Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question XLIII: Whether love is the same as benevolence
ST. THOMAS ASSERTS that in dilection, as it is the act of Charity, benevolence is included; but dilection, or love, adds the union of affection.
Utrum Amor sit idem, ac Benevolentia.
ASSERIT S. Thomas, in dilectione, ut est actus Charitatis, includi benevolentiam; sed dilectio, sive amor, addit unionem affectus.
IT IS PROVED, because benevolence properly is an act of the will, by which we will good to another, even without a union of affection presupposed toward him; but the love of Charity is an act of the will, by which we will good to someone, and it imports the union of the affection of the lover to the beloved, insofar namely as the lover esteems the beloved as one with himself, or as belonging to himself.
PROBATUR, quia benevolentia proprie est actus voluntatis, quo alteri bonum volumus, etiam non praesupposita unione affectus ad ipsum; amor vero Charitatis est actus voluntatis, quo alicui bonum volumus, importatque unionem affectus amantis ad amatum, in quantum scilicet amans aestimat amatum, ut unum sibi, vel ad se pertinens.