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
Dubitatio V: What is the necessity and utility of the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING
Dubitatio VI: Whether* **the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING** *corresponds to the sixth beatitude, namely, Blessed are the clean of heart, etc.
Whether the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING corresponds to the sixth beatitude, namely, Blessed are the clean of heart, etc.
St. Bonav. de 7. donis, cap. 3. and St. Th. here, together with St. August. lib. 1. de serm. Domini in monte, cap. 9., assert that it does.
It is proved from the Seraphic Doctor, cap. 4. de dono Intellectus. As the light of the sun is related to the seeing of sensible things, and to the purifying of the air, so is Understanding related to the vision of spiritual things; but the cleanness of the air arises from the solar light, so that the Sun itself is clearly seen, and in the absence of this light the air is darkened, and as it were sullied: Therefore. To this the holy Doctor adduces that Psalm 81: They have not known nor understood, they walk on in darkness, where the cause of the soul's being darkened is referred back to a defect of Understanding. Then the holy Doctor assigns three degrees of the cleanness of heart, which are as it were the morning, the midday, and the evening of Understanding.
The first degree is when, through the Gift of Understanding, being recalled to our interior self, with the light of compunction we wipe away all the stains and darknesses of sins, and there shines upon us a certain twilight of divine light, whence may arise the morning cleanness of heart, which corresponds to the morning of understanding.
The second degree is a certain excess of light and fervor of heart, penetrating all the veils that overshadow the rays of truth, illuminating, strengthening(?) and inflaming the mind with clarity and at the same time with charity: And hence is born the midday of Understanding, and the midday cleanness of heart.
The third degree is when this fervent clarity declines toward evening, the Lord nevertheless remaining as the fount of all clarity and fervor; Hence at once the sleep of contemplation is begun, and the nocturnal delights are celebrated, with the lamps of divine splendor lit on every side; see the Seraphic Doctor himself, saying marvelous things about these, beyond human understanding, through several chapters.