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Objection 1: It would seem that this judgment, as regards the
inquiry and sentence, will take place by word of mouth. For according
to Augustine (De Civ. Dei xx) "it is uncertain how many days
this judgment will last." But it would not be uncertain if the things
we are told will take place at the judgment were to be accomplished only
in the mind. Therefore this judgment will take place by word of mouth
and not only in the mind.
Objection 2: Further, Gregory says (Moral. xxvi): "Those at
least will hear the words of the Judge, who have confessed their faith
in Him by words." Now this cannot be understood as referring to the
inner word, because thus all will hear the Judge's words, since all
the deeds of other men will be known to all both good and wicked.
Therefore it seems that this judgment will take place by word of
mouth.
Objection 3: Further, Christ will judge according to His human
form, so as to be visible in the body to all. Therefore in like
manner it seems that He will speak with the voice of the body, so as
to be heard by all.
On the contrary, Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xx) that the book
of life which is mentioned Apoc. 20:12,15 "is a kind of
Divine energy enabling each one to remember all his good or evil
works, and to discern them with the gaze of the mind, with wondrous
rapidity, his knowledge accusing or defending his conscience, so that
all and each will be judged at the same moment." But if each one's
merits were discussed by word of mouth, all and each could not be
judged at the same moment. Therefore it would seem that this judgment
will not take place by word of mouth.
Further, the sentence should correspond proportionately to the
evidence. Now the evidence both of accusation and of defense will be
mental, according to Rm. 2:15,16, "Their conscience bearing
witness to them, and their thoughts between themselves accusing or also
defending one another in the day when God shall judge the secrets of
men." Therefore seemingly, this sentence and the entire judgment
will take place mentally.
I answer that, It is not possible to come to any certain conclusion
about the truth of this question. It is, however, the more probable
opinion that the whole of this judgment, whether as regards the
inquiry, or as regards the accusation of the wicked and the approval of
the good or again as regards the sentence on both, will take place
mentally. For if the deeds of each individual were to be related by
word of mouth, this would require an inconceivable length of time.
Thus Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xx) that "if we suppose the
book, from the pages of which all will be judged according to Apoc.
20, to be a material book, who will be able to conceive its size and
length? or the length of time required for the reading of a book that
contains the entire life of every individual?" Nor is less time
requisite for telling by word of mouth the deeds of each individual,
than for reading them if they were written in a material book. Hence,
probably we should understand that the details set forth in Mt. 25
will be fulfilled not by word of mouth but mentally.
Reply to Objection 1: The reason why Augustine says that "it is
uncertain how many days this judgment will last" is precisely because
it is not certain whether it will take place mentally or by word of
mouth. For if it were to take place by word of mouth, a considerable
time would be necessary. but if mentally, it is possible for it to be
accomplished in an instant.
Reply to Objection 2: Even if the judgment is accomplished solely
in the mind, the saying of Gregory stands, since though all will be
cognizant of their own and of others' deeds, as a result of the
Divine energy which the Gospel describes as speech (Mt.
25:84-46), nevertheless those who have had the faith which
they received through God's words will be judged from those very
words, for it is written (Rm. 2:12): "Whosoever have sinned
in the Law shall be judged by the Law." Hence in a special way
something will be said to those who had been believers, which will not
be said to unbelievers.
Reply to Objection 3: Christ will appear in body, so that the
Judge may be recognized in the body by all, and it is possible for
this to take place suddenly. But speech which is measured by time
would require an immense length of time, if the judgment took place by
word of mouth.
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