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State of the question. The difficulties at the beginning of this
article show clearly the purpose of this question. It seems that the
union did not take place by grace, because grace is an accident
inhering in the soul of everyone in the state of grace; whereas the
hypostatic union is substantial, as stated above, and belongs
exclusively to Christ.
Reply. This union did not take place by created grace, which is an
accident, and an habitual gift inhering in the soul, but it took place
by uncreated grace, which is the gratuitous will of God doing
something without any preceding merits on the part of the beneficiary of
the gift.
First part. It is evident, because this union is substantial, and
not accidental.
Second part. It is also evident, because this union infinitely
transcends the faculty and exigencies of created nature, even the
angelic.[624]
In this article St. Thomas does not speak of a substantial mode that
would be present between the Word that assumes and the humanity that is
assumed.
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