Grace is thus the basis for a distinct set of supernatural or theological virtues.
Whereas the moral virtues are based on reason in the soul, the supernatural
virtues are based on sanctifying grace, which is a created supernatural form
in the soul. One does have to be a Christian to have the three supernatural
theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. Faith means speci¿ cally faith
in Christ. Hope means speci¿ cally hope for eternal life in Christ. Charity
means loving God with your whole heart and your neighbor as yourself.
In addition to making supernatural virtues possible, sanctifying grace
strengthens the moral virtues, such as prudence, justice, courage, and
temperance. Sanctifying grace in itself is gratia gratum faciens, a grace that
makes a person acceptable to God.
Created supernatural grace is important at three stages of human existence.
In the beginning, as “original righteousness,” it was the supernatural gift of
righteousness that maintained the soul of Adam and Eve in sinless innocence
before it was lost in the Fall. In the course of the Christian life, this grace
is the basis of the three theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity.
Ultimately, as the “light of glory,” it is the supernatural elevation of human
nature that makes the beati¿ c vision possible. Ŷ
Aquinas, Summa Theologica I, Question 13 (on analogy), found in
Pegis’s Introduction to Thomas Aquinas as well as the complete edition of
Summa Theologica.
———, Summa Theologica I–II (“First Part of the Second Part”),
Question 110 (on grace as habit) found only in the complete edition of
Summa Theologica.
Davies, The Thought of Thomas Aquinas, chaps. 3, 4, 13, and 14.
Pieper, Guide to Thomas Aquinas.
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