Tract VII. On theological faith and the opposed vices

Order of things to be said. Since we have treated of the virtues in general, it is now necessary to treat of the individual virtues in particular. The theological virtues obtain the primacy among all the virtues, as was proved above, n. 467; and therefore one must first treat of the theological virtues. Among the theological virtues in the order of generation (but not in the order of dignity) the first is the virtue of faith; hence first we shall treat of faith, then of hope, and last of charity. After the treatise on the theological virtues, the treatise on the moral virtues will follow.

Cf. St. Thomas, S. theol. 2, 2, q. 1-16; St. Alphonsus, Theol. mor. II 1-19; Lugo, Tract. de fide; Billuart, Tract. de fide; Bouquillon, De virtutibus theol., 1890; Schiffini, De virtut. infusis, 1904; Noldin, De praecept. pars I.; Gopfert, Moraltheol. I, §§ 44-48; Mausbach, Moraltheol. II, §§ 3-11.

We divide the treatise on theological faith into three chapters, namely: 1. on the nature of faith, 2. on the necessity of faith, 3. on the vices opposed to faith.

Faith

Within this treatise

Chapter I. On the nature of theological faithnn. 478–494
- Article I. On the act of theological faithnn. 480–491
  - § 1. On the subject of the act of faithnn. 480–481
  - § 2. On the object of the act of faithnn. 482–486
  - § 3. On the properties of faithnn. 487–491
- Article II. On the virtue of theological faithnn. 492–494
Chapter II. On the necessity of theological faithnn. 495–508
- Article I. On faith necessary by necessity of meansnn. 495–499
  - § 1. On necessary habitual and actual faith itselfnn. 495–498
  - § 2. On the truths necessarily to be believedn. 499
- Article II. On faith necessary by necessity of preceptnn. 500–508
  - § 1. On the internal act of faith by preceptnn. 500–503
  - § 2. On the external profession of faith prescribednn. 504–508
Chapter III. On the vices opposed to faithnn. 509–532
- Article I. On paganism and Judaismnn. 510–511
- Article II. On apostasy from faith and on heresynn. 512–520
- Article III. On dangers of faithnn. 521–532
  - § 1. On communication with unbelievers and hereticsnn. 522–527
  - § 2. On attendance at non-Catholic schoolsnn. 528–529
  - § 3. On the reading of heretical booksn. 530
  - § 4. On marriages entered with heretics and unbelieversnn. 531–532