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Objection 1: It would seem that the Holy Ghost should be called
Christ's father in respect of His humanity. Because, according to
the Philosopher (De Gener. Animal. i): "The Father is the
active principle in generation, the Mother supplies the matter."
But the Blessed Virgin is called Christ's Mother, by reason of
the matter which she supplied in His conception. Therefore it seems
that the Holy Ghost can be called His father, through being the
active principle in His conception.
Objection 2: Further, as the minds of other holy men are fashioned
by the Holy Ghost, so also was Christ's body fashioned by the Holy
Ghost. But other holy men, on account of the aforesaid fashioning,
are called the children of the whole Trinity, and consequently of the
Holy Ghost. Therefore it seems that Christ should be called the
Son of the Holy Ghost, forasmuch as His body was fashioned by the
Holy Ghost.
Objection 3: Further, God is called our Father by reason of His
having made us, according to Dt. 32:6: "Is not He thy
Father, that hath possessed thee, and made thee and created thee?"
But the Holy Ghost made Christ's body, as stated above (Articles
1,2). Therefore the Holy Ghost should be called Christ's
Father in respect of the body fashioned by Him.
On the contrary, Augustine says (Enchiridion xl): "Christ was
born of the Holy Ghost not as a Son, and of the Virgin Mary as a
Son."
I answer that, The words "fatherhood," "motherhood," and
"sonship," result from generation; yet not from any generation, but
from that of living things, especially animals. For we do not say
that fire generated is the son of the fire generating it, except,
perhaps, metaphorically; we speak thus only of animals in whom
generation is more perfect. Nevertheless, the word "son" is not
applied to everything generated in animals, but only to that which is
generated into likeness of the generator. Wherefore, as Augustine
says (Enchiridion xxxix), we do not say that a hair which is
generated in a man is his son; nor do we say that a man who is born is
the son of the seed; for neither is the hair like the man nor is the
man born like the seed, but like the man who begot him. And if the
likeness be perfect, the sonship is perfect, whether in God or in
man. But if the likeness be imperfect, the sonship is imperfect.
Thus in man there is a certain imperfect likeness to God, both as
regards his being created to God's image and as regards His being
created unto the likeness of grace. Therefore in both ways man can be
called His son, both because he is created to His image and because
he is likened to Him by grace. Now, it must be observed that what is
said in its perfect sense of a thing should not be said thereof in its
imperfect sense: thus, because Socrates is said to be naturally a
man, in the proper sense of "man," never is he called man in the
sense in which the portrait of a man is called a man, although,
perhaps, he may resemble another man. Now, Christ is the Son of
God in the perfect sense of sonship. Wherefore, although in His
human nature He was created and justified, He ought not to be called
the Son of God, either in respect of His being created or of His
being justified, but only in respect of His eternal generation, by
reason of which He is the Son of the Father alone. Therefore nowise
should Christ be called the Son of the Holy Ghost, nor even of the
whole Trinity.
Reply to Objection 1: Christ was conceived of the Virgin Mary,
who supplied the matter of His conception unto likeness of species.
For this reason He is called her Son. But as man He was conceived
of the Holy Ghost as the active principle of His conception, but not
unto likeness of species, as a man is born of his father. Therefore
Christ is not called the Son of the Holy Ghost.
Reply to Objection 2: Men who are fashioned spiritually by the
Holy Ghost cannot be called sons of God in the perfect sense of
sonship. And therefore they are called sons of God in respect of
imperfect sonship, which is by reason of the likeness of grace, which
flows from the whole Trinity.
But with Christ it is different, as stated above.
The same reply avails for the Third Objection.
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