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Objection 1: It would seem that joy is not effected in us by
charity. For the absence of what we love causes sorrow rather than
joy. But God, Whom we love by charity, is absent from us, so long
as we are in this state of life, since "while we are in the body, we
are absent from the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:6). Therefore charity
causes sorrow in us rather than joy.
Objection 2: Further, it is chiefly through charity that we merit
happiness. Now mourning, which pertains to sorrow, is reckoned among
those things whereby we merit happiness, according to Mt. 5:5:
"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Therefore sorrow, rather than joy, is an effect of charity.
Objection 3: Further, charity is a virtue distinct from hope, as
shown above (Question 17, Article 6). Now joy is the effect of
hope, according to Rm. 12:12: "Rejoicing in hope."
Therefore it is not the effect of charity.
On the contrary, It is written (Rm. 5:5): "The charity of
God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Who is given
to us." But joy is caused in us by the Holy Ghost according to
Rm. 14:17: "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but
justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Therefore charity
is a cause of joy.
I answer that, As stated above (FS, Question 25, Articles
1,2,3), when we were treating of the passions, joy and sorrow
proceed from love, but in contrary ways. For joy is caused by love,
either through the presence of the thing loved, or because the proper
good of the thing loved exists and endures in it; and the latter is the
case chiefly in the love of benevolence, whereby a man rejoices in the
well-being of his friend, though he be absent. On the other hand
sorrow arises from love, either through the absence of the thing
loved, or because the loved object to which we wish well, is deprived
of its good or afflicted with some evil. Now charity is love of God,
Whose good is unchangeable, since He is His goodness, and from the
very fact that He is loved, He is in those who love Him by His most
excellent effect, according to 1 Jn. 4:16: "He that abideth
in charity, abideth in God, and God in him." Therefore spiritual
joy, which is about God, is caused by charity.
Reply to Objection 1: So long as we are in the body, we are said
to be "absent from the Lord," in comparison with that presence
whereby He is present to some by the vision of "sight"; wherefore
the Apostle goes on to say (2 Cor. 5:6): "For we walk by
faith and not by sight." Nevertheless, even in this life, He is
present to those who love Him, by the indwelling of His grace.
Reply to Objection 2: The mourning that merits happiness, is about
those things that are contrary to happiness. Wherefore it amounts to
the same that charity causes this mourning, and this spiritual joy
about God, since to rejoice in a certain good amounts to the same as
to grieve for things that are contrary to it.
Reply to Objection 3: There can be spiritual joy about God in two
ways. First, when we rejoice in the Divine good considered in
itself; secondly, when we rejoice in the Divine good as participated
by us. The former joy is the better, and proceeds from charity
chiefly: while the latter joy proceeds from hope also, whereby we look
forward to enjoy the Divine good, although this enjoyment itself,
whether perfect or imperfect, is obtained according to the measure of
one's charity.
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