Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Objection 1: It would seem that wisdom is not in all who have grace. For it is more to have wisdom than to hear wisdom. Now it is only for the perfect to hear wisdom, according to 1 Cor. 2:6: "We speak wisdom among the perfect." Since then not all who have grace are perfect, it seems that much less all who have grace have wisdom.

Objection 2: Further, "The wise man sets things in order," as the Philosopher states (Metaph. i, 2): and it is written (James 3:17) that the wise man "judges without dissimulation ". Now it is not for all that have grace, to judge, or put others in order, but only for those in authority. Therefore wisdom is not in all that have grace.

Objection 3: Further, "Wisdom is a remedy against folly," as Gregory says (Moral. ii, 49). Now many that have grace are naturally foolish, for instance madmen who are baptized or those who without being guilty of mortal sin have become insane. Therefore wisdom is not in all that have grace.

On the contrary, Whoever is without mortal sin, is beloved of God; since he has charity, whereby he loves God, and God loves them that love Him (Prov. 8:17). Now it is written (Wis. 7:28) that "God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom." Therefore wisdom is in all those who have charity and are without mortal sin.

I answer that, The wisdom of which we are speaking, as stated above (Article 4), denotes a certain rectitude of judgment in the contemplation and consultation of Divine things, and as to both of these men obtain various degrees of wisdom through union with Divine things. For the measure of right judgment attained by some, whether in the contemplation of Divine things or in directing human affairs according to Divine rules, is no more than suffices for their salvation. This measure is wanting to none who is without mortal sin through having sanctifying grace, since if nature does not fail in necessaries, much less does grace fail: wherefore it is written (1 Jn. 2:27): "(His) unction teacheth you of all things."

Some, however, receive a higher degree of the gift of wisdom, both as to the contemplation of Divine things (by both knowing more exalted mysteries and being able to impart this knowledge to others) and as to the direction of human affairs according to Divine rules (by being able to direct not only themselves but also others according to those rules). This degree of wisdom is not common to all that have sanctifying grace, but belongs rather to the gratuitous graces, which the Holy Ghost dispenses as He will, according to 1 Cor. 12:8: "To one indeed by the Spirit is given the word of wisdom," etc.

Reply to Objection 1: The Apostle speaks there of wisdom, as extending to the hidden mysteries of Divine things, as indeed he says himself (2 Cor. 1:7): "We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden."

Reply to Objection 2: Although it belongs to those alone who are in authority to direct and judge other men, yet every man is competent to direct and judge his own actions, as Dionysius declares (Ep. ad Demophil.).

Reply to Objection 3: Baptized idiots, like little children, have the habit of wisdom, which is a gift of the Holy Ghost, but they have not the act, on account of the bodily impediment which hinders the use of reason in them.

Articulus 5

Argumentum 1

Ad quintum sic proceditur. Videtur quod sapientia non sit in omnibus habentibus gratiam. Maius enim est sapientiam habere quam sapientiam audire. Sed solum perfectorum est sapientiam audire, secundum illud I ad Cor. II, sapientiam loquimur inter perfectos.

Cum ergo non omnes habentes gratiam sint perfecti, videtur quod multo minus omnes habentes gratiam sapientiam habeant.

Argumentum 2

Praeterea, sapientis est ordinare; ut philosophus dicit, in principio metaphys..

Et Iac. III dicitur quod est iudicans sine simulatione.

Sed non omnium habentium gratiam est de aliis iudicare aut alios ordinare, sed solum praelatorum.

Ergo non omnium habentium gratiam est habere sapientiam.

Argumentum 3

Praeterea, sapientia datur contra stultitiam; ut Gregorius dicit, in II Moral..

Sed multi habentes gratiam sunt naturaliter stulti, ut patet de amentibus baptizatis, vel qui postmodum sine peccato in amentiam incidunt.

Ergo non in omnibus habentibus gratiam est sapientia.

Sed Contra

Sed contra est quod quicumque qui est sine peccato mortali diligitur a deo, quia caritatem habet, qua deum diligit; deus autem diligentes se diligit, ut dicitur Prov. VIII. Sed Sap. VII dicitur quod neminem diligit deus nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.

Ergo in omnibus habentibus gratiam, sine peccato mortali existentibus, est sapientia.

Corpus

Respondeo dicendum quod sapientia de qua loquimur, sicut dictum est, importat quandam rectitudinem iudicii circa divina et conspicienda et consulenda. Et quantum ad utrumque, ex unione ad divina secundum diversos gradus aliqui sapientiam sortiuntur. Quidam enim tantum sortiuntur de recto iudicio, tam in contemplatione divinorum quam etiam in ordinatione rerum humanarum secundum divinas regulas, quantum est necessarium ad salutem. Et hoc nulli deest sine peccato mortali existenti per gratiam gratum facientem, quia si natura non deficit in necessariis, multo minus gratia.

Unde dicitur I Ioan. II, unctio docet vos de omnibus.

Quidam autem altiori gradu percipiunt sapientiae donum, et quantum ad contemplationem divinorum, inquantum scilicet altiora quaedam mysteria et cognoscunt et aliis manifestare possunt; et etiam quantum ad directionem humanorum secundum regulas divinas, inquantum possunt secundum eas non solum seipsos, sed etiam alios ordinare. Et iste gradus sapientiae non est communis omnibus habentibus gratiam gratum facientem, sed magis pertinet ad gratias gratis datas, quas spiritus sanctus distribuit prout vult, secundum illud I ad Cor. XII, alii datur per spiritum sermo sapientiae, etc..

Ad 1

Ad primum ergo dicendum quod apostolus loquitur ibi de sapientia secundum quod se extendit ad occulta mysteria divinorum, sicut et ibidem dicitur, loquimur dei sapientiam in mysterio absconditam.

Ad 2

Ad secundum dicendum quod quamvis ordinare alios homines et de eis iudicare pertineat ad solos praelatos, tamen ordinare proprios actus et de eis iudicare pertinet ad unumquemque; ut patet per dionysium, in epistola ad demophilum.

Ad 3

Ad tertium dicendum quod amentes baptizati, sicut et pueri, habent quidem habitum sapientiae, secundum quod est donum spiritus sancti, sed non habent actum, propter impedimentum corporale quo impeditur in eis usus rationis.