<p>St. Thomas Aquinas gave the Church some of its clearest thinking on charisms — and one distinction of his is foundational to almost everything we teach about spiritual gifts,whether people realize the connection or not. If you've run into the Latin phrase <em>gratiae gratis datae</em> and want to know what Aquinas actually meant,here's the Cliff Notes version.</p> <h2>Two Kinds of Grace</h2> <p>In the <em>Summa Theologiae</em> (I-II,q. 111),Aquinas divides grace into two kinds,and the whole topic of charisms flows from the difference.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Sanctifying grace</strong> (<em>gratia gratum faciens</em>) — literally,"grace making pleasing." This is the grace that makes <em>you</em> holy,uniting your soul to God. It's the grace of the sacraments and the life of virtue.</li> <li><strong>Freely given graces</strong> (<em>gratiae gratis datae</em>) — "graces given gratuitously." These are gifts the Holy Spirit gives a person <em>for the sake of other people</em> — to lead someone else toward God. This is Aquinas's category for what we call "charisms."</li> </ul> <p>The name he chose is important. <em>Gratiae gratis datae</em> — freely given — signals that these gifts aren't earned,aren't a reward for holiness,and aren't primarily about the holiness of the one who has them. They're tools handed out for a job: building up the Church.</p> <h2>Charisms Are for Others,Not for Yourself</h2> <p>This is Aquinas's central point about charisms. He grounds it in St. Paul: "To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit" (1 Corinthians 12:7). Sanctifying grace perfects the person who receives it. A charism is aimed outward — through you,to somebody else.</p> <p>Aquinas draws an interesting conclusion from this: because a charism is given for others' benefit rather than the bearer's holiness,a person can have one <em>without</em> being holy. Scripture backs him up with uncomfortable examples — Balaam prophesies truly despite himself (Numbers 22–24),and Caiaphas,the high priest who condemned Jesus,speaks a real prophecy about him (John 11:49–51). The gift was genuine; the man was not good. Aquinas's point isn't that holiness doesn't matter — it matters enormously — but that a charism and personal sanctity are two different things,and shouldn't be conflated.</p> <h2>The Particular Charisms</h2> <p>Aquinas doesn't stop at the definition. In the <em>Summa</em> (II-II,qq. 171–178) he examines specific <em>gratiae gratis datae</em> in detail — prophecy,the grace of tongues,the "grace of the word" (<em>gratia sermonis</em>,the gift of speaking so as to instruct and move others),and the working of miracles. He treats these seriously and concretely,as real ways the Spirit equips particular people to serve the Body of Christ,drawing on St. Paul's list in 1 Corinthians 12.</p> <h2>Why This Still Matters for You</h2> <p>Aquinas's distinction clears up two things that still trip people up seven centuries later.</p> <p>First,it takes the pressure off. If you have a charism (or think you don't),it isn't a scorecard on your holiness,and if you're unsure what your gifts are,that isn't a verdict on your spiritual life. The two run on different tracks. A charism is something God gave you to hand to other people — you can receive it gratefully without treating it as a merit badge.</p> <p>Second,it tells you what a gift is <em>for</em>. Because a charism is given for others,the way to "use it well" is not to admire it privately but to spend it — to let it reach the people it was meant for. That's also why discerning your charisms is worth doing: not to rank yourself,but to find out what God equipped you to give.</p> <p>Aquinas would say the freely given graces are exactly that — freely given,and meant to be freely spent. A good next step is simply to find out which ones you have been given. Our <a href="https://www.manypartsministries.com/product/charism-assessment">charism assessment</a> gives you an objective starting point in about twenty minutes,and our <a href="https://www.manypartsministries.com/blog/what-is-a-charism/">guide to what a charism is</a> fills in the rest of the picture.</p> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <h3>What are "gratiae gratis datae"?</h3> <p>It's Aquinas's Latin term for "freely given graces" — gifts the Holy Spirit gives a person for the benefit of <em>other</em> people,to help lead them toward God. It's his category for charisms,distinct from the sanctifying grace that makes the recipient holy (Summa Theologiae I-II,q. 111).</p> <h3>What's the difference between sanctifying grace and charisms,according to Aquinas?</h3> <p>Sanctifying grace makes <em>you</em> holy and unites your soul to God. Charisms (freely given graces) are given so God can work <em>through you</em> for others. One perfects the person; the other equips the person to serve.</p> <h3>Can you have a charism without being holy?</h3> <p>Aquinas says yes — because a charism is given for others' good rather than the bearer's sanctification. He points to figures like Balaam and Caiaphas,who spoke true prophecies without being holy men. Holiness matters,but it's a separate thing from having a gift.</p> <hr> <p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.manypartsministries.com/blog/what-is-a-charism/">What Is a Charism?</a> · <a href="https://www.manypartsministries.com/blog/gifts-of-the-holy-spirit-vs-charisms/">Gifts of the Holy Spirit vs. Charisms</a> · <a href="https://www.manypartsministries.com/blog/spiritual-gifts-in-the-bible/">Spiritual Gifts in the Bible</a> · <a href="https://www.manypartsministries.com/product/charism-assessment">Take the Charism Assessment</a></p>

St. Thomas Aquinas on charisms: his term "gratiae gratis datae," how these gifts differ from sanctifying grace,and why they're given for others — clearly explained.

Aquinas on Charisms

Explore Catholic teaching on charisms and spiritual gifts. Articles on discernment, identity, the Holy Spirit, and living your gifts in everyday life.

Part & Parcel Blog — Catholic Teaching on Charisms

Articles on Catholic charism discernment — what charisms are, how to discover yours, and how to live them out in the Church and everyday life.



Aquinas on Charisms

Aquinas on Charisms

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