Question XIV: Whether charity can be diminished

The holy Doctor answers, Charity is diminished as to fervor. And although by venial sin one disposes oneself to the ruin of Charity; yet God does not on that demerit, congruously, diminish charity; just as he increases it from the disposition of good acts, because God is more prone to show mercy than to punish. Hence the following objection is solved.

You object secondly. As man advances while profiting, so he falls back; but by progress Charity is increased: Therefore while he falls back, it is diminished.

The holy Doctor answers, from what has been said, that man in falling back is only weakened as to fervor, because Charity is not destroyed except by the mortal contrary; while he profits, he ascends as to the degrees of Charity meritoriously. Moreover God is more prone to bestow graces than to inflict punishments.

You object thirdly. That which is the cause of its own weakening in the term is the cause of diminution in the way; but the will in aversion is the cause of the destruction of Charity: Therefore also in disposition it is the cause of diminution.

The holy Doctor answers, by denying the Major: for a substantial form is destroyed only in the term, and no part of it in the time of the dispositions.

He answers secondly, that the Major is true when the disposition and the term are of the same rational character; but in our case the term is mortal sin; the disposition, however, is venial.

He answers thirdly, that Charity depends on the Divine influence and acceptance; and thus God increases it, accepting the works; nor does he impute venial sins to this penalty.

You object fourthly. Opposites naturally come to be about the same thing; but charity is increased: Therefore it is also diminished.

The holy Doctor answers, granting the Major, unless one be present by nature and the other not: increase is in Charity by nature, with the acceptance of God added; but diminution comes only from our own will: Therefore.

You object fifthly. Things that are separable can be separated; but the first degrees of Charity were without the degrees added by increase: Therefore.

The holy Doctor answers, that there is nothing to separate them, and therefore they cannot be separated; for neither can we do it, who do not physically influence the habit of Charity; nor yet God, who does not influence it except to destruction, and indeed with man first turning himself away.