Reply Obj. 1:  Faith and hope are not related to charity in the same way as prudence to moral virtue; and for two reasons.  First, because the theological virtues have an object surpassing the human soul:  whereas prudence and the moral virtues are about things beneath man.  Now in things that are above man, to love them is more excellent than to know them.  Because knowledge is perfected by the known being in the knower:  whereas love is perfected by the lover being drawn to the beloved.  Now that which is above man is more excellent in itself than in man:  since a thing is contained according to the mode of the container.  But it is the other way about in things beneath man.  Secondly, because prudence moderates the appetitive movements pertaining to the moral virtues, whereas faith does not moderate the appetitive movement tending to God, which movement belongs to the theological virtues:  it only shows the object.  And this appetitive movement towards its object surpasses human knowledge, according to Eph. 3:19:  “The charity of Christ which surpasseth all knowledge.”

Reply Obj. 2:  Hope presupposes love of that which a man hopes to obtain; and such love is love of concupiscence, whereby he who desires good, loves himself rather than something else.  On the other hand, charity implies love of friendship, to which we are led by hope, as stated above (Q. 62, A. 4).

Reply Obj. 3:  An efficient cause is more noble than its effect:  but not a disposing cause.  For otherwise the heat of fire would be more noble than the soul, to which the heat disposes the matter.  It is in this way that faith begets hope, and hope charity:  in the sense, to wit, that one is a disposition to the other. ________________________

QUESTION 67

OF THE DURATION OF VIRTUES AFTER THIS LIFE
(In Six Articles)

We must now consider the duration of virtues after this life, under which head there are six points of inquiry: 

(1) Whether the moral virtues remain after this life?

(2) Whether the intellectual virtues remain?

(3) Whether faith remains?

(4) Whether hope remains?

(5) Whether anything remains of faith or hope?

(6) Whether charity remains?
________________________

FIRST ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 67, Art. 1]

Whether the Moral Virtues Remain After This Life?

Objection 1:  It would seem that the moral virtues do not remain after this life.  For in the future state of glory men will be like angels, according to Matt. 22:30.  But it is absurd to put moral virtues in the angels ["Whatever relates to moral action is petty, and unworthy of the gods” (Ethic. x, 8)], as stated in _Ethic._ x, 8.  Therefore neither in man will there be moral virtues after this life.

Obj. 2:  Further, moral virtues perfect man in the active life.  But the active life does not remain after this life:  for Gregory says (Moral. iv, 18):  “The works of the active life pass away from the body.”  Therefore moral virtues do not remain after this life.