Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question VII: On sobriety
Sobriety is akin to abstinence: the latter exercises moderation in foods; the former in drinks. Concerning this, Ecclesiasticus 31: Wine was created for joy among men, in sobriety, etc.
De SOBRIETATE.
AFFINIS est abstinentiae Sobrietas: Illa enim in cibis; haec in potibus moderationem adhibet. De hac Ecclesiastici 31. AEqua vita hominibus vinum in sobrietate, etc.
That this is a special virtue is proved, because it has a special difficulty in removing an impediment contrary to reason. Such is sobriety, which labors in temperance with regard to wine, which disturbs reason. On which the Holy Doctor in the Diaeta, tit. 3. de Consiliis Euang. cap. 4.
HANC esse virtutem specialem probatur, quia habet specialem difficultatem in removendo impedimento, rationi cnntrario. Talis autem est sobrietas, quae laborat in temperantia circa vinum, quod rationem perturbat. De quo S. Doctor in Diaeta, tit. 3. de Consiliis Euang. cap. 4.
I assert secondly, that the drinking of wine is not of itself illicit. Thus against certain ancient heretics, St. Thomas quaest. 194. art. 3. citing St. Jerome lib. 1. cont. Iouinian. as is also related in Can. Ab exordio, dist. 35.
ASSERO secundo, non esse illicitum potum vini per se. Ita contra veteres quosdam haereticos, D. Thom. quaest. 194. art. 3. ex D. Hieronymo lib. 1. cont. Iouinian. ut refertur etiam Can. Ab exordio, dist. 35.
It is proved from Ecclesiasticus 31: Wine was created from the beginning for joy, and not for drunkenness. Wine moderately drunk is the exultation of the soul and heart. The same is granted in 1 Timothy 5. But that many evils arise from wine by accident is clear from Ecclesiasticus 31. See St. Bonaventure, serm. 2. Dominica prima post Epiphaniam.
PROBATUR ex Ecclesiastici 31. Vinum in iucunditatem creatum est, et non in ebrietatem, ab initio. Exultatio animae, et cordis vinum moderate potatum. Idem conceditur prima Tim. 5. Per accidens vero multa mala e vino oriri constat Ecclesiastici 31. Vide D. Bonavent. serm. 2. Dominica prima post Epiphaniam.
I assert thirdly, that sobriety is necessary for the young, and for women because of their proneness to pleasures; but for the old, and for honored persons, that they preserve the rigor of reason. Thus St. Thomas, quaest. 149. art. 4. This the Apostle teaches in 1 Timoth. 3. Titus 2.
ASSERO tertio, sobrietatem necessariam esse iuvenibus, et mulieribus ob pronitatem ad voluptates: senibus vero, et honoratis personis obtuendum rationis rigorem. Ita S. Thom. quaest. 149. art. 4. Haec docet Apostolus prima Timoth. 3. Titum 2.
Hence among the Romans there was a law that women should not drink wine, as St. Bonaventure notes, serm. 2. de S. Antonio Paduano, as Valerius Maximus relates, lib. 2. cap. 1.
HINC apud Romanos lex erat, ut mulieres vinum non biberent, ut notat D. Bonavent. serm. 2. de S. Antonio Paduano, ut refert Valerius maximus lib. 2. cap. 1.