FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   695   696   697   698   699   700   701   702   703   704   705   706   707   708   709   710   711   712   713   714   715   716   717   718   719  
720   721   722   723   724   725   726   727   728   729   730   731   732   733   734   735   736   737   738   739   740   741   742   743   744   >>   >|  
omission. Wherefore through negligence, ignorance of what one is bound to know, is a sin; whereas it is not imputed as a sin to man, if he fails to know what he is unable to know. Consequently ignorance of such like things is called "invincible," because it cannot be overcome by study. For this reason such like ignorance, not being voluntary, since it is not in our power to be rid of it, is not a sin: wherefore it is evident that no invincible ignorance is a sin. On the other hand, vincible ignorance is a sin, if it be about matters one is bound to know; but not, if it be about things one is not bound to know. Reply Obj. 1: As stated above (Q. 71, A. 6, ad 1), when we say that sin is a "word, deed or desire," we include the opposite negations, by reason of which omissions have the character of sin; so that negligence, in as much as ignorance is a sin, is comprised in the above definition of sin; in so far as one omits to say what one ought, or to do what one ought, or to desire what one ought, in order to acquire the knowledge which we ought to have. Reply Obj. 2: Although privation of grace is not a sin in itself, yet by reason of negligence in preparing oneself for grace, it may have the character of sin, even as ignorance; nevertheless even here there is a difference, since man can acquire knowledge by his acts, whereas grace is not acquired by acts, but by God's favor. Reply Obj. 3: Just as in a sin of transgression, the sin consists not only in the act of the will, but also in the act willed, which is commanded by the will; so in a sin of omission not only the act of the will is a sin, but also the omission, in so far as it is in some way voluntary; and accordingly, the neglect to know, or even lack of consideration is a sin. Reply Obj. 4: Although when the guilt has passed away through repentance, the ignorance remains, according as it is a privation of knowledge, nevertheless the negligence does not remain, by reason of which the ignorance is said to be a sin. Reply Obj. 5: Just as in other sins of omission, man sins actually only at the time at which the affirmative precept is binding, so is it with the sin of ignorance. For the ignorant man sins actually indeed, not continually, but only at the time for acquiring the knowledge that he ought to have. ________________________ THIRD ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 76, Art. 3] Whether Ignorance Excuses from Sin Altogether? Objection 1: It would seem that ignor
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   695   696   697   698   699   700   701   702   703   704   705   706   707   708   709   710   711   712   713   714   715   716   717   718   719  
720   721   722   723   724   725   726   727   728   729   730   731   732   733   734   735   736   737   738   739   740   741   742   743   744   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
ignorance
 

omission

 

negligence

 

reason

 

knowledge

 

acquire

 
privation
 

character

 

Although

 

desire


invincible
 

things

 

voluntary

 
Whether
 
neglect
 
Ignorance
 

Excuses

 
consideration
 

Objection

 

consists


Altogether

 

willed

 

commanded

 

passed

 

acquiring

 
ARTICLE
 

continually

 
precept
 

binding

 

affirmative


ignorant

 

remain

 

repentance

 

remains

 
transgression
 

comprised

 
evident
 

wherefore

 

vincible

 

stated


matters

 

unable

 

Consequently

 
imputed
 

Wherefore

 
called
 
overcome
 

oneself

 
preparing
 
difference