point — Vermeersch, On Chastity
I. On Aureoles in General
The notion of an aureole.
154. - Besides the essential joy of heavenly beatitude, it is sufficiently established that accidental rewards also are destined for the saints. For in a good work which, insofar as it is informed by charity, merits an essential reward for those who are joined to God through the beatific vision, there can also be titles to honors and joys which are superadded to the essential reward.
Now an aureole designates an accidental reward of this kind, not just any one, "but that which has a certain prerogative and dignity, just as does the work to which it corresponds" 1.
1 St. Bonaventure, on book 2 of the Sentences, distinction 40, art. 2, q. 3, reply to the last objection.
Therefore the aureole can be described with St. Thomas as: "A privileged reward corresponding to a privileged victory" 2.
2 Supplementum, Part III, q. 96, art. 1.
The mind properly enjoys this reward, but a certain adornment is diffused into the body itself from that joy.
The holy Doctor thinks that the word aureole is so called as though it were a small golden crown, while the golden crown designated the essential reward.
How many kinds of aureoles.
155. - Further, theologians distinguish a threefold aureole: of martyrs, of doctors or preachers, and of virgins.
This doctrine is founded upon the special praises with which martyrdom, the preaching of the word of God, and virginity are treated in Sacred Scripture.
The martyrs indeed give Christ that distinguished testimony of love which He Himself expressed in these words: "Greater love than this no one has, that a man lay down his life for his friends" 3.
3 Gospel of St. John 15:13.
The preachers of the word of God fulfill in a distinguished manner what Christ demanded when He said: "Teach all nations" 4. How highly the apostles regarded the ministry of the word is attested by the election of deacons lest the apostles be drawn away from that ministry 5; by the choice by which Paul preferred the preaching of the Gospel to the duty of baptizing 6; and by the necessity of preaching, affirmed in these words: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" 7.
4 Gospel of St. Matthew 28:19.
We have just seen with what praises virginity is extolled.
By what title it is conferred.
156. - But under what formal title this reward is conferred is not established. Different authors hold different opinions. St. Bonaventure 8 considers there an excellent exercise of the threefold power of the soul. For it is found "according to the rational power, in the preaching of truth leading others to salvation; according to the concupiscible power, through the perpetual integrity of virginal continence; according to the irascible power, in the endurance of death for the honor of Christ."
8 Breviloquium, 7, 7.
St. Thomas 9 detects a special victory in each: the victory which virgins carry off in the battle against the flesh; martyrs in the battle against the world persecuting them even unto death; while "in the battle which is fought against the devil, the principal victory is when someone removes the enemy not only from himself but also from the hearts of others, which is done through doctrine and preaching."
9 Supplementum, Part III, q. 96, art. 11.
Others, and perhaps better, observe in the same works special rationales for imitating Christ, who cultivated virginity and loved it with a principal love; who was a doctor and preacher of truth: "For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth" 10; and who died as the king of martyrs.
10 Gospel of St. John 18:37.
In each there is also demonstrated a special affection toward Christ. Martyrs pour out their life for Christ; preachers dedicate to Christ the active use of their life; virgins reserve their heart, or their affective life, for Christ. That is, more briefly: martyrs consecrate their blood to Christ, preachers their activity, virgins their affection.
The order of the aureoles.
157. - Finally, the aureoles are numbered in this order: first, the aureole of martyrs; second, the aureole of preachers; third, the aureole of virgins.