Abstract

Osanna Rickmann:
The moral acting of the »Imago Trinitatis«
(FKTh 2015-2, p. 102–117)

In anthropology as well as in moral theology, Aquinas uses certain technical terms from trinitarian theology, such as »procession of the word« and »procession of love«. In God, these two immanent processions are cause and reason His acting »ad extra”. In moral theology, Aquinas holds that two immanent processions in the agent give origin to each human act. One could extend this analogy and identify in the Image of the Trinity both a similarity to the the Trinity acting »ad extra«, and to the so-called »immanent« Trinity. By grace, the »procession of the word« and the »procession of love« are transformed into a proper similiarity of divine immanent processions, and this enables the human person to act in accordance with God’s own principles of acting »ad extra«. By this way of acting (»meritus«), the human person cooperates actively in the re-creation of herself, through the power of the eternal truth of the divine Word.