Question IX: Whether poverty of spirit corresponds to the gift of fear

The BEATITUDES are not habits distinct from the Virtues and the Gifts, but acts elicited from them. By poverty of Spirit, St. Augustine understands humility; because the humble man is not puffed up in Spirit. Ambrose, however, understands the renunciation of temporal things; and in both senses poverty of Spirit is elicited by filial Fear, as Caspensis notes, disp. 2, sect. 4, num. 26, and St. Bonaventure, Part 5, Breviloquium, chapter 6, and Part 3, Centiloquium, sect. 45 and 46, and opuscule on the seven gifts, chapter 3.

IT IS PROVED by the holy Doctor; for unto perfection one must first withdraw from evil, as it is said Psalm 33: Decline from evil, and do good. But from evil one is first deterred by the threats of punishments; then by initial fear, etc., as the Council of Trent also teaches, session 14, chapter 4; and because the root of evils is covetousness, 1 Timothy 6, therefore Fear disposes unto poverty, in which humility is at the same time joined with poverty, so that man may thus be removed far from the fountain of every fault, that is, covetousness, of which I have spoken, and from pride; for the beginning of all sin is pride. See there the holy Doctor speaking most excellently.

IT IS PROVED secondly by the holy Doctor, Book 5 of the Compendium of Theology, chapter 48, from St. Gregory, book 16, Morals, chapter 20: The poor in spirit are the humble, and they that fear God.