Monday, May 30, 2022

Catechism of the Summa (3)

 (C)

Can we see God in this life?

No, we cannot see God in this life, the obstacle being our mortal body 

Can we see God in heaven?

We can see God in heaven with the eyes of the glorified soul 

How can we know God in this life?

We can know God in this life by reason and by faith 

What is meant by knowing God in this life by our reason?

It is to know God through the creatures He has made 

What is it to know Him in this life by faith?

It is to know God by what He has told us Himself about Himself 

Of these two kinds of knowledge that we can have of God which is the more perfect?

Without doubt, the more perfect is the knowledge we have of Him by faith. For by it we see God in a light wherein the eye of reason fails; moreover, even though there are shadows and sometimes an impenetrable darkness for us here below, nevertheless the light of faith is none other than the dawn of heaven's vision which is to be our happiness through all eternity 

(D)

When we speak of God, or endeavour to express our thought concerning Him, have the words we use a correct meaning?

Most certainly: for these words, although used primarily to designate the perfections in a creature, can be transferred to designate what in God corresponds to these very perfections 

When applied to God and to creatures, have these word the same meaning or one wholly different?

When applied to God they have the same meaning but in a superlative degree, that is, when used to designate perfections in creatures in the fulness of their meaning they truly signify these perfections: whereas when use to designate the divine perfections, or whatever is attributed to God, if all that they tell is verily in God they do not tell fully the perfections they express in God 

Then whatever we may tell of God, and however exalted be our expressions concerning Him, for us God ever remains unutterable?

Yes; but in this life we cannot do anything more salutary, more perfect, and more noble than speak of Him and of all that concerns Him even though our thoughts fall short of Him and our speech fail 

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