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Objection 1: It would seem that the degrees of beatitude should not
be called mansions. For beatitude implies the notion of a reward:
whereas mansion denotes nothing pertaining to a reward. Therefore the
various degrees of beatitude should not be called mansions.
Objection 2: Further, mansion seemingly denotes a place. Now the
place where the saint will be beatified is not corporeal but spiritual,
namely God Who is one. Therefore there is but one mansion: and
consequently the various degrees of beatitude should not be called
mansions.
Objection 3: Further, as in heaven there will be men of various
merits, so are there now in purgatory, and were in the limbo of the
fathers. But various mansions are not distinguished in purgatory and
limbo. Therefore in like manner neither should they be distinguished
in heaven.
On the contrary, It is written (Jn. 14:2): "In My
Father's house there are many mansions": and Augustine expounds
this in reference to the different degrees of rewards (Tract. lxvii
in Joan.).
Further, in every well-ordered city there is a distinction of
mansions. Now the heavenly kingdom is compared to a city (Apoc.
21:2). Therefore we should distinguish various mansions there
according to the various degrees of beatitude.
I answer that, Since local movement precedes all other movements,
terms of movement, distance and the like are derived from local
movement to all other movements according to the Philosopher
(Phys., liber viii, 7). Now the end of local movement is a
place, and when a thing has arrived at that place it remains there at
rest and is maintained therein. Hence in every movement this very rest
at the end of the movement is called an establishment [collocatio] or
mansion. Wherefore since the term movement is transferred to the
actions of the appetite and will, the attainment of the end of an
appetitive movement is called a mansion or establishment: so that the
unity of a house corresponds to the unity of beatitude which unity is on
the part of the object, and the plurality of mansions corresponds to
the differences of beatitude on the part of the blessed: even so we
observe in natural things that there is one same place above to which
all light objects tend, whereas each one reaches it more closely,
according as it is lighter, so that they have various mansions
corresponding to their various lightness.
Reply to Objection 1: Mansion implies the notion of end and
consequently of reward which is the end of merit.
Reply to Objection 2: Though there is one spiritual place, there
are different degrees of approaching thereto: and the various mansions
correspond to these.
Reply to Objection 3: Those who were in limbo or are now in
purgatory have not yet attained to their end. Wherefore various
mansions are not distinguished in purgatory or limbo, but only in
heaven and hell, wherein is the end of the good and of the wicked.
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