Article II: On Faith Considered Relatively to the Supernatural Virtues

St. Thomas, II-II, q. 4, a. 5-7; De Verit., q. 14, a. 3 and 7.

719. Faith is a virtue because it is a good habit, not including imperfection: it is good because it always tends to the true; - it does not include imperfection, because for man in the state of the way it is not an imperfection but a perfection to admit on account of the authority of God those things which he cannot know by proper reason (a. 5).

It is one virtue because it has one formal object, for by the same divine authority we admit all revealed things (a. 6).

It is the first supernatural virtue: for the theological virtues, which order us to the supernatural end, precede the infused moral virtues, which order us concerning the means; moreover, relatively to the end, to know it is prior to willing it; but we know the supernatural end through faith, and therefore faith is the first virtue. Nevertheless per accidens the act of some virtue can precede the act of faith, insofar as it removes impediments to believing, as humility removes pride, and fortitude removes worldly fear (a. 7).