Question XXII: Whether a man ought to love his own body out of charity

I ASSERT that it is so. It is the common opinion of the Theologians.

It is proved first by D. Bonaventure, from Ephes. 5: Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies; but wives are to be loved out of Charity: Therefore also bodies.

It is proved secondly by the Holy Doctors from D. Augustine, Book 1. of de doctrina Christiana, chapter 23.

It is proved thirdly by S. Bonaventure: everything beatifiable is lovable out of Charity: such are bodies: Therefore.

It is proved fourthly by S. Thomas. In the order of Charity kinsfolk are to be preferred to strangers, as Ambrose teaches in the Cam. Gloss on ch. 2; but kinship exists only on the part of bodies: Therefore, since our bodies are above all joined to us for this reason, they are to be loved out of Charity.

It is explained by S. Thomas, in corpore. Charity is a weight inclining toward the highest good and perfect beatitude, and consequently makes us love everything lovable. Thus God must first be loved as blessed by essence: then the Spirits as beatifiable by participation: lastly bodies as beatifiable by the overflowing from the soul. So also Tannerus disp. 2. quaest. 3. dub. 1.

You will object first, Ioan. 12: He who loves his life shall lose it; but there it is understood as meaning animation unto life.

S. Bonaventure and D. Thomas answer that Christ urges us to hate the carnal life, not as meaning natural life, which is good, coming from God, and therefore to be loved: hence it is not lawful to kill oneself; but to hate the carnal life, as meaning the life fostered by the fire of concupiscence.

You will object secondly. That which impedes beatitude is not to be loved out of Charity: such is the body, Galat. 5: The flesh concupisceth against the spirit. And Rom. 7: I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, etc. Whence he said: Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

The Holy Doctors answer that the Apostle does not reject bodily life as it is natural; for it is not an impediment to salvation for that reason, but on account of concupiscence arising from sin.

You will object thirdly. Charity never falleth away, 1 Corinth. 13; therefore the things that are to be loved out of Charity do not fall away; but bodies fall: Therefore.

S. Thomas answers that bodies are destined for perpetual incorruption in beatitude: hence, although now they are sown in corruption, yet they shall rise in glory; and consequently they are to be loved out of Charity.

You will object fourthly. That which makes lovable out of Charity is communication in the image of God: But bodies do not have the Divine image: Therefore.

S. Thomas answers that of themselves they are indeed lovable by reason of the image and the capacity for God; hence bodies, because they participate in the image and beatitude only by reason of union, are therefore to be loved secondarily.