Ad primum ergo dicendum quod beatitudo est perfectio animae ex parte intellectus, secundum quem anima transcendit corporis organa, non autem secundum quod est forma naturalis corporis. Et ideo illa naturae perfectio manet secundum quam ei beatitudo debetur, licet non maneat illa naturae perfectio secundum quam est corporis forma. Reply Obj. 1: Happiness is the perfection of the soul on the part of the intellect, in respect of which the soul transcends the organs of the body; but not according as the soul is the natural form of the body. Wherefore the soul retains that natural perfection in respect of which happiness is due to it, though it does not retain that natural perfection in respect of which it is the form of the body. Ad secundum dicendum quod anima aliter se habet ad esse quam aliae partes. Nam esse totius non est alicuius suarum partium, unde vel pars omnino desinit esse, destructo toto, sicut partes animalis destructo animali; vel, si remanent, habent aliud esse in actu, sicut pars lineae habet aliud esse quam tota linea. Sed animae humanae remanet esse compositi post corporis destructionem, et hoc ideo, quia idem est esse formae et materia, et hoc est esse compositi. Anima autem subsistit in suo esse, ut in primo ostensum est. Unde relinquitur quod post separationem a corpore perfectum esse habeat, unde et perfectam operationem habere potest; licet non habeat perfectam naturam speciei. Reply Obj. 2: The relation of the soul to being is not the same as that of other parts: for the being of the whole is not that of any individual part: wherefore, either the part ceases altogether to be, when the whole is destroyed, just as the parts of an animal, when the animal is destroyed; or, if they remain, they have another actual being, just as a part of a line has another being from that of the whole line. But the human soul retains the being of the composite after the destruction of the body: and this because the being of the form is the same as that of its matter, and this is the being of the composite. Now the soul subsists in its own being, as stated in the First Part (Q75, A2). It follows, therefore, that after being separated from the body it has perfect being and that consequently it can have a perfect operation; although it has not the perfect specific nature. Ad tertium dicendum quod beatitudo est hominis secundum intellectum, et ideo, remanente intellectu, potest inesse ei beatitudo. Sicut dentes Aethiopis possunt esse albi, etiam post evulsionem, secundum quos Aethiops dicitur albus. Reply Obj. 3: Happiness belongs to man in respect of his intellect: and, therefore, since the intellect remains, it can have happiness. Thus the teeth of an Ethiopian, in respect of which he is said to be white, can retain their whiteness, even after extraction. Ad quartum dicendum quod dupliciter aliquid impeditur ab alio. Uno modo, per modum contrarietatis, sicut frigus impedit actionem caloris, et tale impedimentum operationis repugnat felicitati. Alio modo, per modum cuiusdam defectus, quia scilicet res impedita non habet quidquid ad omnimodam sui perfectionem requiritur, et tale impedimentum operationis non repugnat felicitati, sed omnimodae perfectioni ipsius. Et sic separatio a corpore dicitur animam retardare, ne tota intentione tendat in visionem divinae essentiae. Appetit enim anima sic frui Deo, quod etiam ipsa fruitio derivetur ad corpus per redundantiam, sicut est possibile. Et ideo quandiu ipsa fruitur Deo sine corpore, appetitus eius sic quiescit in eo quod habet, quod tamen adhuc ad participationem eius vellet suum corpus pertingere. Reply Obj. 4: One thing is hindered by another in two ways. First, by way of opposition; thus cold hinders the action of heat: and such a hindrance to operation is repugnant to happiness. Second, by way of some kind of defect, because, to wit, that which is hindered has not all that is necessary to make it perfect in every way: and such a hindrance to operation is not incompatible with happiness, but prevents it from being perfect in every way. And thus it is that separation from the body is said to hold the soul back from tending with all its might to the vision of the Divine Essence. For the soul desires to enjoy God in such a way that the enjoyment also may overflow into the body, as far as possible. And therefore, as long as it enjoys God, without the fellowship of the body, its appetite is at rest in that which it has, in such a way, that it would still wish the body to attain to its share. Ad quintum dicendum quod desiderium animae separatae totaliter quiescit ex parte appetibilis, quia scilicet habet id quod suo appetitui sufficit. Sed non totaliter requiescit ex parte appetentis, quia illud bonum non possidet secundum omnem modum quo possidere vellet. Et ideo, corpore resumpto, beatitudo crescit non intensive, sed extensive. Reply Obj. 5: The desire of the separated soul is entirely at rest, as regards the thing desired; since, to wit, it has that which suffices its appetite. But it is not wholly at rest, as regards the desirer, since it does not possess that good in every way that it would wish to possess it. Consequently, after the body has been resumed, happiness increases not in intensity, but in extent. Ad sextum dicendum quod id quod ibidem dicitur, quod spiritus defunctorum non sic vident Deum sicut Angeli, non est intelligendum secundum inaequalitatem quantitatis, quia etiam modo aliquae animae beatorum sunt assumptae ad superiores ordines Angelorum, clarius videntes Deum quam inferiores Angeli. Sed intelligitur secundum inaequalitatem proportionis, quia Angeli, etiam infimi, habent omnem perfectionem beatitudinis quam sunt habituri, non autem animae separatae sanctorum. Reply Obj. 6: The statement made (Gen ad lit. xii, 35) to the effect that the souls of the departed see not God as the angels do, is not to be understood as referring to inequality of quantity; because even now some souls of the Blessed are raised to the higher orders of the angels, thus seeing God more clearly than the lower angels. But it refers to inequality of proportion: because the angels, even the lowest, have every perfection of happiness that they ever will have, whereas the separated souls of the saints have not. Articulus 6 Article 6 Utrum perfectio corporis requiratur ad beatitudinem hominis perfectam Whether perfection of the body is necessary for happiness? Ad sextum sic proceditur. Videtur quod perfectio corporis non requiratur ad beatitudinem hominis perfectam. Perfectio enim corporis est quoddam corporale bonum. Sed supra ostensum est quod beatitudo non consistit in corporalibus bonis. Ergo ad beatitudinem hominis non requiritur aliqua perfecta dispositio corporis. Objection 1: It would seem that perfection of the body is not necessary for man’s perfect happiness. For perfection of the body is a bodily good. But it has been shown above (Q2) that happiness does not consist in bodily goods. Therefore no perfect disposition of the body is necessary for man’s happiness. Praeterea, beatitudo hominis consistit in visione divinae essentiae, ut ostensum est. Sed ad hanc operationem nihil exhibet corpus, ut dictum est. Ergo nulla dispositio corporis requiritur ad beatitudinem. Obj. 2: Further, man’s happiness consists in the vision of the Divine Essence, as shown above (Q3, A8). But the body has no part in this operation, as shown above (A5). Therefore no disposition of the body is necessary for happiness. Praeterea, quanto intellectus est magis abstractus a corpore, tanto perfectius intelligit. Sed beatitudo consistit in perfectissima operatione intellectus. Ergo oportet omnibus modis animam esse abstractam a corpore. Nullo ergo modo requiritur aliqua dispositio corporis ad beatitudinem. Obj. 3: Further, the more the intellect is abstracted from the body, the more perfectly it understands. But happiness consists in the most perfect operation of the intellect. Therefore the soul should be abstracted from the body in every way. Therefore, in no way is a disposition of the body necessary for happiness. Sed contra, praemium virtutis est beatitudo, unde dicitur Ioan. XIII, beati eritis, si feceritis ea. Sed sanctis repromittitur pro praemio non solum visio Dei et delectatio, sed etiam corporis bona dispositio, dicitur enim Isaiae ult., videbitis, et gaudebit cor vestrum, et ossa vestra quasi herba germinabunt. Ergo bona dispositio corporis requiritur ad beatitudinem. On the contrary, Happiness is the reward of virtue; wherefore it is written (John 13:17): You shall be blessed, if you do them. But the reward promised to the saints is not only that they shall see and enjoy God, but also that their bodies shall be well-disposed; for it is written (Isa 66:14): You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like a herb. Therefore good disposition of the body is necessary for happiness. Respondeo dicendum quod, si loquamur de beatitudine hominis qualis in hac vita potest haberi, manifestum est quod ad eam ex necessitate requiritur bona dispositio corporis. Consistit enim haec beatitudo, secundum philosophum, in operatione virtutis perfectae. Manifestum est autem quod per invaletudinem corporis, in omni operatione virtutis homo impediri potest. I answer that, If we speak of that happiness which man can acquire in this life, it is evident that a well-disposed body is of necessity required for it. For this happiness consists, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. i, 13) in an operation according to perfect virtue; and it is clear that man can be hindered, by indisposition of the body, from every operation of virtue. Sed si loquamur de beatitudine perfecta, sic quidam posuerunt quod non requiritur ad beatitudinem aliqua corporis dispositio, immo requiritur ad eam ut omnino anima sit a corpore separata. Unde Augustinus, XXII de Civ. Dei, introducit verba Porphyrii dicentis quod ad hoc quod beata sit anima, omne corpus fugiendum est. Sed hoc est inconveniens. Cum enim naturale sit animae corpori uniri, non potest esse quod perfectio animae naturalem eius perfectionem excludat. But speaking of perfect happiness, some have maintained that no disposition of body is necessary for happiness; indeed, that it is necessary for the soul to be entirely separated from the body. Hence Augustine (De Civ. Dei xxii, 26) quotes the words of Porphyry who said that for the soul to be happy, it must be severed from everything corporeal. But this is unreasonable. For since it is natural to the soul to be united to the body; it is not possible for the perfection of the soul to exclude its natural perfection. Et ideo dicendum est quod ad beatitudinem omnibus modis perfectam, requiritur perfecta dispositio corporis et antecedenter et consequenter. Antecedenter quidem, quia, ut Augustinus dicit XII super Gen. ad Litt., si tale sit corpus, cuius sit difficilis et gravis administratio, sicut caro quae corrumpitur et aggravat animam, avertitur mens ab illa visione summi caeli. Unde concludit quod, cum hoc corpus iam non erit animale, sed spirituale, tunc Angelis adaequabitur, et erit ei ad gloriam, quod sarcinae fuit. Consequenter vero, quia ex beatitudine animae fiet redundantia ad corpus, ut et ipsum sua perfectione potiatur. Unde Augustinus dicit, in Epist. ad Dioscorum, tam potenti natura Deus fecit animam, ut ex eius plenissima beatitudine redundet in inferiorem naturam incorruptionis vigor. Consequently, we must say that perfect disposition of the body is necessary, both antecedently and consequently, for that happiness which is in all ways perfect. Antecedently, because, as Augustine says (Gen ad lit. xii, 35), if body be such, that the governance thereof is difficult and burdensome, like unto flesh which is corruptible and weighs upon the soul, the mind is turned away from that vision of the highest heaven. Whence he concludes that, when this body will no longer be ‘natural,’ but ‘spiritual,’ then will it be equalled to the angels, and that will be its glory, which erstwhile was its burden. Consequently, because from the happiness of the soul there will be an overflow on to the body, so that this too will obtain its perfection. Hence Augustine says (Ep. ad Dioscor.) that God gave the soul such a powerful nature that from its exceeding fullness of happiness the vigor of incorruption overflows into the lower nature. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod in corporali bono non consistit beatitudo sicut in obiecto beatitudinis, sed corporale bonum potest facere ad aliquem beatitudinis decorem vel perfectionem. Reply Obj. 1: Happiness does not consist in bodily good as its object: but bodily good can add a certain charm and perfection to happiness. Ad secundum dicendum quod, etsi corpus nihil conferat ad illam operationem intellectus qua Dei essentia videtur, tamen posset ab hac impedire. Et ideo requiritur perfectio corporis, ut non impediat elevationem mentis. Reply Obj. 2: Although the body has no part in that operation of the intellect whereby the Essence of God is seen, yet it might prove a hindrance thereto. Consequently, perfection of the body is necessary, lest it hinder the mind from being lifted up. Ad tertium dicendum quod ad perfectam operationem intellectus requiritur quidem abstractio ab hoc corruptibili corpore, quod aggravat animam, non autem a corpore spirituali, quod erit totaliter spiritui subiectum, de quo in tertia parte huius operis dicetur. Reply Obj. 3: The perfect operation of the intellect requires indeed that the intellect be abstracted from this corruptible body which weighs upon the soul; but not from the spiritual body, which will be wholly subject to the spirit. On this point we shall treat in the Third Part of this work (SS, Q82, seqq.). Articulus 7 Article 7 Utrum ad beatitudinem requirantur exteriora bona Whether any external goods are necessary for happiness? Ad septimum sic proceditur. Videtur quod ad beatitudinem requirantur etiam exteriora bona. Quod enim in praemium sanctis promittitur, ad beatitudinem pertinet. Sed sanctis repromittuntur exteriora bona, sicut cibus et potus, divitiae et regnum, dicitur enim Luc. XXII, ut edatis et bibatis super mensam meam in regno meo; et Matth. VI, thesaurizate vobis thesauros in caelo; et Matth. XXV, venite, benedicti patris mei, possidete regnum. Ergo ad beatitudinem requiruntur exteriora bona. Objection 1: It would seem that external goods also are necessary for happiness. For that which is promised the saints for reward, belongs to happiness. But external goods are promised the saints; for instance, food and drink, wealth and a kingdom: for it is said (Luke 22:30): That you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom: and (Matt 6:20): Lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: and (Matt 25:34): Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom. Therefore external goods are necessary for happiness. Praeterea, secundum Boetium, in III de Consol., beatitudo est status omnium bonorum aggregatione perfectus. Sed exteriora sunt aliqua hominis bona, licet minima, ut Augustinus dicit. Ergo ipsa etiam requiruntur ad beatitudinem. Obj. 2: Further, according to Boethius (De Consol. iii): happiness is a state made perfect by the aggregate of all good things. But some of man’s goods are external, although they be of least account, as Augustine says (De Lib. Arb. ii, 19). Therefore they too are necessary for happiness. Praeterea, dominus, Matth. V, dicit, merces vestra multa est in caelis. Sed esse in caelis significat esse in loco. Ergo saltem locus exterior requiritur ad beatitudinem. Obj. 3: Further, Our Lord said (Matt 5:12): Your reward is very great in heaven. But to be in heaven implies being in a place. Therefore at least external place is necessary for happiness. Sed contra est quod dicitur in Psalmo LXXII, quid enim mihi est in caelo? Et a te quid volui super terram? Quasi dicat, nihil aliud volo nisi hoc quod sequitur, mihi adhaerere Deo bonum est. Ergo nihil aliud exterius ad beatitudinem requiritur. On the contrary, It is written (Ps 72:25): For what have I in heaven? and besides Thee what do I desire upon earth? As though to say: I desire nothing but this,—It is good for me to adhere to my God. Therefore nothing further external is necessary for happiness. Respondeo dicendum quod ad beatitudinem imperfectam, qualis in hac vita potest haberi, requiruntur exteriora bona, non quasi de essentia beatitudinis existentia, sed quasi instrumentaliter deservientia beatitudini, quae consistit in operatione virtutis, ut dicitur in I Ethic. Indiget enim homo in hac vita necessariis corporis tam ad operationem virtutis contemplativae quam etiam ad operationem virtutis activae, ad quam etiam plura alia requiruntur, quibus exerceat opera activae virtutis. I answer that, For imperfect happiness, such as can be had in this life, external goods are necessary, not as belonging to the essence of happiness, but by serving as instruments to happiness, which consists in an operation of virtue, as stated in Ethic. i, 13. For man needs in this life, the necessaries of the body, both for the operation of contemplative virtue, and for the operation of active virtue, for which latter he needs also many other things by means of which to perform its operations. Sed ad beatitudinem perfectam, quae in visione Dei consistit, nullo modo huiusmodi bona requiruntur. Cuius ratio est quia omnia huiusmodi bona exteriora vel requiruntur ad sustentationem animalis corporis; vel requiruntur ad aliquas operationes quas per animale corpus exercemus, quae humanae vitae conveniunt. Illa autem perfecta beatitudo quae in visione Dei consistit, vel erit in anima sine corpore; vel erit in anima corpori unita non iam animali, sed spirituali. Et ideo nullo modo huiusmodi exteriora bona requiruntur ad illam beatitudinem, cum ordinentur ad vitam animalem. Et quia in hac vita magis accedit ad similitudinem illius perfectae beatitudinis felicitas contemplativa quam activa, utpote etiam Deo similior, ut ex dictis patet; ideo minus indiget huiusmodi bonis corporis, ut dicitur in X Ethic. On the other hand, such goods as these are nowise necessary for perfect happiness, which consists in seeing God. The reason of this is that all suchlike external goods are requisite either for the support of the animal body; or for certain operations which belong to human life, which we perform by means of the animal body: whereas that perfect happiness which consists in seeing God, will be either in the soul separated from the body, or in the soul united to the body then no longer animal but spiritual. Consequently these external goods are nowise necessary for that happiness, since they are ordained to the animal life. And since, in this life, the felicity of contemplation, as being more Godlike, approaches nearer than that of action to the likeness of that perfect happiness, therefore it stands in less need of these goods of the body as stated in Ethic. x, 8. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod omnes illae corporales promissiones quae in sacra Scriptura continentur, sunt metaphorice intelligendae, secundum quod in Scripturis solent spiritualia per corporalia designari, ut ex his quae novimus, ad desiderandum incognita consurgamus, sicut Gregorius dicit in quadam homilia. Sicut per cibum et potum intelligitur delectatio beatitudinis; per divitias, sufficientia qua homini sufficiet Deus; per regnum, exaltatio hominis usque ad coniunctionem cum Deo. Reply Obj. 1: All those material promises contained in Holy Scripture, are to be understood metaphorically, inasmuch as Scripture is wont to express spiritual things under the form of things corporeal, in order that from things we know, we may rise to the desire of things unknown, as Gregory says (Hom. xi in Evang.). Thus food and drink signify the delight of happiness; wealth, the sufficiency of God for man; the kingdom, the lifting up of man to union of God. Ad secundum dicendum quod bona ista deservientia animali vitae, non competunt vitae spirituali in qua beatitudo perfecta consistit. Et tamen erit in illa beatitudine omnium bonorum congregatio, quia quidquid boni invenitur in istis, totum habebitur in summo fonte bonorum. Reply Obj. 2: These goods that serve for the animal life, are incompatible with that spiritual life wherein perfect happiness consists. Nevertheless in that happiness there will be the aggregate of all good things, because whatever good there be in these things, we shall possess it all in the Supreme Fount of goodness. Ad tertium dicendum quod, secundum Augustinum in libro de Serm. Dom. in monte, merces sanctorum non dicitur esse in corporeis caelis, sed per caelos intelligitur altitudo spiritualium bonorum. Nihilominus tamen locus corporeus, scilicet caelum Empyreum, aderit beatis, non propter necessitatem beatitudinis, sed secundum quandam congruentiam et decorem. Reply Obj. 3: According to Augustine (De Serm. Dom. in Monte i, 5), it is not material heaven that is described as the reward of the saints, but a heaven raised on the height of spiritual goods. Nevertheless a bodily place, viz., the empyrean heaven, will be appointed to the Blessed, not as a need of happiness, but by reason of a certain fitness and adornment. Articulus 8 Article 8 Utrum amici sint necessarii ad beatitudinem Whether the fellowship of friends is necessary for happiness? Ad octavum sic proceditur. Videtur quod amici sint necessarii ad beatitudinem. Futura enim beatitudo in Scripturis frequenter nomine gloriae designatur. Sed gloria consistit in hoc quod bonum hominis ad notitiam multorum deducitur. Ergo ad beatitudinem requiritur societas amicorum. Objection 1: It would seem that friends are necessary for happiness. For future happiness is frequently designated by Scripture under the name of glory. But glory consists in man’s good being brought to the notice of many. Therefore the fellowship of friends is necessary for happiness. Praeterea, Boetius dicit quod nullius boni sine consortio iucunda est possessio. Sed ad beatitudinem requiritur delectatio. Ergo etiam requiritur societas amicorum. Obj. 2: Further, Boethius says that there is no delight in possessing any good whatever, without someone to share it with us. But delight is necessary for happiness. Therefore fellowship of friends is also necessary. Praeterea, caritas in beatitudine perficitur. Sed caritas se extendit ad dilectionem Dei et proximi. Ergo videtur quod ad beatitudinem requiratur societas amicorum. Obj. 3: Further, charity is perfected in happiness. But charity includes the love of God and of our neighbor. Therefore it seems that fellowship of friends is necessary for happiness. Sed contra est quod dicitur Sap. VII, venerunt mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, scilicet cum divina sapientia, quae consistit in contemplatione Dei. Et sic ad beatitudinem nihil aliud requiritur. On the contrary, It is written (Wis 7:11): All good things came to me together with her, i.e., with divine wisdom, which consists in contemplating God. Consequently nothing else is necessary for happiness. Respondeo dicendum quod, si loquamur de felicitate praesentis vitae, sicut philosophus dicit in IX Ethic., felix indiget amicis, non quidem propter utilitatem, cum sit sibi sufficiens; nec propter delectationem, quia habet in seipso delectationem perfectam in operatione virtutis; sed propter bonam operationem, ut scilicet eis benefaciat, et ut eos inspiciens benefacere delectetur, et ut etiam ab eis in benefaciendo adiuvetur. Indiget enim homo ad bene operandum auxilio amicorum, tam in operibus vitae activae, quam in operibus vitae contemplativae. I answer that, If we speak of the happiness of this life, the happy man needs friends, as the Philosopher says (Ethic. ix, 9), not, indeed, to make use of them, since he suffices himself; nor to delight in them, since he possesses perfect delight in the operation of virtue; but for the purpose of a good operation, viz., that he may do good to them; that he may delight in seeing them do good; and again that he may be helped by them in his good work. For in order that man may do well, whether in the works of the active life, or in those of the contemplative life, he needs the fellowship of friends.