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.”

Next
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Ethics of Rhetoric in Times of War

R. R. Reno

What we say matters. And the way we say it matters. This is especially true in times…

How the State Failed Noelia Castillo

Itxu Díaz

On March 26, Noelia Castillo, a twenty-five-year-old Spanish woman, was killed by her doctors at her own…

The Mind’s Profane and Sacred Loves

Algis Valiunas

The teachers you have make all the difference in your life. That they happened to come into…