VIII. OF THE VIRTUES WHICH CAN AND OUGHT TO BE THE PRINCIPLE OF MAN'S GOOD ACTS
What is meant by the acquiring of virtue?
By this is meant the acquiring or the bringing to perfection of all the "good habits which make man act well"
What are the good habits which make man act well?
They are dispositions or inclinations which are seated in divers faculties, and which render good the acts of these faculties
Whence in man's divers faculties come these dispositions or inclinations which are conducive to their acting well?
At times they come, in part, from nature herself; sometimes they come from the person who acts for virtue's sake; and sometimes they come directly from God, who produces them in the soul supernaturally
Are there any such dispositions or good habits or in man's intellect?
Yes, there are suchlike dispositions or good habits or virtues in man's intellect
What is the effect of these virtues in man's intellect?
They make man's intellect to seek the truth only
What are these virtues in man s intellect called?
They are called "intuition" or "insight," "science," "wisdom," "art," and "prudence"
What is the object of each of these virtues in man's intellect or reason?
Intuition or insight gives a knowledge of principles (self-evident truths); science a knowledge of conclusions; wisdom a knowledge of the highest causes; art gives directions for the execution of external works; and prudence directions for the whole of the moral life
What are the virtues of justice, fortitude, temperance, and prudence called?
They are called the moral virtues
Are they not also called by the name of the "cardinal" virtues?
Yes, they are also called the cardinal virtues
What is meant by the words cardinal virtues?
By these words is implied that they are virtues of particular importance, which are as it were the hinges (in Latin cardo, cardinis) upon which, setting aside the theological virtues, turn all the other virtues
In man must the virtues of the natural order, or the acquired virtues, intellectual or moral, have corresponding virtues of the supernatural order, infused by God in order that man may be perfected in every act of his moral life?
Yes; for only these infused virtues are proportionate to those acts in the supernatural moral life of man which the supernatural end demands; an end held out for man's attainment by the theological virtues
Are all these virtues, theological and cardinal, necessary in order that man may live well?
Yes, all these virtues are necessary that man may live well
And suppose man is lacking in any one of these virtues, could he not be called virtuous?
No; for if man is found wanting in any one of these virtues, whatsoever other virtues he may have they would never, in him, possess the true character or nature of perfect virtue
IX. OF THE GIFTS WHICH CROWN AND PERFECT THE VIRTUES
Does it suffice for man to possess all the virtues spoken of above in order for his life to be what it ought to be in view of gaining heaven?
No; he must also have the gifts of the Holy Ghost
What is understood by the gifts of the Holy Ghost?
By these are understood habitual dispositions which are given to man by the Holy Ghost, and which make man yielding and docile to all the inspirations of the Holy Spirit that help man towards the possession of God in heaven
Why are these gifts of the Holy Ghost necessary in addition to all the virtues above mentioned?
Because man called to live as a child of God, is unable to attain to the perfection of this life unless God Himself, by His own action, makes perfect what man's action could achieve only incompletely through the virtues
How many gifts of the Holy Ghost are there?
There are seven gifts of the Holy Ghost
What are the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost?
They are the gifts of "wisdom," "understanding," "knowledge," "counsel," "piety," "fortitude," and "fear of the Lord"
X. OF THE BEATITUDES AND OF THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH ARE EFFECTS OF THE VIRTUES AND THE GIFTS
When man is thus endowed with the virtues and the gifts, has he, on his part, all that is required to live a perfect life in view of winning heaven?
Yes, when man is thus endowed with the virtues and the gifts he has, on his part, all that is required to live a perfect life in view of winning heaven.
May not one even say that he has already, in some sort, begun to live the life of heaven here on earth?
Yes, one may even say that he has already, in some sort, begun to live the life of heaven here on earth; and with this in mind one speaks of the beatitudes on earth, and of the fruit of the Holy Spirit
What is understood by the beatitudes?
By the beatitudes is meant the acts of the virtues and the gifts enumerated by our Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel, which by their presence in the soul or by the merits which result there, give to us as it were a guarantee of the future beatitude promised to each of them
And what is meant by the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
By the fruit of the Holy Spirit is understood those good acts whose nature it is to give joy to the virtuous man in that he acts in the supernatural order under the impulse of the Holy Spirit
Is this fruit distinct from the beatitudes?
If the fruit is all that is most perfect in the absolute sense of the word, for man it is identified with the fruit par excellence which is the beatitude of heaven. It is also identified with the beatitudes in this life; but it is distinct from them in this sense, that without needing the essential perfection or excellence of the beatitudes, its nature of goodness is sufficient
What are the beatitudes and what are their rewards?
They are: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven";" Blessed are the meek, because they shall possess the land"; "Blessed are they who weep, because they shall be comforted"; "Blessed are they who thirst and hunger for justice sake, because they shall be filled"; "Blessed are the merciful, because they shall obtain mercy"; "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God "; "Blessed are the peaceful, because they shall be called the children of God"
What is the fruit of the Holy Ghost?
The fruit of the Holy Ghost is: "charity," "peace," "patience," "benignity," "meekness," "faithfulness," "modesty," "continence," and "chastity"
Where is the fruit of the Holy Ghost spoken of?
It is to be found in the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians (v. 22, 23).
And where are the beatitudes enumerated?
They are enumerated in the Gospel of St. Matthew (v. 3-10), and in a manner less complete, in St. Luke (vi. 20-22).
Is there not also an eighth beatitude in St. Matthew, to be found also in St. Luke?
Yes, it is the beatitude of those who suffer persecution for justice sake; but it is included in the other seven beatitudes of which it is, as it were, the résumé or the consequence
There can then be nothing better for man on earth than to live thus the life of the virtues and of the gifts, from which spring the beatitudes and the fruit of the Holy Ghost?
No, there can be nothing better for man on earth than to live thus the life of the virtues and of the gifts, from which spring the beatitudes and the fruit of the Holy Ghost.
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