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
Quaestio XXIV: Whether FAITH is more certain than any science, or than any intellectual habit
Quaestio XXV: Whether one can know with certainty that he has FAITH
Quaestio XXVI: In whom FAITH is found
Quaestio XXVII: Whether FAITH is a substantial Gift of GOD
Quaestio XXVIII: Whether the difference between FAITH and other acts, natural as opposed to supernatural moral acts, always arises from the object
Quaestio XXIX: On the effects of FAITH
Quaestio XXX: On the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING
Dubitatio I: Whether UNDERSTANDING is a gift of the Holy Ghost
Dubitatio II: Whether the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING can coexist with FAITH
Dubitatio III: Whether the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING consists in the contemplation of the Creator and of Creation
Dubitatio IV: Whether the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING is found in all who have grace, and whether in these alone
Whether the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING is present in all who have grace, and whether in these alone.
I ASSERT first that Understanding is in all who have sanctifying grace.
It is proved from St. Bonav. in Diaeta from that Psalm 110: Intellectus bonus omnibus facientibus eum — a good understanding to all that do it.
It is proved from the holy Doctor de septem donis, cap. 1. from the progress of our conversion, as assigned by the Council of Trent sess. 6. et 14., from which he also deduces the order of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit; for, as St. Anselm says, lib. de simil. cap. 130.: First the Holy Spirit makes the mind fear through the gift of Fear; and compassionate with itself through the gift of Piety; and He manifests the things that are to be done through the gift of Science, and carries them out firmly through the gift of Fortitude; these three gifts belong to the appetitive power, and in this they differ from the gift of Understanding, which belongs first to the intellective power, according to St. Thomas, art. 6., and concerning those He makes us consult through the gift of Counsel, whereby there is an application of means to individual works, as St. Thomas says. Then the Holy Spirit kindles the mind to understand why this and that should be done, so that the affection of charity may follow: for this follows the perfect discovery of the truth; and this is from the understanding. Therefore even natural understanding itself is called, 3. de anima, text. 18., a Light penetrating to the innermost essences; nor indeed can the will be rightly ordered to the good unless some knowledge of the truth pre-exists, because the object of the will is the good understood, as is said in 3. de anima, text. 34. et 49. From these things it follows that the gift of Understanding is given together with grace, as the ultimate disposition to wisdom, or the Divine Savor. Therefore St. August., lib. 2. de doctrina christiana, cap. 7., speaking of the seven gifts, says of the gift of Understanding: After the fifth step, namely the gift of Counsel, through which the soul is raised up from the appetite for the filth of lower things, it ascends to the sixth step, that is, to the gift of understanding, where it cleanses that very eye by which God can be seen by those who die to this world; who see insofar as they die to the world.
The holy Doctor observes, however, cap. 4., that a threefold truth is irradiated by the gift of Understanding: the truth of cognition, by showing us the faith of Christ to be most true: the truth of operation, by showing the most perfect operation; and the truth of love, by showing us charity. But the Holy Spirit works this revelation through the gift of Understanding, while He raises up, purifies, and inflames the mind from earthly things. For an earthly and animal affection impedes the understanding from understanding spiritual things, because: The animal man perceiveth not those things that are of the Spirit of God, as is said in 1 Corinth. 2. From these things it follows that the gift of Understanding is in the just, who have a right will through charity, which presupposes a right understanding; and that it is given in the ultimate preparation for charity, but not to sinners in the composite sense; for of these (the holy Fathers say), Psalm 81: They have not known nor understood, they walk on in darkness.
And although the actual gift of Understanding is convertible with Faith, which is also in sinners; nevertheless, as it is a habitual gift, it is only in him who has a right cognition and a direction of the will toward the end, as St. Bonav. says, ad 3.
But that it is given in the ultimate disposition to grace is proved by that John 6: Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me. But we learn this through the Understanding, as St. Gregory teaches, primo Moral. cap. 32. Therefore whoever has understanding comes to Christ through grace that makes one pleasing. Hence this passage is not rightly cited here by St. Thom. art. 5. to prove that this gift of God is not present except in those already established in grace; for these do not come to Christ, but have come.