G
Greenham
Guest
In question 37 of the Summa, Thomas says:
Is there a basis in Catholic doctrine for calling the Holy Spirit “wisdom” as a descriptor for his person rather than using the word to refer to one of the other persons or for all three?
Objection 1. It would seem that “Love” is not the proper name of the Holy Ghost. For Augustine says (De Trin. xv, 17): “As the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are called Wisdom, and are not three Wisdoms, but one; I know not why the Father, Son and Holy Ghost should not be called Charity, and all together one Charity.” But no name which is predicated in the singular of each person and of all together, is a proper name of a person. Therefore this name, “Love,” is not the proper name of the Holy Ghost.
So the “proper name” of the Son and Holy Spirit are Word and Love, respectively. But in book 2 of Theophilus to Autolycus (the first extant mention of the word “trinity”), Theophilus says the trinity is “God, and His Word, and His Wisdom.” We call the Son not only the Son and the Word, but also Jesus, Messiah, Redeemer, etc.I answer that, The name Love in God can be taken essentially and personally. If taken personally it is the proper name of the Holy Ghost; as Word is the proper name of the Son.
Is there a basis in Catholic doctrine for calling the Holy Spirit “wisdom” as a descriptor for his person rather than using the word to refer to one of the other persons or for all three?