Capitulum 46
Chapter 46
Quod amor in Deo dicitur Spiritus
That love in God is called the Spirit
Cum autem intellectum in intelligente sit, et amatum in amante, diversa ratio eius quod est esse in aliquo utrobique consideranda est. Cum enim intelligere fiat per assimilationem aliquam intelligentis ad id quod intelligitur, necesse est id quod intelligitur in intelligente esse secundum quod eius similitudo in eo existit. Amatio autem fit secundum quandam motionem amantis ab amato, amatum enim trahit ad se ipsum amantem. Non igitur perficitur amatio in similitudine amati sicut perficitur intelligere in similitudine intellecti, sed perficitur in attractione amantis ad ipsum amatum.
Since the object known is in the knower, and the beloved is in the lover, the different ways of existing in something must be considered in both cases before us. Since the act of understanding takes place by a certain assimilation of the knower to the object known, the object known must be in the knower according as a likeness of it is present in him. But the act of loving takes place through the lover’s being moved in a certain way by the beloved, for the beloved draws the lover to himself. Accordingly, the act of loving does not reach its perfection in a likeness of the beloved, as the act of understanding reaches perfection in a likeness of the object understood, but rather reaches its perfection in a drawing of the lover to the beloved himself.
Traductio autem similitudinis principaliter fit per generationem univocam, secundum quam in rebus viventibus generans pater et generatus filius nominatur; in eisdem etiam prima motio fit secundum spiritum. Sicut igitur in divinis modus ille quo Deus est in Deo ut intellectum in intelligente exprimitur per hoc quod dicimus Filium qui est Verbum Dei, ita modum quo Deus est in Deo sicut amatum in amante exprimimus per hoc quod ponimus ibi Spiritum qui est amor Dei. Et ideo secundum regulam Catholicae fidei credere in Spiritum iubemur.
The bestowal of a likeness is principally effected by univocal generation, in accord with which, among living beings, the begetter is called father and the begotten is called son. Among such things, the first motion occurs according to a spirit. Therefore, as within the Godhead the way whereby God is in God as the known in the knower is expressed by our calling the Word of God ‘Son’, so we express the way by which God is in God as the beloved is in the lover by acknowledging a Spirit in God, who is the love of God. And this is why, according to the rule of Catholic faith, we are directed to believe in the Spirit.
Capitulum 47
Chapter 47
Quod Spiritus qui est in Deo est Sanctus
That the Spirit, which is in God, is holy
Considerandum autem est quod cum bonum amatum habeat rationem finis, ex fine autem motus voluntarius bonus vel malus reddatur, necesse est ut amor quo ipsum summum bonum amatur, quod Deus est, eminentem quandam optineat bonitatem, quae nomine sanctitatis exprimitur, sive dicatur ‘sanctum’ quasi ‘purum’ secundum Graecos, quia in Deo est purissima bonitas ab omni defectu immunis, sive dicatur ‘sanctum,’ id est ‘firmum,’ secundum Latinos, quia in Deo est immutabilis bonitas: propter quod et omnia quae ad Deum ordinantur sancta dicuntur, sicut templum et vasa templi et omnia divino cultui mancipata. Convenienter igitur Spiritus quo nobis insinuatur amor quo Deus Deum amat, Spiritus Sanctus nominatur; unde et regula Catholicae fidei praedictum Spiritum Sanctum nominat, cum dicitur: Credo in Spiritum Sanctum.
It must also be considered that since the good that is loved has the character of an end, and since the motion of the will is rendered good or evil by the end it pursues, the love whereby the supreme good that is God is loved must possess the supereminent goodness that goes by the name of holiness. This is true whether ‘holy’ is taken as equivalent to ‘pure,’ in accord with the Greeks (since in God there is most pure goodness free from all defect), or whether ‘holy’ is taken to mean ‘firm,’ in accord with the Latins (since in God there is unchangeable goodness). In either case, everything dedicated to God is called holy, such as a temple, and the vessels of the temple, and all objects consecrated to divine service. Rightly, then, the Spirit, who represents to us the love whereby God loves himself, is called the Holy Spirit. For this reason the rule of Catholic faith names the Spirit ‘Holy,’ when it says, I believe in the Holy Spirit.
Capitulum 48
Chapter 48
Quod amor in divinis non importat accidens
That love in God is not accidental
Sicut autem intelligere Dei est suum esse, ita et eius amare est suum esse; non igitur Deus amat se ipsum secundum aliquid suae essentiae superveniens, sed secundum essentiam suam. Cum igitur amet se ipsum secundum hoc quod ipse in se ipso est ut amatum in amante, non est Deus amatus in Deo amante per modum accidentalem, sicut res amatae sunt in nobis amantibus accidentaliter, sed Deus est in se ipso ut amatum in amante substantialiter. Ipse igitur Spiritus Sanctus, quo nobis insinuatur divinus amor, non est aliquid accidentale in Deo, sed est res subsistens in essentia divina sicut Pater et Filius; et ideo regula Catholicae fidei ostenditur: coadorandus et simul glorificandus cum Patre et Filio.
Just as God’s act of understanding is his existence, so also his act of loving is his existence. Therefore, God does not love himself through something that comes to his essence from outside it, but he loves himself through his very essence. When, therefore, God loves himself according as he is in himself as the beloved in the lover, God the beloved is not in God the lover in an accidental way, as the objects of our love are accidentally in us who love them. Rather, God is substantially in himself as beloved in lover. Therefore, the Holy Spirit, who represents the divine love to us, is not something accidental in God, but is a thing subsisting in the divine essence like the Father and the Son. And so in the rule of Catholic faith he is shown to be adored and glorified together with the Father and the Son.
Capitulum 49
Chapter 49
Quod Spiritus Sanctus a Patre Filioque procedit
That the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son
Est etiam considerandum quod ipsum intelligere ex virtute intellectiva intellectus procedit; secundum autem quod intellectus actu intelligit, est in ipso id quod intelligitur: hoc igitur quod est intellectum esse in intelligente procedit ex virtute intellectiva intelligentis, et hoc est verbum ipsius, ut supra dictum est. Similiter etiam id quod amatur est in amante secundum quod actu amatur; quod autem aliquid actu ametur, procedit et ex virtute amativa amantis et ex bono amabili actu intellecto: hoc igitur quod est amatum esse in amante ex duobus procedit, scilicet ex principio amativo et ex intelligibili apprehenso quod est verbum conceptum de ipso amabili. Cum igitur in Deo se ipsum intelligente et amante Verbum sit Filius, is autem cuius est Verbum sit Verbi Pater, ut ex dictis patet, necesse est quod Spiritus Sanctus, qui pertinet ad amorem secundum quod Deus in se ipso est ut amatum in amante, ex Patre procedat et Filio: unde et in Symbolo dicitur: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.
We should recall that the act of understanding proceeds from the intellectual power of the intellect. Now the object known is present in the one knowing according as the intellect understands in act. Therefore, the presence of the object known in the knower proceeds from the intellectual power of the one knowing, and this is its word, as we said above. Likewise, what is loved is in the lover when it is actually loved. And the fact that an object is actually loved proceeds from the lover’s power to love and from the lovable good as actually understood. Therefore, the presence of the beloved in the lover proceeds from two things: the loving principle and the intelligible object as apprehended, which is the word conceived about the lovable object. Therefore, since in God knowing and loving himself the Word is the Son, and the one whose Word he is, is the Father of the Word, as is clear from the things said, it is necessary that the Holy Spirit, who pertains to the love whereby God is in himself as beloved in lover, proceeds from the Father and the Son. And so we say in the Creed: who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Proprietates Trinitatis
Properties of the Trinity
Capitulum 50
Chapter 50
Quod in divinis Trinitas personarum non repugnat unitati essentiae
That a Trinity of persons in God is not opposed to unity of essence
Ex omnibus autem quae dicta sunt colligere oportet quod in divinitate quendam ternarium ponimus, qui tamen unitati et simplicitati divinae essentiae non repugnat. Oportet enim concedi Deum esse et existentem in sua natura, et intellectum et amatum a se ipso.
From all that has been said we must gather that we hold there to be a kind of three in the Godhead, which nevertheless is not opposed to the unity and simplicity of the divine essence. For we must acknowledge that God exists both in his nature and as known and loved by himself.
Aliter autem hoc accidit in Deo et in nobis. Quia enim homo in sua natura substantia est, intelligere autem et amare ipsius non sunt eius substantia, homo quidem secundum quod in natura sua consideratur quaedam res subsistens est; secundum autem quod est in suo intellectu, non est res subsistens sed intentio quaedam rei subsistentis, et similiter secundum quod est in se ipso ut amatum in amante. Etsi ergo in homine tria quaedam considerari possunt, id est homo in natura sua existens et homo in intellectu existens et homo in amore existens, tamen hi tres non sunt unum quia intelligere eius non est eius esse, similiter autem et amare; et horum trium unus solus est res quaedam subsistens, scilicet homo in natura sua existens.
But this occurs otherwise in God than in us. For man is a substance in his nature, but his actions of knowing and loving are not his substance. Considered in his nature, man is indeed a subsisting thing; as he exists in his mind, however, he is not a subsisting thing, but a certain representation of a subsisting thing; and similarly with regard to his existence in himself as beloved in lover. Therefore, even though a kind of three can be considered in man—that is, man existing in his nature, man existing in his intellect, and man existing in his love—yet these three are not one, for man’s knowing is not his existence, and the same is true of his loving. Only one of these three is a subsisting thing: namely, man existing in his nature.
In Deo autem idem est esse, intelligere et amare; Deus ergo in esse suo naturali existens et Deus existens in intellectu suo et Deus existens in amore suo unum sunt, et tamen unusquisque eorum est subsistens. Et quia res subsistentes in intellectuali natura personas Latini nominare consueverunt, Graeci vero hypostases, propter hoc in divinis Latini dicunt tres personas, Graeci vero tres hypostases, Patrem scilicet et Filium et Spiritum Sanctum.
In God, on the contrary, to be, to know, and to love are the same thing. Therefore, God existing in his natural being and God existing in the divine intellect and God existing in the divine love are one thing. Yet each of them is subsistent. And, because Latins are accustomed to call things subsisting in intellectual nature persons, while Greeks call them hypostases, consequently the Latins say that there are three persons in God, and the Greeks say that there are three hypostases, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Capitulum 51
Chapter 51
Quomodo videtur esse repugnantia ponendo numerum in divinis
How a Trinity of persons in God seems to be a contradiction
Videtur autem ex praedictis repugnantia quaedam suboriri. Si enim in Deo ternarius aliquis ponitur, cum omnis numerus divisionem aliquam consequatur, oportebit in Deo aliquam differentiam ponere per quam tres ab invicem distinguantur; et ita non erit in Deo summa simplicitas. Nam si in aliquo tres conveniunt et in alio differunt, necesse est ibi esse compositionem, quod superioribus repugnat.
But a certain contradiction seems to arise from what has been said. For if some kind of three is asserted in God, then, since number always follows on some division, some division will have to be acknowledged in God, whereby the three may be distinguished from one another. Thus supreme simplicity will be lacking in God. For, if three agree in some respect and differ in another, composition must be present; which is contrary to what was set forth above.
Rursus, si necesse est esse unum solum Deum, ut supra ostensum est, nulla autem res una oritur vel procedit a se ipsa, impossibile videtur quod sit Deus genitus vel Deus procedens; falso igitur in divinis ponitur nomen Patris et Filii et Spiritus procedentis.
Again, if there can be only one God, as was shown above, and if one and the same thing cannot originate or proceed from itself, it seems impossible for God to be begotten or to proceed. Wrongly, therefore, are the names of Father and of Son and of proceeding Spirit posited in the Godhead.
Capitulum 52
Chapter 52
Solutio rationis, et quod in divinis non est distinctio nisi secundum relationes
Solution of the difficulty: in God there is no distinction except according to relation
Principium autem ad dissolvendum hanc dubitationem hinc sumere oportet, quod secundum diversitatem naturarum est in diversis rebus diversus modus aliquid exoriendi vel procedendi. In rebus enim vita carentibus, quia non sunt se ipsa moventia sed solum extrinseca movere possunt, oritur ex uno aliud quasi exterius alteratum et immutatum, sicut ab igne generatur ignis et ab aere aer.
The principle for solving this difficulty must be derived from this fact: namely, that there are different ways something can originate or proceed among different kinds of things. Among lifeless beings, which do not move themselves but can only be moved from outside, one thing arises from another by being, as it were, outwardly altered and changed. In this way fire is generated from fire and air from air.
In rebus vero viventibus, quarum proprietas est ut se ipsa moveant, generatur aliquid in ipso generante, sicut fetus animalium et fructus plantarum. In viventibus autem est considerare diversum modum processionis secundum diversas vires et operationes earundem. Sunt enim quaedam vires in eis quarum operationes non se extendunt nisi ad corpora secundum quod materialia sunt, sicut patet de viribus animae vegetabilis, quae sunt nutritiva et augmentativa et generativa; et secundum hoc genus virium animae non procedit nisi aliquid corporale corporaliter distinctum, et tamen aliquo modo coniunctum in viventibus ei a quo procedit.
But among living beings, whose characteristic property is that they move themselves, something is generated within the one generating; for example, the fetuses of animals and the fruits of plants. Moreover, one must notice different ways of proceeding among living beings according to their different powers and operations. For there are certain powers in them whose operations extend only to bodies according as they are material; this is clear with regard to the powers of the vegetative soul, which serve nutrition, growth, and generation. In virtue of this class of the soul’s powers, there proceeds only what is bodily and bodily distinct, although in the case of living beings what proceeds is joined in some way to that from which it proceeds.
Sunt autem quaedam vires quarum operationes, etsi corpora non transcendant, tamen se extendunt ad species corporum sine materia eas recipiendo, sicut est in omnibus viribus animae sensitivae: est enim sensus susceptivus specierum sine materia, ut Philosophus dicit. Huiusmodi autem vires, licet quodammodo immaterialiter formas rerum suscipiant, non tamen eas suscipiunt absque organo corporali. Si qua igitur processio in huiusmodi viribus animae inveniatur, quod procedit non erit aliquod corporale, vel corporaliter distinctum aut coniunctum ei a quo procedit, sed incorporaliter et immaterialiter quodammodo, licet non omnino absque adminiculo organi corporalis. Sic enim procedunt in animalibus formationes rerum imaginatarum, quae quidem sunt in imaginatione non sicut corpus in corpore sed quodam spirituali modo: unde et ab Augustino imaginaria visio spiritualis nominatur.
There are other powers whose operations, although they do not go beyond bodies, nonetheless extend to the species of bodies by receiving them without their accompanying matter. This is the case with all the powers of the sensitive soul. For sense is capable of receiving species without matter, as the Philosopher says. But such faculties, although they are receptive of the forms of things in a sort of immaterial way, do not receive them without a bodily organ. If procession takes place within these powers of the soul, that which proceeds will not be something bodily, nor will it be distinct from or joined to that faculty whence it proceeds in a bodily way, but in a certain non-bodily and immaterial way (although not entirely without the help of a bodily organ). This is how, in animals, the representations of things imagined proceed, which exist in the imagination not as a body in a body, but in a certain spiritual way. This is why Augustine calls imaginary vision spiritual.
Si autem secundum operationem imaginationis procedit aliquid non per modum corporalem, multo fortius hoc accidet per operationem partis intellectivae, quae nec etiam in sui operatione indiget organo corporali, sed omnino eius operatio immaterialis est. Procedit enim verbum secundum operationem intellectus ut in ipso intellectu dicentis existens, non quasi localiter in eo contentum nec corporaliter ab eo separatum, sed in ipso quidem existens secundum potestatem naturalis operationis, ab eo vero distinctum secundum ordinem originis; et eadem ratio est de processione quae attenditur secundum operationem voluntatis, prout res amata existit in amante, ut supra dictum est.
But if something proceeds in a way that is not bodily when the imagination operates, this will be the case much more in the operation of the intellectual faculty, which does not need a bodily organ in its operation, but whose operation is entirely immaterial. For in an intellectual operation a word proceeds in such a way that it exists in the very intellect of the speaker: not as locally contained there, nor as bodily separated, but as existing in it according to the power of the natural operation while distinct from it according to the order of origin. The same is true in that procession which is observed to take place in the operation of the will, so far as the beloved exists in the lover, as was said above.
Licet autem vires intellectivae et sensitivae secundum propriam rationem sint nobiliores viribus animae vegetabilis, non tamen in hominibus aut in aliis animalibus secundum processionem imaginativae partis aut sensitivae procedit aliquid subsistens in natura speciei eiusdem, sed hoc solum accidit per processionem quae fit secundum operationem animae vegetabilis; et hoc ideo est quia in omnibus compositis ex materia et forma, multiplicatio individuorum in eadem specie fit secundum materiae divisionem. Unde in hominibus et aliis animalibus, cum ex forma et materia componantur, secundum corporalem divisionem quae invenitur in processione quae est secundum operationem animae vegetabilis, et non in aliis operationibus animae, multiplicantur individua in eandem speciem. In rebus vero quae non sunt ex materia et forma compositae, non potest esse nisi distinctio formalis tantum; sed si forma secundum quam attenditur distinctio sit substantia rei, oportet quod illa distinctio sit rerum subsistentium quarundam, non autem si forma illa non sit rei substantia.
However, although the intellectual and sensitive powers are nobler in character than the powers of the vegetative soul, nothing that subsists in the nature of the same species proceeds either in men or in other animals according to the procession of the imaginative or sensitive faculties. This occurs only in that procession which takes place through the operation of the vegetative soul. The reason for this is that in all beings composed of matter and form, the multiplication of individuals in the same species is effected by a division of matter. Hence among men and other animals, composed as they are of form and matter, individuals are multiplied in the same species by the bodily division which ensues in the procession that is proper to the operation of the vegetative soul, but that does not take place in other operations of the soul. In beings that are not composed of matter and form, there can only be formal distinction. But if the form that is the reason for the distinction is a thing’s substance, then the distinction must be between subsistent things. (Of course, this is not the case if the form in question is not the substance of the thing.)
Est igitur commune in omni intellectu, ut ex dictis patet, quod oportet id quod intellectu concipitur, ab intelligente quodammodo procedere inquantum intelligens est, et sua processione quodammodo ab ipso distingui, sicut conceptio intellectus quae est intentio intellecta distinguitur ab intellectu intelligente; et similiter oportet quod affectio amantis, per quam amatum est in amante, procedat a voluntate amantis inquantum est amans. Sed hoc proprium habet intellectus divinus quod, cum intelligere eius sit esse ipsius, oportet quod conceptio intellectus, quae est intentio intellecta, sit substantia eius; et similiter est de affectione in ipso Deo amante. Relinquitur igitur quod intentio intellectus divini, quae est Verbum ipsius, non distinguitur a producente ipsum in hoc quod est esse substantiam, sed solum secundum relationem processionis unius ex alio; et similiter est de affectione amoris in Deo amante, quae ad Spiritum Sanctum pertinet.
As is clear from what has been said, every intellect has this in common: what is conceived in the intellect must in some way proceed from the knower, so far as he is knowing; and it must be in some way distinguished from him by its procession, just as the conception of the intellect, which is the intellectual likeness, is distinguished from the knowing intellect. Similarly, the affection of the lover, whereby the beloved is in the lover, must proceed from the will of the lover insofar as he is loving. But the divine intellect has this unique to itself: since God’s understanding is his existence, his intellectual conception (which is the intelligible likeness) must be his substance; and the case is similar with affection in God’s loving. Consequently, the representation in the divine intellect, which is God’s Word, is not distinguished from him who produces the Word as regards substantial existence, but only according to the relation of procession of one from the other. The case is similar concerning the affection of love in God loving, which pertains to the Holy Spirit.
Sic igitur patet quod nihil prohibet Verbum Dei, quod est Filius, esse unum cum Patre secundum substantiam, et tamen distingui ab eo secundum relationem processionis, ut dictum est. Unde et manifestum est quod eadem res non oritur neque procedit a se ipsa, quia Filius secundum quod a Patre procedit ab eo distinguitur; et eadem ratio est de Spiritu Sancto per comparationem ad Patrem et Filium.
Thus it is plain that nothing prevents God’s Word, who is the Son, from being one with the Father in substance, and that, nevertheless, the Word is distinct from the Father according to the relation of procession, as we have said. Hence it is also evident that the same thing does not arise or proceed from itself; for the Son, as proceeding from the Father, is distinct from him. And the same observation holds true of the Holy Spirit, relative to the Father and the Son.
Capitulum 53
Chapter 53
Quod relationes quibus Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus distinguuntur sunt reales et non rationis tantum
That the relations whereby Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished are real, and not merely rational
Istae autem relationes quibus Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus ab invicem distinguuntur sunt relationes reales et non rationis tantum. Illae enim relationes sunt rationis tantum quae non consequuntur ad aliquid quod est in rerum natura, sed ad aliquid quod est in apprehensione tantum, sicut dextrum et sinistrum in lapide non sunt relationes reales sed rationis tantum, quia non consequuntur aliquam virtutem realem in lapide existentem, sed solum acceptionem apprehendentis lapidem ut sinistrum quia est alicui animali ad sinistrum; sed in animali dextrum et sinistrum sunt relationes reales, quia consequuntur virtutes quasdam in determinatis partibus animalis inventas. Cum igitur relationes praedictae, quibus Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus distinguuntur, sint realiter in Deo existentes, oportet quod relationes praedictae sint relationes reales et non rationis tantum.
The relations by which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinguished from one another are real relations, and not merely rational. Those relations are purely rational which do not follow from anything found in the nature of things, but follow from intellectual apprehension alone. Thus right and left in a stone are not real relations, but only rational relations; they do not follow from any real disposition present in the stone, but only from the perception of one who apprehends the stone as left because it is to the left of some animal. On the other hand, left and right in an animal are real relations, because they follow on certain dispositions found in definite parts of the animal. Accordingly, since the relations whereby the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are distinguished really exist in God, the aforesaid relations must be real relations, and are not merely relations of reason.
Capitulum 54
Chapter 54