Doubt — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Doubt I: Whether knowledge is a gift of the Holy Ghost
The holy Doctor asserts that Science is a Gift of the Holy Spirit. He shows this from what was said above, and it is evident from that Wisdom 10: The Lord led the just, etc. he gave him the science of holy things. Hence also he infers that science is an infused habit, in which man has judgment concerning his actions, so that he may in no way stray from it, but whatever he judges is to be done, he may order to be done promptly and expeditiously. For as Understanding does two things concerning truths, perceiving them, and directing the will, while it obeys them, so our mind, irradiated by the gift of Science, first, receives the supernal truths; second, it discerns without error how they are to be observed in practice.
An SCIENTIA sit donum Spiritus Sancti.
Asserit S. Doctor, Scientiam esse Donum Spiritus Sancti. Hoc ostendit ex dictis supra, et patet ex illo Sapient. 10. Iustum deduxit Dominus, etc. dedit illi scientiam Sanctorum. Hinc etiam infert, scientiam esse habitum infusum, in quo homo habeat illud circa agenda iudicium, ut in nullo deviet, sed prompte, et expedite, quicquid agendum iudicet, agi iubeat. Nam sicut Intellectus duo circa veritates cognoscit, eas percipiendo, et voluntatem, dum eis obsequitur, dirigendo. Ita mens nostra, dono Scientiae irradiata, primo supernas veritates Capit; secundo, quomodo in praxi observentur, absque errore discernit.
Since, moreover, man is blind with respect to supernatural things by his own light, he cannot proceed safely among so many precepts unless a certain light shine upon him from above, joining what is to be done to what is to be believed, whence through this gift the actions of man are resolved to the articles of faith as to their principles, which only the Holy Spirit can accomplish in man.
Cvm enim homo ad res supernaturales proprio lumine caecutiat, non possit inter tot praecepta tuto procedere, nisi desuper ipsi illuceat quaedam lux, componens cum credendis agenda, unde per hoc donum hominis actiones resolvuntur ad fidei articulos, tanquam ad sua principia, quod solus Spiritus Sanctus in homine praestare potest.
And in order that this science be distinguished from the other, which is acquired by one's proper powers, the holy Doctor relates the description and distinction of both; first, indeed, from St. Bernard upon the Canticles: There is a certain secular science, secular, which inebriates not with Charity, but with curiosity; it fills, but does not nourish; it puffs up, and does not build up; it swells, and does not strengthen. Second, from St. August. lib. 14. de Trinit. cap. 1.: There is a Science which is not of vain things, nor of curious ones, but is begotten concerning those things upon which the most salubrious faith leads to true beatitude, is nourished, etc., and this the Seraphic Doctor concludes to be the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Ut autem discernatur haec scientia ab alia, quae propriis viribus acquiritur, refert S. Doctor descriptionem, et discretionem utriusque, et primo quidem e D. Bernardo super Cantica: Scientia quaedam est saecularis, saecularis, quae inebriat non Charitate, sed curiositate, implet sed non nutrit; inflat, et non aedificat, ingurgitat, et non confortat. Secundo e D. August. lib. 14. de Trinit. cap. 1. Est Scientia, quae non est rerum vanarum, nec curiosarum, sed de his, quibus fides saluberrima, quae ad veram beatitudinem ducit, gignitur, nutritur, etc. et hanc concludit Seraphicus esse donum Spiritus Sancti.