Article I. On the Temptation of God

(St. Thomas, II-II, q. 97; St. Alphonsus, Theologia Moralis, lib. III, nn. 29-32; Homo Apostolicus, tr. 4, n. 38.)

I. Notion. The temptation of God is an act by which someone makes trial of God, for example by asking for a miracle in order to test whether God is omnipotent.

II. Division. The temptation of God is distinguished into properly so called and less properly so called.

Properly so called occurs when someone, doubting or distrusting some perfection of God, asks something from God or does something for this end, that he may test whether God possesses that perfection. Less properly so called has place when someone, without doubt about some divine perfection, either a) inordinately asks (or expects) a manifestation of the divine will or perfection, resting in it; as if someone asks for a miracle so that he may be a witness of an extraordinary fact of this kind; or b) inordinately or rashly asks (or expects) something from God, yet not in order to test some divine perfection, nor to obtain a manifestation of the divine will or perfection as such; as if a sick person, neglecting medicines, asks for health (cf. St. Thomas, II-II, q. 97; St. Alphonsus, III, 29).¹

¹ Others distinguish the temptation of God into formal and interpretative. They call it formal when someone explicitly intends to test some divine perfection. They call it interpretative when someone, although he does not explicitly intend that, nevertheless proceeds in such a way that the act must be reduced to an exploration of a divine perfection. Yet not all agree in explaining these things.

III. Morality. The malice of the temptation of God consists in an injurious manner of treating God. Namely, one deals with God as though he were a performer who, without reason, manifests his perfections and wills, or as though, when the ordinary means of obtaining something from him have been neglected, he nevertheless bestows it. Moreover:

1. The temptation of God properly so called is a grave sin from its whole genus. For it is grave irreverence to ask or expect something from God with the mind of testing his perfection. There is added a sin against faith (St. Alphonsus, III, 30).

2. The temptation of God less properly so called is a grave sin from its genus, that is, grave or light according as someone inordinately asks or expects a miraculous or non-miraculous effect of the divine will or perfection (St. Alphonsus, loc. cit.). The former had place in ordeals, as they are called, which consisted in this: that in a criminal case a request was made of God that he declare the accused either innocent or guilty through a trial of fire or water or through similar experiments. The latter would happen if someone seized by a lighter illness, neglecting every means, asked health from God. Besides, the temptation of God, objectively mortal, not at all rarely is venial because of inconsideration, simplicity, etc. (St. Alphonsus, III, 30).

Corollary. "One sins who absolutely asks from God, or offers, a miracle for the conversion of heretics, since the testimonies of our faith suffice... But if at some time there is a very firm hope of conversion, then a miracle will be able to be asked from God under the condition, if it pleases him" (St. Alphonsus, III, 31).