Course of Theology - Volume Six II - João Poinsot

This second part of Volume VI continues John of St. Thomas’s systematic treatment of grace within his Course of Theology, developed in the Thomistic tradition of Thomas Aquinas, further elaborating the interior dynamics of the supernatural life.

The work deepens the analysis of sanctifying grace, explaining its permanence in the soul, its increase through meritorious acts, and its role as the principle of supernatural life. John of St. Thomas carefully distinguishes between habitual grace and actual graces, clarifying how divine assistance moves the will without destroying its freedom.

A significant portion is devoted to the theology of merit, examining how human actions, elevated by grace, can be truly deserving of eternal reward. He analyzes the conditions required for merit, including freedom, charity, and divine ordination.

The volume also treats the relationship between grace and free will, addressing the concurrence of divine motion and human cooperation. Poinsot defends a nuanced account in which divine causality is primary yet compatible with genuine human agency.

Throughout, he maintains rigorous scholastic precision, integrating metaphysical principles with moral and theological analysis. The result is a detailed account of the supernatural order as a structured participation in divine life, grounded in grace and ordered toward eternal beatitude.