Page:Summa Theologica (2nd rev. ed.) - Volume 9.djvu/250

 Q. 19. Art. 12 THE " SUMMAT THEOLOGICAL " 240 A. 2) that the fruits correspond to the beatitudes. Now none of the fruits correspond to the gift of fear. Neither, therefore, does any of the beatitudes. On the contrary, Augustine says [DE Sera. Don. in Monte i. 4) : The fear of the Lord is befitting the humble of whom it is said : Blessed are the poor in spirit. I answer that, Poverty of spirit properly corresponds to fear. Because, since it belongs to filial fear to show ever- enc and submission to God, whatever results from this submission belongs to the gift of fear. Now from the very fact that a man submits to God, it follows that he ceases to seek greatness either in himself or in another but seeks it only in God. For that would be inconsistent with perfect subjection to God, wherefore it is written (Ps. xix. 8): Some trust in chariots and some in horses ; but we will call upon the name of. . . our God. It follows that if a man fear God perfectly, he does not, by pride, seek greatness either in himself or in external goods, viz. honors and riches. In either case this proceeds from poverty of spirit, in so far as the latter denotes either the voiding of a puffed up and proud spirit, according to Augustine's inter- presentation {loc. cit.), or the renunciation of worldly goods which is done in spirit, i.e. by one's own will, through the instigation of the Holy Spirit, according to the expounding of Ambrosia on Luke vi. 20 and Jerome on Math. v. 3. Reply Obj. I. Since a beatitude is an act of perfect virtue, all the beatitudes belong to the perfection of spiritual life. And this perfection seems to require that whoever would strive to obtain a perfect share of spiritual goods, needs to begin by despising earthly goods, wherefore fear holds the first place among the gifts. Perfection, however, does not consist in the renunciation itself of temporal goods; since this is the way to perfection: whereas filial fear, to which the beatitude of poverty corresponds, is consistent with the perfection of wisdom, as stated above (AA. 7, 10). Reply Obj. 2. The undue exaltation of man either in himself or in another is more directly opposed to that submission to God which is the result of filial fear, than is