III. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Aquinas and Richard

420. To the argument for the opinion.

As to the point about faith [n.385], it has been answered [nn.408-410].

421. As to the proof that then the habit of faith would not be necessary [n.385], I say that it is necessary for us, because our intellect, which gets its understanding from sensible things, can get nothing whereby to assent to such truth; and therefore a habit inclining it to assent is required. But another intellect, which regards the whole of being intuitively (and so this being too), can well have assent about this from the ideas intuitively seen of the terms; and therefore faith is not necessary for it.

422. When it is added that vision succeeds to faith [n.385], I say that this is true of the principal object of faith, which is God three and one, but it is not true of all the other things in respect of which there is faith. Otherwise the blessed ought to see in the Word that grace has been conferred in baptism, in penance, and in confirmation. The blessed would also always see in the Word the Incarnation of the Word, and his nativity and passion etc., which are not necessary (whether to be seen in the Word or in themselves) for someone to be blessed. Nor is it necessary in this way for the truth of the other sacraments or matters of faith to be always seen in the Word in order for some intellect to be simply blessed.