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.
Dubitatio VII: Whether* **to the GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING** *there corresponds, among the fruits of the Holy Ghost, Faith
Quaestio XXXI: On the Gift of Knowledge
Dubitatio I: Whether* **KNOWLEDGE** *is a gift of the Holy Ghost
Dubitatio II: Whether knowledge is concerned with Divine things
Dubitatio III: Whether the gift of knowledge is speculative
Dubitatio IV: Whether the third Beatitude corresponds to the Gift of Knowledge: Blessed are they that mourn, etc.
Disputatio II: On Unbelief
Quaestio I: What UNBELIEF is, and what kind of sin it is
Quaestio II: Whether all the works of unbelievers are sins
Quaestio III: Whether unbelievers can be compelled to hear FAITH
Quaestio IV: Whether unbelievers can be compelled to embrace our FAITH, when it has been sufficiently set forth
Quaestio V: Whether unbaptized unbelievers can be compelled to abandon errors or rites contrary to natural reason
Quaestio VI: Whether the rites of unbelievers are to be permitted
Quaestio VII: Whether it is lawful to make agreements with unbelievers about the toleration of their rites
Quaestio VIII: Whether unbaptized unbelievers can retain power over the Faithful, and whether they can be deprived of it
Disputatio III: On Heresy
Quaestio I: What HERESY is
Quaestio II: Whether one who doubts about the articles of FAITH is a heretic
Quaestio III: Whether one who gives merely opinionative assent to an article of FAITH is a heretic
Quaestio IV: Whether, and what, Ignorance excuses from Heresy
Quaestio V: What pertinacity is required for HERESY
Quaestio VI: Whether, for one to be deemed a Heretic, it is necessary that he have been baptized and a believer
Quaestio VII: Whether the Church can compel heretics to receive the Catholic FAITH
Quaestio VIII: On the other means the Church uses against heretics, by forbidding their Books
Quaestio IX: Whether we are bound to avoid the conversation of heretics
Quaestio X: What excommunication is inflicted upon heretics
Quaestio XI: On the other spiritual punishments of heretics
Quaestio XII: On the temporal punishments of Heretics
Disputatio IV: On Hope
Quaestio I: What HOPE is
Quaestio II: What the material object of HOPE is
Question III
Quaestio IV: Whether a certain object is set forth for HOPE, and is hoped for
Quaestio V: Whether Hope is a Virtue
Quaestio VI: Whether HOPE is a Theological Virtue
Quaestio VII: Whether HOPE is at times formless
Quaestio VIII: Whether HOPE arises from merits
Quaestio IX: Whether Hope precedes Charity
Quaestio X: What the proximate subject of HOPE is
Quaestio XI: Whether HOPE remains in the Blessed
Quaestio XII: Whether there is a precept of hoping in GOD
Dubitatio I: UNICA. Would this precept bind one to whom certain damnation had been revealed
Disputatio V: On the Gift of Fear
Quaestio I: Whether FEAR is a Habit distinct from HOPE
Quaestio II: What the object of FEAR is
Quaestio III: Whether worldly Fear is always evil
Quaestio IV: Whether servile Fear is honorable, and a Gift of God
Quaestio V: Whether servile Fear is cast out when grace comes
Quaestio VI: Whether Initial and Filial Fear differ specifically
Quaestio VII: Whether, as Charity grows, Fear diminishes
Whether Fear diminishes as Charity increases.
The holy Doctor reports many opinions on this matter. The first is that, as Charity grows with respect to the habit, Fear also grows with respect to the habit, because gratuitous habits are equal; but with respect to use, as Charity grows, Fear diminishes; and the more the use of charity presses forward, the less the use of Fear prevails, and this appears from experience: for at the beginning of his conversion a man does many things out of fear, but when he has tasted the Spirit of devotion and of sweetness, which is in love, as he draws near to the state of perfection he is now drawn more to act well by the generosity of love than he is spurred by the penalty of fear.
Yet in this manner the holy Doctor finds an inconsistency; for if the magnitude of a habit is discerned from the magnitude of its acts, then as the acts diminish, the habit too should be argued to diminish; or if the habit grows, the acts too should be intensified.
The second opinion is that Fear — not merely servile but even Initial — diminishes as charity grows, because that Fear shares with servile fear, operating also through fear of punishments; but filial Fear is not lessened as Charity grows; for the more one loves God, the more he flees offense against Him. This is the opinion of St. Thomas.
But the holy Doctor argues against it: because filial fear, whereby one fears to offend God, has pain, and the soul is much afflicted by that dread. Yet Blessed John chapter 4 says: Perfect charity casts out Fear, on account of its attached penal aspect.
The third opinion, therefore, is that there is a twofold use of gratuitous fear. One is whereby the heart of man is stirred from consideration of his own fragility; the other, whereby he is humbled from consideration of his own smallness and of the divine majesty; and the first use is diminished as charity is perfected, because confidence rises from the perfection of charity, so that man may then say the word of the Apostle: Who shall separate us from the Charity of Christ? But the other use grows as charity grows, like the habit of fear: hence the more one has of the Spirit of love, the more he has of the Spirit of fear.
I assert first, that as charity grows, Fear diminishes with respect to anxiety.
It is proved by the holy Doctor, from that passage of 1 John 4, and by St. Augustine Tractate 9, there.
It is proved secondly by the holy Doctor; for as charity grows in anyone, so much the more does he hope: Therefore he fears less to be separated from God, because he is bound more closely to God.
Finally, as love grows, delight grows: Therefore Pain is diminished.
I assert secondly, that as charity grows, reverential fear grows.
It is proved by the holy Doctor first. When the cause is increased, the effect is increased; but faith and love cause gratuitous fear: Therefore, as faith and charity grow, gratuitous Fear grows. St. Thomas uses this argument too, but St. Bonaventure moderates it, as above.
Secondly. The more one loves, the more tightly he holds a good and esteems it; and if it exceeds, he reveres it.
Finally. The more intense anyone's charity is, the greater his solicitude to serve God, lest he offend the will of God, according to that of Micah 6: I will show thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee. And afterward: and to walk solicitously with thy God; and the greater the solicitude, the greater the fear of losing the good.
The holy Doctor answers that not all solicitude arises from fear: for the solicitude whereby one raises his soul to serve God arises from Charity.
You will say: One is solicitous also lest he offend.
The holy Doctor answers that this is a solicitude of diligence, which in perfected men has fear attached to it not so deeply, except for a time, while they are shaken in soul from consideration of the divine judgments.
From these he draws out another way of answering the question, namely that the use of any habit is said to grow or diminish in two ways: first in intensity; second in the number of acts. Therefore, as charity grows, filial fear diminishes with respect to the number of acts; because the perfected man does not need to be stirred so often as the imperfect man does, who is anxious both on account of a past fault, lest perhaps it still be unremitted, and on account of a future one, lest he relapse through frailty.