What are these processions of origin called in God?
They are called generation and procession.
What is the consequence of this generation and this procession in God?
The consequence is that between the two terms of generation and the two terms of procession there are real relations which are constituted by these different terms.
What are these relations in God?
They are four in number, and are called Paternity, Filiation, Active Spiration, and Procession (or Passive Spiration)
Are these divine relations the same as the Divine Persons?
Yes
Why is it then that there are four divine relations and yet only three Divine Persons?
The reason is because one of these relations, viz., Active Spiration, not being relatively opposed either to Paternity or Filiation, but on the contrary belonging to both Father and Son as one principle, it follows that the two persons, Father and Son, the one constituted by Paternity the other by Filiation, can be the subject of Active Spiration, which thereby does not constitute a separate person but which belongs equally to the person of the Father and the person of the Son
Is there any kind of order among the Divine Persons?
Yes, there is the order of origin, owing to which the Son can be sent by the Father, and the Holy Ghost can be sent by the Father and the Son
When the Divine Persons produce acts other than those known as notional acts (which are the acts of generation and spiration), are these acts produced by the three persons in common?
Yes; and this is the reason why the act of thinking and the act of loving belong to all the three persons; and likewise all those actions which produce an effect outside God
But are there not certain actions or certain sources of action which are attributed more particularly to this or that person?
Yes. There are what are called certain attributions of this kind to which these acts or sources of act give rise according to the distinctive character of this or of that person: for this reason by way of appropriation we attribute power to the Father, for instance, wisdom to the Son, and goodness to the Holy Ghost, although these belong equally to all three
When therefore we speak of God in His relation to the world, do we always imply that it is God as one in nature and as three in person that acts?
Yes, except when we speak of the person of God the Son in the mystery of the Incarnation
V. OF THE CREATION
What is meant by saying that God is the Creator of all things?
It is meant that God made all things out of nothing
There was then nothing at all beside God before He made all things?
Of a truth there was nothing beside God before He made all things, He Himself being by Himself, and all things else through Him
When did God thus make all things out of nothing?
God made all things out of nothing when it pleased His will
Had He so wished then, He need not have created the things He has made?
It is even so.
VI. OF THE WORLD
What name is given to the sum of God's creation?
It is called the world or the universe
Is then the world or the universe the work of God's hand?
Yes
Of what is the world or universe composed?
It is composed of three categories of being: pure spirits, bodies, and spirits joined to body.
Is God Himself the Creator of these pure spirits, these bodies, and these spirits joined to body?
Yes, God Himself is the Creator of all these.
Did God alone, by Himself, create these things?
Yes, for God alone can create
How did God, alone and by Himself, make the world of spirits and bodies?
He did it by His Word together with His Love
No comments:
Post a Comment
Check with your doctor