Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Man has by nature a power to penetrate into the meaningof things and to grasp reality in its essence. This is the naturalpower of mind, intellect, understanding. But man needs more thannatural intellect to understand the end for which he exists and themeans of attaining it. For this, man requires the light of the giftof supernatural understanding.
2. The light of supernatural understanding does not impartscientific knowledge of divine things, so that man ceases to knowthem by faith. By the gift of supernatural understanding man knowsthe mysteries of the faith surely, but imperfectly. He sees thatthese mysteries involve no contradiction, and he assents to theirtruth on God's word; thus he holds these truths by faith.
3. The gift of understanding gives knowledge of the truthsof faith and also of things subordinate to faith, such as humanaction which springs from faith. Hence this gift is not purelyspeculative or theoretical; it is also practicalor directive.
4. Just as the gift of charity, which is the love, grace,and friendship of God, is found in all who are in the state ofsanctifying grace, so also is the gift of supernaturalunderstanding found in them.
5. And, without sanctifying grace, no one has the gift ofsupernatural understanding.
6. The gift of supernatural understanding gives to themind of man the light of faith. In this light, the gift of wisdomenables a person to judge rightly of divine things; the gift ofknowledge makes him capable of right judgment about created things;the gift of counsel equips him to apply the judgments of wisdom andknowledge in individual human acts.
7. The sixth beatitude, "Blessed are the clean ofheart, for theyshall see God," corresponds to the giftof supernatural understanding. For there is a special cleanness inthe mind and heart which, purged of evil phantasms, understands thetruths of faith. Such an understanding sees God in his creatures onearth, and will behold him hereafter in the heavenly vision.
8. The fruit of the Holy Ghost called faith, that is, thecertitude of faith, also corresponds to the gift of spiritualunderstanding.
"A single act of uniformity with the divine will suffices to make a saint."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."
St Augustine
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"To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.
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Thomas á Kempis
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