18 April 2020

The Catechism of the Summa - Tertia Pars - V. OF THE FULNESS OF GRACE IN THE HUMAN NATURE OF THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD

Must it be said that in the human nature of Christ there was the fulness of grace?

Yes; and in this sense, that there was nothing that relates to the order of grace that was not there; and that this fulness of grace was present in its highest possible perfection (VII. 9).

Was this superexcellent fulness of grace proper to the human nature of Christ?

Yes, it was absolutely proper to Christ's human nature; and the reason is because of the nearness of this nature to the divine nature in the same Person of God the Son which is the source of grace; and because of the mission of our Lord on earth, which consisted in the diffusion of this superabundance of grace to all men (VII. 10).

May one say that this grace of our Lord was infinite?

Yes, in a certain sense. For if it be question of the grace of union it is infinite because it means the union of the human to the divine nature itself in the Person of the Son of God; and if it be question of habitual grace with all that accompanies it, it has no limit in the actual order of grace as regards others who participate therein, although of itself it is created and finite (VII. 11).

Could this grace thus understood be increased in the human nature of our Lord?

If one considers the omnipotence of God, which is infinite, this grace could be increased; but considered in the actual order of grace as established by God this grace could not be increased (VII. 12).

What is the relation between this grace and the grace of union?

It is a consequence of the grace of union, and is proportionate to this grace of union (VII. 13).

What is the grace of union called which is the principle of all other grace in our Lord?

It is called the hypostatic union from a Greek word which signifies person; for it is owing to the action of the Person of God the Son, in concert with the Father and the Holy Ghost, that this superexcellent dignity and honour is bestowed upon the human nature by the fact that it is united immediately to the divine nature in the Person of God the Son.

Next - The Catechism of the Summa - Tertia Pars - VI. OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST IN SO FAR AS HE IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH (A)

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