Question XIII: Whether, and how, charity in this life is perfect

IT IS CERTAIN, as the holy Doctor says dist. 17, last question, that there are some perfect in Charity, even in the wayfaring state. That perfection is twofold, as D. Bonaventure teaches 3. dist. 30, question 2. One is of necessity, which excludes mortal sin, by observing the law: the other of supererogation, of which Matth. 19. If thou wilt be perfect, go, etc. But the perfection of this life is that in Charity of which the latter speaks, Ioan. 3, not one that excludes even venial sins; for this is the perfection of the fatherland, while this other is that of the way, of Christ, and of his sweetest mother, as S. Bonaventure indicates loco cit. and the Council of Milevis defines cap. 6, 7, and 8. and the Council of Trent session 6, cap. 11 and can. 13. Hence D. Augustine Lib. 1. de doct. Christ. cap. 39. concludes that there is no perfection in the way equal to the perfection of some blessed soul. Therefore in this life there is perfect charity, as D. Augustine says above, and D. Bernard serm. 2. de S. Michaële, when, the passions having been tamed, the soul is found expedite for the acts of the virtues. The Charity of the way is divided into the Charity of Beginners, of the Proficient, and of the Perfect. See D. Thom. art. 8.

IT IS PROVED by D. Bonaventure primo, dist. 27. part. 2. quaest. 2. Forms are intensified by approach to their term and by the removal of the admixture of the contrary, from Aristotle 3. Top. cap. 4. and 3. Phys. text 19. but as concupiscence diminishes, Charity in the way is increased and perfected, from D. Augustine Lib. 83. qq. question 36. and in Enchir. last chapter; which is 121. For the fervor of Charity is intensified, which leads to perfection, although the degrees of Charity themselves would also be increased even if concupiscence were not present, as is evident in the Angels, and in Adam innocent, in whom Charity would have been increased confess. cap. 29. He loves thee less who loves something with thee which he does not love for thy sake.

[Page 104 of the 1676 edition is missing from the only scan of this volume available to us, and therefore from this text. It held the end of Question XIII and the heading and beginning of Question XIV; the heading is supplied from the printed index.]