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Objection 1: It would seem that mission can be eternal. For
Gregory says (Hom. xxvi, in Ev.), "The Son is sent as He is
begotten." But the Son's generation is eternal. Therefore mission
is eternal.
Objection 2: Further, a thing is changed if it becomes something
temporally. But a divine person is not changed. Therefore the
mission of a divine person is not temporal, but eternal.
Objection 3: Further, mission implies procession. But the
procession of the divine persons is eternal. Therefore mission is also
eternal.
On the contrary, It is said (Gal. 4:4): "When the fullness
of the time was come, God sent His Son."
I answer that, A certain difference is to be observed in all the
words that express the origin of the divine persons. For some express
only relation to the principle, as "procession" and "going forth."
Others express the term of procession together with the relation to the
principle. Of these some express the eternal term, as "generation"
and "spiration"; for generation is the procession of the divine
person into the divine nature, and passive spiration is the procession
of the subsisting love. Others express the temporal term with the
relation to the principle, as "mission" and "giving." For a thing
is sent that it may be in something else, and is given that it may be
possessed; but that a divine person be possessed by any creature, or
exist in it in a new mode, is temporal.
Hence "mission" and "giving" have only a temporal significance in
God; but "generation" and "spiration" are exclusively eternal;
whereas "procession" and "giving," in God, have both an eternal
and a temporal signification: for the Son may proceed eternally as
God; but temporally, by becoming man, according to His visible
mission, or likewise by dwelling in man according to His invisible
mission.
Reply to Objection 1: Gregory speaks of the temporal generation of
the Son, not from the Father, but from His mother; or it may be
taken to mean that He could be sent because eternally begotten.
Reply to Objection 2: That a divine person may newly exist in
anyone, or be possessed by anyone in time, does not come from change
of the divine person, but from change in the creature; as God
Himself is called Lord temporally by change of the creature.
Reply to Objection 3: Mission signifies not only procession from
the principle, but also determines the temporal term of the
procession. Hence mission is only temporal. Or we may say that it
includes the eternal procession, with the addition of a temporal
effect. For the relation of a divine person to His principle must be
eternal. Hence the procession may be called a twin procession,
eternal and temporal, not that there is a double relation to the
principle, but a double term, temporal and eternal.
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