D. Scotus’ own Opinion

333. To the question it can be said that, just as it cannot be proved that any real form is impressed in the reception of baptism that is other than grace and the virtues (and this neither by natural reason nor by reason evident from manifest things believed), so it cannot be proved that a character, if a real form is posited, is an absolute form, real or relational; for both views can be saved: that it is a relational form (as was already shown [nn.290-292]), or that it is an absolute form (if it is posited it cannot be evidently disproved).

334. For certain things are rationally enough to be conceded about character, if it be posited to exist: as that it is a simple form, spiritual and impressed by God on anyone who receives a non-repeatable sacrament; and that by divine institution it efficaciously signifies the grace of the sacrament; and that it disposes for it (as was made clear in the preceding question [n.259], because it is in the same receptive subject and from the same agent, and is a prior and more imperfect form); and that it is indelible, since it does not have a corruptive demeritorious cause; and that it is a commemorative cause with respect to the reception of the sacrament that went before, and a configuring sign, that is, a sign signifying the soul’s obligation to Christ; that it is also a sign making one like another who has received the sacrament, and distinguishing one from another who has not received it. All these things, which are seen to be rationally conceded about character (if it be posited to be a real form) can be preserved if it is posited to be a real respect in the way aforesaid [n.333], or if it is a real absolute form. But if it is posited to be a real respective form, it was said before [n.326] how the above things will be preserved and of what sort the respect is, that it is a respect that arrives extrinsically. But if it is posited to be an absolute form, it is necessary to say that it belongs to the genus of quality, and it is not necessary to determine how all the above conditions agree with it, because it is sufficiently clear.