Albertus Magnus

The Opera Omnia of the Universal Doctor, rendered into English

Works › The Mariale: Questions on “Missus est”

Volume 37 · pp. 94–95

Question XLIX. Whether the blessed Virgin had charity toward neighbor in the highest degree of a creature?

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Latin (Borgnet)English
p. 94

QUAESTIO XLIX. Utrum B. Virgo habuerit charitatem ad proximum in summo creaturae?

Post hoc quaeritur de charitate beatae Virginis quam habuit ad proximum, Utrum illam habuerit in summo creaturae?

Et videtur, quod non: quia

1. Majorem hac dilectionem nemo habet 1, etc. Sed ipsa animam suam non posuit pro amicis suis: ergo non habuit charitatem majorem aliis qui animam suam pro amicis suis posuerunt.

Contra:

QUESTION XLIX. Whether the blessed Virgin had charity toward neighbor in the highest degree of a creature?

After this it is asked concerning the charity of the blessed Virgin that she had toward neighbor, whether she had it in the highest degree of a creature.

And it seems that she did not, because:

1. Greater love than this no one has 1, and so forth. But she did not lay down her soul for her friends. Therefore she did not have charity greater than others who laid down their soul for their friends.

To the contrary:

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1. Propter quod unumquodque tale et illud magis, ut propter quod amamus, ipsum magis diligimus. Ita dicit Philosophus. Sed proximum amamus propter Deum. Ergo qui plus amat Deum, plus amat proximum.

2. Item, Eadem charitas est qua diligitur Deus et proximus: ergo qui habet summam charitatem ad Deum, summam habet et ad proximum: sed beata Virgo summam charitatem habet ad Deum: ergo ad proximum 2.

1. That on account of which each thing is such is more so, as we love more that on account of which we love. So says the Philosopher. But we love neighbor on account of God. Therefore one who loves God more, loves neighbor more.

2. Likewise, the charity by which God and neighbor are loved is the same. Therefore one who has the highest charity toward God also has the highest toward neighbor. But the blessed Virgin has the highest charity toward God. Therefore she has it toward neighbor 2.

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Notes

  1. John 15:13. (Joan. XV, 13.) ↩
  2. For the solution of the objections, see below after Question LXI. (Pro solutione objectorum, vide infra post Quaest. LXI.) ↩