Thanks for reading and commenting. Let me explain:
If we could change the mind of God it would show that God Himself is changeable. The Catholic Tradition is very clear that God is pure act and there is to potentiality in Him since potentiality is a type of imperfection. This means that as pure act, there is no possibility of change in Him since that would require movement by from one decision to another.
Further, for God to change His mind would mean that He as the unmoved would be moved by something less than Himself, it would give a created being some influence over Being Itself. St Thomas discusses this very early in the Summa:
Third, because everything which is moved acquires something by its movement, and attains to what it had not attained previously. But since God is infinite, comprehending in Himself all the plenitude of perfection of all being, He cannot acquire anything new, nor extend Himself to anything whereto He was not extended previously. Hence movement in no way belongs to Him. So, some of the ancients, constrained, as it were, by the truth, decided that the first principle was immovable. ST Ia Q 9, a. 1.
Willing to concede you are probably correct, but can we change his will through his human nature. Or more correctly, a child persevering at his parents coat tails will bend his will to his, but ghe parent knew he would concede if the child persevered. If our example of fatherhood or parenthood comes from God then maybe its a glass darkly image of that perfect fatherhood, which bends to his and Marys will???
1. The human will, while a distinct power from the divine will within the one person of Christ, is perfectly united in desire with the divine. If this were not the case then there would be division in the person. The human nature would be oriented toward and end that the divine nature is not. The human nature is not its own person with the ability to do it. It subsists in the divine person of the Son.
2. The perseverance of the child is the point I was trying to make in the reflection itself. But what we have to remember is that God knows infallibly what we will ask for and wills to grant it or not grant in accord with His providential plan. If that means He desires to say no at first so that we persevere, than He is right to do so.
Likewise for Mary, since she is in heaven, she only wills that which God wills and will only ask for something that is in line with the will of God. Now, if you are moved to ask her for something it is because God willed for you to ask for that through her so that He might be glorified through her as well.
For example, the miracle at Cana was always going to granted but ONLY through Mary’s intercession.
Most helpful and encouraging!!
Thank you!
Wonderful reflection
Thank you!
Thank you
Liked the article but not convinced that prayer doesnt change the mind of God. In fact I'm pretty sure it does???
Thanks for reading and commenting. Let me explain:
If we could change the mind of God it would show that God Himself is changeable. The Catholic Tradition is very clear that God is pure act and there is to potentiality in Him since potentiality is a type of imperfection. This means that as pure act, there is no possibility of change in Him since that would require movement by from one decision to another.
Further, for God to change His mind would mean that He as the unmoved would be moved by something less than Himself, it would give a created being some influence over Being Itself. St Thomas discusses this very early in the Summa:
Third, because everything which is moved acquires something by its movement, and attains to what it had not attained previously. But since God is infinite, comprehending in Himself all the plenitude of perfection of all being, He cannot acquire anything new, nor extend Himself to anything whereto He was not extended previously. Hence movement in no way belongs to Him. So, some of the ancients, constrained, as it were, by the truth, decided that the first principle was immovable. ST Ia Q 9, a. 1.
I hope that helps.
Willing to concede you are probably correct, but can we change his will through his human nature. Or more correctly, a child persevering at his parents coat tails will bend his will to his, but ghe parent knew he would concede if the child persevered. If our example of fatherhood or parenthood comes from God then maybe its a glass darkly image of that perfect fatherhood, which bends to his and Marys will???
Two really good questions.
1. The human will, while a distinct power from the divine will within the one person of Christ, is perfectly united in desire with the divine. If this were not the case then there would be division in the person. The human nature would be oriented toward and end that the divine nature is not. The human nature is not its own person with the ability to do it. It subsists in the divine person of the Son.
2. The perseverance of the child is the point I was trying to make in the reflection itself. But what we have to remember is that God knows infallibly what we will ask for and wills to grant it or not grant in accord with His providential plan. If that means He desires to say no at first so that we persevere, than He is right to do so.
Likewise for Mary, since she is in heaven, she only wills that which God wills and will only ask for something that is in line with the will of God. Now, if you are moved to ask her for something it is because God willed for you to ask for that through her so that He might be glorified through her as well.
For example, the miracle at Cana was always going to granted but ONLY through Mary’s intercession.