Question XXIII: Whether faith is the first of the virtues

The SS. Doctors ASSERT that Faith is the Charioteer of the virtues.

And indeed that it is a virtue I showed in quaest. 21., and he proves it again here: As it is honorable to subject our appetite to the divine goodness, so it is honorable to subject the intellect to the first truth, and to be led captive into the obedience of God speaking; but to captivate the affection to God is a virtue: Therefore. That it is, moreover, as it were the Charioteer of the virtues, S. Doct. proves first. What is necessary directly for freely attaining the highest good has the ratio of the first virtue; such is the voluntary knowledge through faith: Therefore. The MAJOR is evident. The MINOR is proved: for faith directs hope and charity, as the rule showing that good to be desired, awaited, and loved. He builds the same argument in dist. 23. dub. 6. litt. Yet he sets it forth under the ratio of his revealed truth, as I said. It is confirmed by S. Doct.: Without knowledge of the highest good there cannot be direct intention; for that is done with right intention which is done for the honor of God, but without right intention no act of virtue goes forward. Since therefore the habit of faith is that by which the highest good is known by us; hence it is that Faith directs our intention, and by this it is the rule of every good operation, and of every meritorious virtue, and consequently it is the first of the virtues in order, as knowledge precedes the affection. It is proved by this argument also by D. Thom. loc. cit. and Valentia puncto 7.

The argument of D. Bonav. is CONFIRMED from D. Ambrose lib. de Cain, et Abel, cap. 9. where he says: Why do you wonder that he did not acknowledge piety (Cain), who did not acknowledge the Author; and therefore you are taught by this series of Scriptures that faith is the root of all the virtues; whence the Apostle also says: Because our foundation is Christ. Prima Corinth. 3.

From August. lib. de agone, cap. 13. Faith is the first thing that subjugates the soul to God; then the precepts of living.

From S. Prosper lib. de vocat. gent. cap. 8. Faith is the mother of good will, and of good action.

But it can be doubted: whether Faith is ever infused earlier in time than the other virtues.

I ASSERT with D. Bonau. dist. 23. dub. 6. et dist. 22. quaest. 5. et in 4. dist. 14. p. 1. art. 2. quaest. 3., Scotus in 3. dist. 36. q. 4., Capens. disp. 4. sect. 1. n. 12., that Faith is always infused together. So it seems declared in Concil. Tridentino sect. 6. cap. 7. Whereby in the very sanctification, with the remission of sins, man receives these infused together, etc. faith, hope, and charity. It is the common opinion of the ancients, at Lugo disp. 16. sect. 2., against Suarez 3. p. t. 3. disp. 38. sect. 3. et hic disp. 7. sect. 5., Salam t. 2. tom. 2. tract. 11. disp. 5. sect. 3., Valentia quaest. 6. p. 2., Turrianus disp. 41. dub. 9., Granad. tract. 13. disp. 5. num. 9.

Vasquez responds in 3. p. disp. 158. that the particle Simul signifies the same as pariter: or, if it signifies duration, it does not signify the instant of the infusion of habitual grace, but the whole duration of justification, as justification is taken for the series of dispositions from the first aid to the infusion of grace: But the Council says that faith is living, which works through charity. Then thus: Therefore in its infusion it is with charity; for esse is put for operation: But faith from its infusion is operative through charity: Therefore.