Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question I: What the virtue of religion is
RELIGION is defined by D. Bonaventure at the place alleged above: Religion is the virtue that brings to God the worship due to Him. The same definition he gives in book 5 of the Compendium of Theology, chapter 37. It is however drawn from Tully, book 3 de Inventione: Religion is the virtue which brings care and ceremonial to a certain superior nature, which they call divine. It is defined in nearly the same way by D. Augustine, book 10 de Civitate Dei, chapters 1 and 4, as cited by D. Bonaventure in 3 Sent., distinction 9, article 2, question 3.
RELIGIO definitur a D. Bonavent. loco supra allegato: Religio est virtus, quae Deo debitum cultum affert. Eandem definitionem affert lib. 5. compend. Theologiae, capite 37. Eruitur autem e Tullio, lib. 3. de Iuventute: Religio est virtus, quae superioris cuiusdam naturae, quam divinam vocant, curam ceremoniamque affert. Eodem fere modo definitur a D. Augustino 10. de civit. cap. 1. et 4. apud D. Bonavent. in 3. dist. 9. art. 2. quaest. 3.
RELIGION is said to be derived from religando, from D. Isidore, book 8 of the Etymologies, chapter 2; because by it we rebind our souls to the one God for divine worship with the bond of servitude. That D. Augustine also felt the same, de vera Religione, chapter 55, as cited by D. Bonaventure, book 4 of the Pharetra, chapter 19; and Boverius, Demonstration 1 of the Symbol, article 1; Valentina, distinction 6, question 1, with Lactantius, book 4 of the Divine Institutes, chapter 28; or with Isidore, book 10 of the Etymologies, chapter 17, from Reeligendo, that is, from the frequent choosing of those things that pertain to the worship of God; whence Cicero, book 2 de Natura Deorum, denominates one religious. Or from Reeligendo God Himself, from whom one had fallen away, according to D. Augustine, book 10 de Civitate, chapter 4. Or again from religando God to oneself by reconciliation, according to the same D. Augustine, chapter 26 de Quantitate Animae, and book 1 Retractationum, chapter 13, as cited by D. Bonaventure at the place cited in the Pharetra.
DICTa est Religio a religando ex D. Isidoro lib. 8. ethymol. cap. 2. Eo quod per eam uni Deo Religemus animas nostras ad cultum Divinum vinculo servitutis. Quod idem sensit et D. August. de vera Relig. cap. 55. apud D. Bonavent. lib. 4. phar. cap. 19. et Boverium demonst. 1. Symb. art. 1. Valentiam dist. 6. quaest. 1. cum Lactant. lib. 4. divin. Inst. cap. 28. vel cum Isid. lib. 10. ethym. cap. 17. a Reeligendo, seu a frequenti electione eorum, quae ad Dei cultum pertinent; unde Cicero lib. 2. de nat. Deorum, Religiosum denominat. Vel a Reeligendo ipsum Deum, a quo defecerat, ex D. August. lib. 10. de civit. cap. 4. Vel rursus a religando sibi Deum reconciliatione, ex eodem D. August. cap. 26. de quant. animae, et lib. 1. retract. cap. 13. apud D. Bonavent. loco cit. Pharetrae.