163. The Visible Mission of the Holy Spirit
Summary
Listen to Lecture
Subscribe in Podcast App | Download Transcript
Lecture Notes
Main Topics #
The Question: Visible Mission of the Holy Spirit #
Whether it belongs to (or is suitable for) the Holy Spirit to be sent visibly, given that:
- The Son’s visible mission involves assuming human nature in unity of person
- The Holy Spirit never assumes a creature in unity of person
- All visible creatures are effects of the whole Trinity, not one person alone
Core Distinction: The Son vs. The Holy Spirit #
The Son (as Author of Sanctification)
- Sent visibly through assuming human nature in unity of person
- Acts and sanctifies through the visible creature assumed
- What belongs to human nature (suffering, mortality, being “less than the Father”) is truly said of the Son
- Example: Christ baptized is not being sanctified; he sanctifies the baptismal waters
The Holy Spirit (as Gift of Sanctification)
- Sent visibly through creatures formed as signs, not assumed in unity of person
- Does not act through the visible sign but through grace given
- Creatures are formed momentarily and specifically for signification only
- The visible sign points back to an invisible mission occurring at a different time
Divine Pedagogy: Leading by the Hand #
The principle of manductio (leading by the hand): God accommodates to human nature, which is naturally led from visible to invisible things. Therefore:
- Invisible things of God are made known through visible creatures as signs
- The invisible missions of divine persons should be manifested through sensible creatures
- This is necessary for confirming faith and propagating the Church
Three Types of Manifestations Distinguished #
Prophetic/Imaginary Vision
- Occurs in the spirit through spiritual images of bodies
- Not visible to bodily eyes of those present
- More immaterial/spiritual than bodily seeing
Visible Mission (Bodily Vision)
- Seen by bodily eyes of those present
- Creatures formed specifically for this purpose
- External and shared (e.g., the dove at baptism, fire at Pentecost)
Sacramental Signs
- Use pre-existing things (bread, wine, water) taken to signify
- Differ from visible missions which are creatures formed specifically and momentarily
Key Arguments #
Objection 1: Why isn’t the Holy Spirit said to be less than the Father? #
Thomas’s Resolution: The Son assumes a visible creature in unity of his person, so predicates of that creature apply to the Son himself (suffering, mortality, being dependent). The Holy Spirit does not assume a creature in unity of person, only forms one as a sign, so such predicates cannot apply to him.
Objection 2: If visible missions manifest through creatures, why isn’t it common to all sacraments and Old Testament figures? #
Thomas’s Resolution: The visible mission of the Holy Spirit differs from prophetic visions and sacramental signs. It is a creature formed specifically and momentarily to signify the Holy Spirit’s coming, unlike sacraments (which use pre-existing things) or prophetic visions (which are internal to the prophet).
Objection 3: Every visible creature manifests the whole Trinity, so why does it specifically signify the Holy Spirit? #
Thomas’s Resolution: Although the Trinity produces all visible creatures, they can be formed to signify a particular person based on that person’s proper characteristic—just as diverse names signify the three persons despite their unity. The creatures are not formed to signify the Trinity but specifically the Holy Spirit.
Objection 4: Why is the Son sent according to a rational creature (human nature) but the Holy Spirit through inferior creatures (dove, fire)? #
Thomas’s Resolution: The Son, as author of sanctification, must act through a rational nature capable of performing actions and sanctifying. The Holy Spirit, as gift/sign of sanctification, needs only to signify his coming and need not assume an “adequate instrument for acting,” only for indicating.
Objection 5: Angels minister in producing these visible creatures, so are the angels sent, not the Holy Spirit? #
Thomas’s Resolution: Although the Trinity produces these creatures through the ministry of angels, they are not formed to signify the angels’ person but specifically the Holy Spirit’s person. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is said to be sent, not the angels.
Objection 6: Why don’t all invisible missions have corresponding visible missions? #
Thomas’s Resolution: Visible missions manifest invisible missions for the utility and propagation of the Church. They were especially necessary for Christ and the apostles through whom the Church was founded. The visible sign confirms faith and propagates doctrine (1 Corinthians 12:7). For others, the invisible mission suffices.
Important Definitions #
Visible Mission (Missio visibilis) #
The manifestation of an invisible divine mission through sensible creatures formed specifically to signify a divine person’s coming. Distinguished from the creature itself being assumed in unity of person (proper to the Son alone).
Invisible Mission (Missio invisibilis) #
The indwelling of a divine person through sanctifying grace. Represents a new mode of existence for the divine person in the creature through grace (though the person itself does not change).
Manductio #
Latin: “leading by the hand.” The pedagogical principle that humans are naturally led from sensible/visible things to intelligible/invisible things. God accommodates revelation to this natural human capacity.
Appropriation (Appropriatio) #
The attribution of effects common to the entire Trinity to a particular divine person based on that person’s proper characteristic. Example: Sanctification is appropriated to the Holy Spirit because he proceeds as love (gratuitously).
Author of Sanctification vs. Gift of Sanctification #
Author (Auctor): One who originates and acts. Proper to the Son insofar as he is the beginning from whom the Holy Spirit proceeds.
Gift (Donum): That which is given. Proper to the Holy Spirit insofar as he proceeds as love and is bestowed gratuitously.
Examples & Illustrations #
The Dove at Christ’s Baptism (Matthew 3:16) #
- Sign of: The fertile/fecund character of Christ’s authority to give grace for spiritual regeneration
- Points back to: The invisible mission of sanctification at Christ’s conception
- Father’s voice: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” indicating that others are to be regenerated to the likeness of the only-begotten Son
- Contrast: Christ is not being sanctified by the Jordan’s waters but sanctifies them (the reverse of what happens to us in baptism)
Fire (Tongues) at Pentecost (Acts 2:3-4) #
- Sign of: The office/duty (officium) of teaching and doctrine
- Effect: Apostles begin to speak in various tongues
- Signifies: The inflaming of hearts with charity/love for preaching the Gospel
- Corresponds to: The hidden mission of grace given to apostles for their ministry
Lucid Cloud at Transfiguration (Matthew 17) #
- Sign of: The exuberance/abundance (exuberantia) of Christ’s teaching
- Father’s voice: “Hear him” (emphasizing doctrine/truth, unlike the baptism’s emphasis on grace)
- Contrast with dove: Emphasizes the doctrinal authority of Christ rather than grace-giving
- Parallel: Relates to John 1:14 distinction—“The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”
Old Testament Examples (Not Visible Missions) #
- Three men who visited Abraham: Visible apparitions of divine persons but not visible missions
- Reason: Not made to designate the indwelling of a divine person through grace; made to manifest something else
- Principle: Visible missions of the Holy Spirit should not have occurred before the visible mission of the Son (Christ), since the Holy Spirit manifests the Son as the Son manifests the Father
Questions Addressed #
Q: Why is the Son said to be “less than the Father” through visible mission, but not the Holy Spirit? #
A: The Son assumes human nature in unity of his person, so all predicates of human nature truly apply to him. The Holy Spirit does not assume a creature in unity of person but only forms one as a sign; therefore, such predicates do not apply to him.
Q: How do visible signs formed by the Trinity signify one person rather than all three? #
A: Although the Trinity works all effects commonly, they can be formed to signify a particular person based on that person’s proper characteristic—just as the three divine persons are signified by diverse names despite their unity.
Q: Does the Holy Spirit act through the visible signs as the Son acts through human nature? #
A: No. The Son, as author of sanctification, acts through a rational nature capable of action. The Holy Spirit, as gift of sanctification, merely signifies his coming through the visible creature; he does not act through the sign but through the grace he bestows.
Q: Why don’t all invisible missions have visible signs? #
A: Visible missions are given for the utility and propagation of the Church—especially to Christ and the apostles through whom the Church was founded. For others, the invisible mission alone suffices.
Q: If angels minister in producing visible creatures, aren’t the angels sent rather than the Holy Spirit? #
A: Although creatures are formed through angelic ministry, they are formed to signify the Holy Spirit’s person specifically, not the angels’. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is said to be sent, not the angels.
Additional Discussion: Missions and Causality #
Berquist and the student explore the relationship between “proper” and “appropriated” missions using Aristotelian causality:
The Son’s Mission: Proper to the Son. His visible mission involves assuming human nature in unity of person and acting as the principal efficient cause of redemption (through the cross).
The Holy Spirit’s Mission: Involves appropriation. While the invisible mission of grace involves indwelling by the Holy Spirit, this occurs through the Trinity’s common operation:
- Efficient cause: The Trinity acts as a whole, though authored by the Son as first in the divine processions
- Exemplar cause: The human person becomes like the Holy Spirit insofar as they love (since the Holy Spirit proceeds as love), and like the Son insofar as they know (becoming a “son of God”)
- The visible sign signifies this appropriation without implying the Holy Spirit acts alone or in an exclusively proper manner
Thomas’s solution maintains that while the indwelling of grace is common to the Trinity, we can distinguish how particular persons are manifested in that common work through appropriation.