St. Thomas Aquinas on Connaturality: With Special Reference to Synderesis

In the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, another mode of cognition connaturality introduces becomes the alternative to the discursive cognition by human intellect. Connaturality is the gift of the Holy Spirit innate in human nature. As the second nature disposed towards the supernatural reality, it is co-natural to God and shapes the communion with the Godhead by the infusion of the theological virtue, namely caritas. By the prominent characteristics of affectivity, connaturality furnishes the so-called affective knowledge which creates the profound unity of epistemology and ethics. Its substance properly pertains to synderesis.