Palladium theologicum, Tomus quintus: De virtutibus
Gaudenzio da Brescia (1612–1672)
Reuerendi patris Gaudentij Bontempi, ... Palladium theologicum, seu Tota theologia scholastica in septem tomos distributa. Ad intimam mentem d. Bonauenturae seraphici doctoris ... Tomus quintus, De virtutibus
First published 1676
Bontempi's Palladium theologicum (Lyon 1676) is a complete scholastic theology composed ad mentem D. Bonaventurae, arranged in seven tractatus on the order of the Secunda secundae. This fifth volume, De virtutibus, treats the theological virtues (faith, hope, charity, with their gifts, beatitudes and fruits), the cardinal virtues and their opposite vices, and the states and offices of men (religious and prelates, bishops, princes), including the extensive disputations on contracts, religion, vows, fortitude, temperance and the judicial process. It is a significant example of the Bonaventurian scholastic school and a counterpart to the Thomist manuals of the period.
Tractatus I: PRIMUS DE VIRTUTIBUS THEOLOGICIS
Proemium I: Prooemium
Disputatio I: ON FAITH
Quaestio I: What FAITH signifies, and what it is
Quaestio II: What the object of FAITH is
Quaestio III: Whether the object of FAITH is something complex
Quaestio IV: Whether the object of FAITH can be false
Quaestio V: Whether the object of FAITH can be evident scientifically
Quaestio VI: Whether FAITH is concerned with those things which are seen by vision on the way
Quaestio VII: Whether the articles of FAITH are evidently credible
Quaestio VIII: Whether the things to be believed are rightly arranged according to the articles
Quaestio IX: Whether the articles of FAITH have grown over the course of time
Quaestio X: Whether FAITH has grown as regards light
Quaestio XI: Whether Faith has grown in certitude
Quaestio XII: Whether the articles of Faith are to be expounded by some authority which is an infallible teacher, and what it is
Quaestio XIII: What are the marks of the true Church, in which the authority of expounding FAITH resides
Quaestio XIV: What must be believed by the necessity of means
Quaestio XV: What things are to be believed by the necessity of precept
Quaestio XVI: Whether we are bound to confess FAITH, and when
Quaestio XVII: Whether it is lawful to dispute about FAITH, and when
Quaestio XVIII: Whether Faith resides in the Intellect
Quaestio XIX: Whether Faith is perfected by Charity, as by its form
Quaestio XX: Whether it is certain that FAITH remains without CHARITY
Quaestio XXI: Whether, and how, FAITH is a VIRTUE
Quaestio XXII: Whether FAITH is ONE VIRTUE
Quaestio XXIII: Whether FAITH is the first of the Virtues
Whether FAITH is the first of the Virtues.
The SS. Doctors ASSERT that Faith is the Charioteer of the virtues.
And indeed that it is a virtue I showed in quaest. 21., and he proves it again here: As it is honorable to subject our appetite to the divine goodness, so it is honorable to subject the intellect to the first truth, and to be led captive into the obedience of God speaking; but to captivate the affection to God is a virtue: Therefore. That it is, moreover, as it were the Charioteer of the virtues, S. Doct. proves first. What is necessary directly for freely attaining the highest good has the ratio of the first virtue; such is the voluntary knowledge through faith: Therefore. The MAJOR is evident. The MINOR is proved: for faith directs hope and charity, as the rule showing that good to be desired, awaited, and loved. He builds the same argument in dist. 23. dub. 6. litt. Yet he sets it forth under the ratio of his revealed truth, as I said. It is confirmed by S. Doct.: Without knowledge of the highest good there cannot be direct intention; for that is done with right intention which is done for the honor of God, but without right intention no act of virtue goes forward. Since therefore the habit of faith is that by which the highest good is known by us; hence it is that Faith directs our intention, and by this it is the rule of every good operation, and of every meritorious virtue, and consequently it is the first of the virtues in order, as knowledge precedes the affection. It is proved by this argument also by D. Thom. loc. cit. and Valentia puncto 7.
The argument of D. Bonav. is CONFIRMED from D. Ambrose lib. de Cain, et Abel, cap. 9. where he says: Why do you wonder that he did not acknowledge piety (Cain), who did not acknowledge the Author; and therefore you are taught by this series of Scriptures that faith is the root of all the virtues; whence the Apostle also says: Because our foundation is Christ. Prima Corinth. 3.
From August. lib. de agone, cap. 13. Faith is the first thing that subjugates the soul to God; then the precepts of living.
From S. Prosper lib. de vocat. gent. cap. 8. Faith is the mother of good will, and of good action.
But it can be doubted: whether Faith is ever infused earlier in time than the other virtues.
I ASSERT with D. Bonau. dist. 23. dub. 6. et dist. 22. quaest. 5. et in 4. dist. 14. p. 1. art. 2. quaest. 3., Scotus in 3. dist. 36. q. 4., Capens. disp. 4. sect. 1. n. 12., that Faith is always infused together. So it seems declared in Concil. Tridentino sect. 6. cap. 7. Whereby in the very sanctification, with the remission of sins, man receives these infused together, etc. faith, hope, and charity. It is the common opinion of the ancients, at Lugo disp. 16. sect. 2., against Suarez 3. p. t. 3. disp. 38. sect. 3. et hic disp. 7. sect. 5., Salam t. 2. tom. 2. tract. 11. disp. 5. sect. 3., Valentia quaest. 6. p. 2., Turrianus disp. 41. dub. 9., Granad. tract. 13. disp. 5. num. 9.
Vasquez responds in 3. p. disp. 158. that the particle Simul signifies the same as pariter: or, if it signifies duration, it does not signify the instant of the infusion of habitual grace, but the whole duration of justification, as justification is taken for the series of dispositions from the first aid to the infusion of grace: But the Council says that faith is living, which works through charity. Then thus: Therefore in its infusion it is with charity; for esse is put for operation: But faith from its infusion is operative through charity: Therefore.