Disputation XXIII: On Justice

JUSTICE is one thing, directing man in good, and this embraces the other virtues; wherefore it is called General: Another is that correcting and Coercing from evil, which is called Iudicial; Finally another is that which renders to each one his own proper and due good, of which we treat here, and which is called Cardinal: This is Illustrated with various similitudes by St. Bonaventure, which I shall indicate below quaest. 3.

THIS also is at times confounded with the prior acceptation of Justice among the Fathers, by oratorical application; thus it is defined from St. Bernard by the Seraphic Doctor, lib. 2. Pharetrae, cap. 42. Justice is a virtue, rendering to each one what is his own; render therefore to the three, what is theirs; render to the superior, render to the inferior, render to the equal, to each what is his own, the same pursues there: We have before us, superiors; after us, juniors; at the right, friends; at the left, enemies; let us render therefore to each what is his own, to superiors obedience; to juniors Doctrine; to friends joy; to enemies patience. But how far this stands from legal Justice, of which we dispute here, I shall show in quaestione 3.