[The doctrine] of the nominalists [...] said that grace is a gift which is not essentially supernatural, but which morally gives a right to eternal life, like paper money which, though only paper, gives a right, by reason of a legal institution, to receive money. This doctrine constituted the negation of the essentially supernatural life; it was a failure to recognize the very essence of grace and of the theological virtues.
(The Three Ages of the Interior Life)
April 22, 2009 at 6:49 pm
That’s right! I can say that because I happen to have just finished a 24-CD lecture series by Fr. Brian Mullady in which he covers (among other things) why sound philosophy is necessary. Otherwise it might have gone right over my head.