mariologydogmati00pohl - Carmel Apologetics
mariologydogmati00pohl - Carmel Apologetics
mariologydogmati00pohl - Carmel Apologetics
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MARY'S FULNESS OF GRACE 33<br />
ß) The "fulness of grace" enjoyed by our<br />
Blessed Mother was not complete and perfect at<br />
the outset, but developed gradually, reaching its<br />
climax at the moment of her death.<br />
Unlike her Divine Son, 29 Mary advanced in grace and<br />
virtue. Catholic theologians distinguish three stages in<br />
her spiritual development. The first of these comprises<br />
her infancy up to the time when she conceived our Divine<br />
Lord. The second coincides with the period from the<br />
conception of Christ to her death. The third is the term<br />
of her everlasting beatitude in Heaven. 30<br />
It should be<br />
noted, however, that St. Thomas erred in representing the<br />
perfectio sanctißcationis characteristic of the first stage<br />
as liberatp a culpa originali; it must be defined as<br />
praeservatio a culpa originali, as we shall demonstrate<br />
further on.<br />
Some few theologians hold that Mary attained to perfection<br />
of grace at the end of the first stage, i. e., when<br />
she conceived her Divine Son. But this theory entails<br />
an inadmissible corollary, namely, that she received no<br />
increase of sanctifying grace after the Incarnation,<br />
neither ex opere operato, as during the descent of the<br />
Holy Ghost on Pentecost day, nor ex opere operantis,<br />
e. g., by the merits of her virtuous life. Who would<br />
admit such an incongruity? The honor of our Lady is<br />
not enhanced by untrue, unprovable, and questionable<br />
asseverations, no matter how well-intentioned the zeal<br />
29 Cfr. Pohle-Preuss, Christology, reddebatur idonea ut esset mater<br />
pp. 236 sqq. Christi, et haec fuit perfectio sanc-<br />
30 Cfr. St. Thomas, Summa The- tificationis. Secunda autem per-<br />
ologica, 3a, qu. 27, art. 5, ad. 2: fectio gratiae fuit in beata virgine<br />
" Et similiter in beata virgine est ex praesentia Filii Dei in eius utero<br />
triplex perfectio gratiae: prima qui- incarnati. Tertia autem est perdem<br />
quasi dispositiva, per quam fectio finis, quam habet in gloria."