In what precisely does the gift of fear differ from the virtue of hope?
It consists in this, that the virtue of hope views the infinite good of God to be gained by the help which He Himself gives, whereas the gift of fear views rather the evil of being separated from Him and of losing Him in withdrawing ourselves by sin from that help which He gives in order to lead us to Him (XIX., ad 2).
Is the virtue of hope of a higher order than the gift of fear?
Yes, as indeed are all the theological virtues superior to the gifts; also because the virtue of hope views the good to be possessed, whilst the gift of fear views the evil which is the lack of such good.
Is the fear which is proper to the gift of the Holy Ghost inseparable from charity or the perfect love of God?
Yes, since charity or the perfect love of God is the cause of this fear (XIX. 10).
Can this fear co-exist with servile fear, such as is, of course, free from fear that is sinful?
Yes, it can exist at the commencement, together with servile fear that is not sinful, and for this reason it is called initial fear; but according as charity grows it also grows, until at length it has only the name of fear taking on the most pure character of filial or chaste fear which is wholly penetrated with the love of God, Who is the one and only truth, and Whose loss would be for us the greatest evil and in some sort the only evil (XIX. 8).
Next - The Catechism of the Summa -SECOND SECTION - A DETAILED SURVEY OF MAN'S RETURN TO GOD - VI. OF THE GIFT OF FEAR WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE VIRTUE OF HOPE OF SERVILE FEAR, AND OF FILIAL (E)
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