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State of the question. It is asked whether this
proposition is true in its strict sense. We note that the
Greeks considered the Filioque a serious objection
against the Latins, understanding that the Latins
implied that there were two principles of the Holy
Ghost.
Reply. The reply is in the affirmative; there is but
one principle. This is proved by the authority of St.
Augustine: "We must confess that the Father and the
Son are not two principles but one principle of the Holy
Ghost."[467] This doctrine is also supported by
St. Basil[468] and St. Ambrose,[469] and
was proclaimed in the Councils of Lyons[470] and
Florence.[471]
The theological reason given in the body of the article is
as follows: the Father and the Son are one in all things
in which they are not distinguished by opposition of
relation. But in their being the principle of the Holy
Ghost they are not relatively opposed.
In explanation of this reasoning we point out that in
order to multiply a substantive name, like God, or man,
which denotes a form with an accompanying suppositum, both
the form and the suppositum must be multiplied. Hence we
cannot say "several gods." On the other hand, for the
multiplication of an adjective, like divine and white,
which does not denote a form with the accompanying
suppositum but only as something attached to the
suppositum, it is not required that the form be
multiplied; only the suppositum need be multiplied, and
thus we say not "three gods, " but "three divine
beings." But the term, principle of the Holy Ghost,
like spirator, is a substantive name. Therefore there is
one principle and one spirator, but two spirating beings
(the adjective form), as St. Thomas explains in his
reply to the first difficulty. Thus, according to a
rather remote analogy, when the Holy Ghost Himself
"asketh for us with unspeakable groanings, "[472]
there is but one prayer and two who ask: the inspirer and
the other inspired. In inquiring how operating grace is
distinguished from cooperating grace, St. Thomas
explains[473] that under operating grace the soul is
moved and not moving, no matter how vitally, freely, or
meritoriously it consents to the special inspiration of the
Holy Ghost. Such are the acts of the gifts of the Holy
Ghost and here the effect is attributed to the one who
moves, namely, God who inspires us. Thus St. Paul
says, "The Spirit Himself asketh for us."[474]
Doubt. What is the suppositum for the spirator or
principle of the Holy Ghost?
Reply. This term "spirator" has for its suppositum two
persons taken together, as when we say that the father and
mother are the principle of the son. The adequate
principle is the father and mother taken together, and in
this sense we understand the proposition; man generates
man. The father alone is the inadequate principle.
Proportionally this is true in the present question.
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