Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question III: Whether sacrifice is of the natural law
It must be asserted that sacrifice is of the law of nature, at least in its foundation, as Suar. says Tract. 2. l. 1. cap. 5.
Asserendum esse iuris naturae, saltem in fundamento, ut ait Suar. Tract. 2. l. 1. cap. 5.
It is proved, because since we are subject to God, we ought to profess the servitude due to God; and since we consist of soul and body, we ought in a proportionate manner to acknowledge God not only by interior worship but also by exterior; and since we receive all things from Him, we ought to offer something back, as Valentia argues disp. 6. quaest. 4. punct. 3., citing D. Bonav. in 4. dist. 1. p. 2. quaest. 3. in corpore, D. Thom. 3. contra Gent. cap. 120, and D. Augustine, epistola 4.
Probatur, quia cum simus Deo subiecti, debemus protestari debitam Deo servitutem, et cum ex anima constemus, et corpore, debemus modo proportionato non solum interiori cultu, sed etiam exteriori Deum agnoscere, et cum omnia ab eo recipiamus, debemus aliqua offerre, ut arguit Valentia disp. 6. quaest. 4. punct. 3. ex D. Bonav. in 4. dist. 1. p. 2. quaest. 3. in corpore, D. Thom. 3. contra Gent. cap. 120. et D. August. epistola 4.
Although sacrifice is of the law of nature in general; yet this or that Sacrifice is by Institution, as I shall show at the beginning of the Tract. de Eucharistia.
Quamvis autem de iure naturae sit sacrificium in genere; tamen hoc, vel illud Sacrificium est ex Institutione, ut ostendam Tract. de Eucharistia initio.