Whether a Character Is a Spiritual Power?
Objection 1: It seems that a character is not a spiritual power. For
"character" seems to be the same thing as "figure"; hence (Heb. 1:3),
where we read "figure of His substance," for "figure" the Greek has
_charakter_. Now "figure" is in the fourth species of quality, and
thus differs from power which is in the second species. Therefore
character is not a spiritual power.
Obj. 2: Further, Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. ii): "The Divine
Beatitude admits him that seeks happiness to a share in Itself, and
grants this share to him by conferring on him Its light as a kind of
seal." Consequently, it seems that a character is a kind of light.
Now light belongs rather to the third species of quality. Therefore a
character is not a power, since this seems to belong to the second
species.
Obj. 3: Further, character is defined by some thus: "A character is a
holy sign of the communion of faith and of the holy ordination
conferred by a hierarch." Now a sign is in the genus of _relation,_
not of _power._ Therefore a character is not a spiritual power.
Obj. 4: Further, a power is in the nature of a cause and principle
(Metaph. v). But a _sign_ which is set down in the definition of a
character is rather in the nature of an effect. Therefore a character
is not a spiritual power.
_On the contrary,_ The Philosopher says (Ethic. ii): "There are three
things in the soul, power, habit, and passion." Now a character is
not a passion: since a passion passes quickly, whereas a character is
indelible, as will be made clear further on (A. 5). In like manner it
is not a habit: because no habit is indifferent to acting well or
ill: whereas a character is indifferent to either, since some use it
well, some ill. Now this cannot occur with a habit: because no one
abuses a habit of virtue, or uses well an evil habit. It remains,
therefore, that a character is a power.
_I answer that,_ As stated above (A. 1), the sacraments of the New
Law produce a character, in so far as by them we are deputed to the
worship of God according to the rite of the Christian religion.
Wherefore Dionysius (Eccl. Hier. ii), after saying that God "by a
kind of sign grants a share of Himself to those that approach Him,"
adds "by making them Godlike and communicators of Divine gifts." Now
the worship of God consists either in receiving Divine gifts, or in
bestowing them on others. And for both these purposes some power is
needed; for to bestow something on others, active power is necessary;
and in order to receive, we need a passive power. Consequently, a
character signifies a certain spiritual power ordained unto things
pertaining to the Divine worship.
But it must be observed that this spiritual power is instrumental: as
we have stated above (Q. 62, A. 4) of the virtue which is in the
sacraments. For to have a sacramental character belongs to God's
ministers: and a minister is a kind of instrument, as the Philosopher
says (Polit. i). Consequently, just as the virtue which is in the
sacraments is not of itself in a genus, but is reducible to a genus,
for the reason that it is of a transitory and incomplete nature: so
also a character is not properly in a genus or species, but is
reducible to the second species of quality.
Reply Obj. 1: Configuration is a certain boundary of quantity.
Wherefore, properly speaking, it is only in corporeal things; and of
spiritual things is said metaphorically. Now that which decides the
genus or species of a thing must needs be predicated of it properly.
Consequently, a character cannot be in the fourth species of quality,
although some have held this to be the case.
Reply Obj. 2: The third species of quality contains only sensible
passions or sensible qualities. Now a character is not a sensible
light. Consequently, it is not in the third species of quality as
some have maintained.
Reply Obj. 3: The relation signified by the word "sign" must needs
have some foundation. Now the relation signified by this sign which
is a character, cannot be founded immediately on the essence of the
soul: because then it would belong to every soul naturally.
Consequently, there must be something in the soul on which such a
relation is founded. And it is in this that a character essentially
consists. Therefore it need not be in the genus "relation" as some
have held.
Reply Obj. 4: A character is in the nature of a sign in comparison to
the sensible sacrament by which it is imprinted. But considered in
itself, it is in the nature of a principle, in the way already
explained.
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