A cheer for Lombard

In contrast to later Scholasticism, Peter Lombard argued that the grace given to the soul was not merely a gift from God but God’s gift of Himself.  He refuted those who thought that “the Holy Spirit, God Himself, is not given, but His gifts, which are not the Spirit Himself.  And as they say, the Holy Spirit is said to be given, when His grace, which, however, is not Himself, is given to men.”

He quoted Augustine, who wrote, “He himself is, therefore, the One who has been given from Heaven on Pentecost Day.  In what manner, therefore, is God not the one who gives the Holy Spirit?  Nay how much is God the one who gives God?”  Lombard adds, “Behold with these words [Augustine] openly says that the Holy Spirit, that is God Himself, is given to men by the Father and the Son.”