaea exclude penitents from even the lowest orders of clerics."
Therefore man does not, through Penance, recover his former dignity.
Objection 3: Further, before sinning a man can advance to a higher sacred
order. But this is not permitted to a penitent after his sin, for it is
written (Ezech. 44:10,13): "The Levites that went away . . . from Me . .
. shall never [Vulg.: 'not'] come near to Me, to do the office of
priest": and as laid down in the Decretals (Dist. 1, ch. 52), and taken
from the council of Lerida: "If those who serve at the Holy Altar fall
suddenly into some deplorable weakness of the flesh, and by God's mercy
do proper penance, let them return to their duties, yet so as not to
receive further promotion." Therefore Penance does not restore man to his
former dignity.
On the contrary, As we read in the same Distinction, Gregory writing to
Secundinus (Regist. vii) says: "We consider that when a man has made
proper satisfaction, he may return to his honorable position": and
moreover we read in the acts of the council of Agde: "Contumacious
clerics, so far as their position allows, should be corrected by their
bishops. so that when Penance has reformed them, they may recover their
degree and dignity."
I answer that, By sin, man loses a twofold dignity, one in respect of
God, the other in respect of the Church. In respect of God he again loses
a twofold dignity. one is his principal dignity, whereby he was counted
among the children of God, and this he recovers by Penance, which is
signified (Lk. 15) in the prodigal son, for when he repented, his father
commanded that the first garment should be restored to him, together with
a ring and shoes. The other is his secondary dignity, viz. innocence, of
which, as we read in the same chapter, the elder son boasted saying (Lk. 15:29): "Behold, for so many years do I serve thee, and I have never
transgressed thy commandments": and this dignity the penitent cannot
recover. Nevertheless he recovers something greater sometimes; because as
Gregory says (Hom. de centum Ovibus, 34 in Evang.), "those who
acknowledge themselves to have strayed away from God, make up for their
past losses, by subsequent gains: so that there is more joy in heaven on
their account, even as in battle, the commanding officer thinks more of
the soldier who, after running away, returns and bravely attacks the foe,
than of one who has never turned his back, but has done nothing brave."
By sin man loses his ecclesiastical dignity, because thereby he becomes unworthy of those things which appertain to the exercise of the ecclesiastical dignity. This he is debarred from recovering: first, because he fails to repent; wherefore Isidore wrote to the bishop Masso, and as we read in the Distinction quoted above (Objection [3]): "The canons order those to be restored to their former degree, who by repentance have made satisfaction for their sins, or have made worthy confession of them. On the other hand, those who do not mend their corrupt and wicked ways are neither allowed to exercise their order, nor received to the grace of communion."
Secondly, because he does penance negligently, wherefore it is written
in the same Distinction (OBJ 3): "We can be sure that those who show no
signs of humble compunction, or of earnest prayer, who avoid fasting or
study, would exercise their former duties with great negligence if they
were restored to them."
Thirdly, if he has committed a sin to which an irregularity is attached;
wherefore it is said in the same Distinction (Objection [3]), quoting the
council of Pope Martin [*Martin, bishop of Braga]: "If a man marry a
widow or the relict of another, he must not be admitted to the ranks of
the clergy: and if he has succeeded in creeping in, he must be turned
out. In like manner, if anyone after Baptism be guilty of homicide,
whether by deed, or by command, or by counsel, or in self-defense." But
this is in consequence not of sin, but of irregularity.
Fourthly, on account of scandal, wherefore it is said in the same
Distinction (Objection [3]): "Those who have been publicly convicted or caught
in the act of perjury, robbery, fornication, and of such like crimes,
according to the prescription of the sacred canons must be deprived of
the exercise of their respective orders, because it is a scandal to God's
people that such persons should be placed over them. But those who commit
such sins occultly and confess them secretly to a priest, may be retained
in the exercise of their respective orders, with the assurance of God's
merciful forgiveness, provided they be careful to expiate their sins by
fasts and alms, vigils and holy deeds." The same is expressed (Extra, De
Qual. Ordinand.): "If the aforesaid crimes are not proved by a judicial
process, or in some other way made notorious, those who are guilty of
them must not be hindered, after they have done penance, from exercising
the orders they have received, or from receiving further orders, except
in cases of homicide."
Reply to Objection 1: The same is to be said of the recovery of virginity as of
the recovery of innocence which belongs to man's secondary dignity in the
sight of God.
Reply to Objection 2: In these words Jerome does not say that it is impossible,
but that it is difficult, for man to recover his former dignity after
having sinned, because this is allowed to none but those who repent
perfectly, as stated above. To those canonical statutes, which seem to
forbid this, Augustine replies in his letter to Boniface (Ep. clxxxv):
"If the law of the Church forbids anyone, after doing penance for a
crime, to become a cleric, or to return to his clerical duties, or to
retain them the intention was not to deprive him of the hope of pardon,
but to preserve the rigor of discipline; else we should have to deny the
keys given to the Church, of which it was said: 'Whatsoever you shall
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.'" And further on he adds: "For
holy David did penance for his deadly crimes, and yet he retained his
dignity; and Blessed Peter by shedding most bitter tears did indeed
repent him of having denied his Lord, and yet he remained an apostle.
Nevertheless we must not deem the care of later teachers excessive, who
without endangering a man's salvation, exacted more from his humility,
having, in my opinion, found by experience, that some assumed a pretended
repentance through hankering after honors and power."
Reply to Objection 3: This statute is to be understood as applying to those who
do public penance, for these cannot be promoted to a higher order. For
Peter, after his denial, was made shepherd of Christ's sheep, as appears
from Jn. 21:21, where Chrysostom comments as follows: "After his denial
and repentance Peter gives proof of greater confidence in Christ: for
whereas, at the supper, he durst not ask Him, but deputed John to ask in
his stead, afterwards he was placed at the head of his brethren, and not
only did not depute another to ask for him, what concerned him, but
henceforth asks the Master instead of John."
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Question: 89 [<< | >>]
Article: 4 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that virtuous deeds done in charity cannot be
deadened. For that which is not cannot be changed. But to be deadened is
to be changed from life to death. Since therefore virtuous deeds, after
being done, are no more, it seems that they cannot afterwards be deadened.
Objection 2: Further, by virtuous deeds done in charity, man merits eternal
life. But to take away the reward from one who has merited it is an
injustice, which cannot be ascribed to God. Therefore it is not possible
for virtuous deeds done in charity to be deadened by a subsequent sin.
Objection 3: Further, the strong is not corrupted by the weak. Now works of
charity are stronger than any sins, because, as it is written (Prov. 10:12), "charity covereth all sins." Therefore it seems that deeds done
in charity cannot be deadened by a subsequent mortal sin.
On the contrary, It is written (Ezech. 18:24): "If the just man turn
himself away from his justice . . . all his justices which he hath done
shall not be remembered."
I answer that, A living thing, by dying, ceases to have vital
operations: for which reason, by a kind of metaphor, a thing is said to
be deadened when it is hindered from producing its proper effect or
operation.
Now the effect of virtuous works, which are done in charity, is to bring
man to eternal life; and this is hindered by a subsequent mortal sin,
inasmuch as it takes away grace. Wherefore deeds done in charity are said
to be deadened by a subsequent mortal sin.
Reply to Objection 1: Just as sinful deeds pass as to the act but remain as to
guilt, so deeds done in charity, after passing, as to the act, remain as
to merit, in so far as they are acceptable to God. It is in this respect
that they are deadened, inasmuch as man is hindered from receiving his
reward.
Reply to Objection 2: There is no injustice in withdrawing the reward from him
who has deserved it, if he has made himself unworthy by his subsequent
fault, since at times a man justly forfeits through his own fault, even
that which he has already received.
Reply to Objection 3: It is not on account of the strength of sinful deeds that
deeds, previously done in charity, are deadened, but on account of the
freedom of the will which can be turned away from good to evil.
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Question: 89 [<< | >>]
Article: 5 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that deeds deadened by sin are not revived by
Penance. Because just as past sins are remitted by subsequent Penance, so
are deeds previously done in charity, deadened by subsequent sin. But
sins remitted by Penance do not return, as stated above (Question [88], Articles [1],2).
Therefore it seems that neither are dead deeds revived by charity.
Objection 2: Further, deeds are said to be deadened by comparison with animals
who die, as stated above (Article [4]). But a dead animal cannot be revived.
Therefore neither can dead works be revived by Penance.
Objection 3: Further, deeds done in charity are deserving of glory according
to the quantity of grace or charity. But sometimes man arises through
Penance to lesser grace or charity. Therefore he does not receive glory
according to the merit of his previous works; so that it seems that deeds
deadened by sin are not revived.
On the contrary, on Joel 2:25, "I will restore to you the years, which
the locust . . . hath eaten," a gloss says: "I will not suffer to perish
the fruit which you lost when your soul was disturbed." But this fruit is
the merit of good works which was lost through sin. Therefore meritorious
deeds done before are revived by Penance.
I answer that, Some have said that meritorious works deadened by
subsequent sin are not revived by the ensuing Penance, because they
deemed such works to have passed away, so that they could not be revived.
But that is no reason why they should not be revived: because they are
conducive to eternal life (wherein their life consists) not only as
actually existing, but also after they cease to exist actually, and as
abiding in the Divine acceptance. Now, they abide thus, so far as they
are concerned, even after they have been deadened by sin, because those
works, according as they were done, will ever be acceptable to God and
give joy to the saints, according to Apoc. 3:11: "Hold fast that which
thou hast, that no man take thy crown." That they fail in their efficacy
to bring the man, who did them, to eternal life, is due to the
impediment of the supervening sin whereby he is become unworthy of
eternal life. But this impediment is removed by Penance, inasmuch as sins
are taken away thereby. Hence it follows that deeds previously deadened,
recover, through Penance, their efficacy in bringing him, who did them,
to eternal life, and, in other words, they are revived. It is therefore
evident that deadened works are revived by Penance.
Reply to Objection 1: The very works themselves of sin are removed by Penance, so
that, by God's mercy, no further stain or debt of punishment is incurred
on their account: on the other hand, works done in charity are not
removed by God, since they abide in His acceptance, but they are hindered
on the part of the man who does them; wherefore if this hindrance, on the
part of the man who does those works, be removed, God on His side
fulfills what those works deserved.
Reply to Objection 2: Deeds done in charity are not in themselves deadened, as
explained above, but only with regard to a supervening impediment on the
part of the man who does them. On the other hand, an animal dies in
itself, through being deprived of the principle of life: so that the
comparison fails.
Reply to Objection 3: He who, through Penance, arises to lesser charity, will
receive the essential reward according to the degree of charity in which
he is found. Yet he will have greater joy for the works he had done in
his former charity, than for those which he did in his subsequent
charity: and this joy belongs to the accidental reward.
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Question: 89 [<< | >>]
Article: 6 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that the effect of subsequent Penance is to quicken
even dead works, those, namely, that were not done in charity. For it
seems more difficult to bring to life that which has been deadened, since
this is never done naturally, than to quicken that which never had life,
since certain living things are engendered naturally from things without
life. Now deadened works are revived by Penance, as stated above (Article [5]).
Much more, therefore, are dead works revived.
Objection 2: Further, if the cause be removed, the effect is removed. But the
cause of the lack of life in works generically good done without charity,
was the lack of charity and grace. which lack is removed by Penance.
Therefore dead works are quickened by charity.
Objection 3: Further, Jerome in commenting on Agg. i, 6: "You have sowed
much," says: "If at any time you find a sinner, among his many evil
deeds, doing that which is right, God is not so unjust as to forget the
few good deeds on account of his many evil deeds." Now this seems to be
the case chiefly when past evil "deeds" are removed by Penance.
Therefore it seems that through Penance, God rewards the former deeds
done in the state of sin, which implies that they are quickened.
On the contrary, The Apostle says (1 Cor. 13:3): "If I should distribute
all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." But this would
not be true, if, at least by subsequent Penance, they were quickened.
Therefore Penance does not quicken works which before were dead.
I answer that, A work is said to be dead in two ways: first,
effectively, because, to wit, it is a cause of death, in which sense
sinful works are said to be dead, according to Heb. 9:14: "The blood of
Christ . . . shall cleanse our conscience from dead works." These dead
works are not quickened but removed by Penance, according to Heb. 6:1:
"Not laying again the foundation of Penance from dead works." Secondly,
works are said to be dead privatively, because, to wit, they lack
spiritual life, which is founded on charity, whereby the soul is united
to God, the result being that it is quickened as the body by the soul: in
which sense too, faith, if it lack charity, is said to be dead, according
to James 2:20: "Faith without works is dead." In this way also, all works
that are generically good, are said to be dead, if they be done without
charity, inasmuch as they fail to proceed from the principle of life;
even as we might call the sound of a harp, a dead voice. Accordingly, the
difference of life and death in works is in relation to the principle
from which they proceed. But works cannot proceed a second time from a
principle, because they are transitory, and the same identical deed
cannot be resumed. Therefore it is impossible for dead works to be
quickened by Penance.
Reply to Objection 1: In the physical order things whether dead or deadened lack
the principle of life. But works are said to be deadened, not in relation
to the principle whence they proceeded, but in relation to an extrinsic
impediment; while they are said to be dead in relation to a principle.
Consequently there is no comparison.
Reply to Objection 2: Works generically good done without charity are said to be
dead on account of the lack of grace and charity, as principles. Now the
subsequent Penance does not supply that want, so as to make them proceed
from such a principle. Hence the argument does not prove.
Reply to Objection 3: God remembers the good deeds a man does when in a state of
sin, not by rewarding them in eternal life, which is due only to living
works, i.e. those done from charity, but by a temporal reward: thus
Gregory declares (Hom. de Divite et Lazaro, 41 in Evang.) that "unless
that rich man had done some good deed, and had received his reward in
this world, Abraham would certainly not have said to him: 'Thou didst
receive good things in thy lifetime.'" Or again, this may mean that he
will be judged less severely: wherefore Augustine says (De Patientia
xxvi): "We cannot say that it would be better for the schismatic that by
denying Christ he should suffer none of those things which he suffered by
confessing Him; but we must believe that he will be judged with less
severity, than if by denying Christ, he had suffered none of those
things. Thus the words of the Apostle, 'If I should deliver my body to be
burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing,' refer to the
obtaining of the kingdom of heaven, and do not exclude the possibility of
being sentenced with less severity at the last judgment."