Article — Konings, Theologia Moralis
ARTICLE I: ON LOVE OF GOD
- 1° There is a special precept of loving God above all things both by internal affection, through true love of the heart, and also by external work. - This is established from the words of Christ:2 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart ... this is the greatest and first commandment.
2° This precept, insofar as it is affirmative, obliges to loving God above all things appreciatively, that is, in such a way that in reality He is preferred to all goods, as is clear from the natural law; but not necessarily intensively, that is, by a more intense sensitive affection than anything else, because the essence of charity does not consist in degrees.
- Questions. - Quaer. 1° When does the precept of charity urge?
Resp. 1° Of itself: a) at the beginning of the use of reason, or when man has obtained sufficient knowledge of the infinitely good God; b) most probably in the article of death, because then not merely the safe way, that is, attrition with the Sacrament of Penance, but the safest way also is to be chosen; c) several times in life. But how often in life, there is not one opinion of all. The opinion of Cardenas is more pleasing to St. Alphonsus,3 who teaches that he can with difficulty be excused from mortal sin who defers an act of charity beyond a month; this opinion he thinks must altogether be persuaded as very salutary, since in reality a man can with difficulty live long in a Christian manner, by observing the divine commandments, unless he frequently cherishes and nourishes love toward God; but he will not be able to nourish and cherish it except through acts of charity. Yet Croix notes that all meritorious works exercised from the intention of pleasing God are true acts of love, as almsgiving is. Likewise it suffices if such acts are elicited for fulfilling other precepts, as for confessing; since the precept is fulfilled in exercise, although there is no advertence to it.1 Indeed as often as those words are uttered from the heart in the Lord's Prayer: hallowed be Thy name; Thy will be done, acts of perfect charity are sufficiently elicited. Therefore timorous faithful ought in no way to be anxious as to the fulfillment of this precept.2
Resp. 2° By accident: a) if there is danger of falling into mortal sin unless an act of charity is elicited, or grave temptation cannot otherwise be overcome; for he who is held to the end is also obliged to the necessary means; - b) when the precept of contrition urges, as if it is necessary for a priest to celebrate when he does not have a supply of a confessor and is conscious to himself of grave sin; for charity is included in the act of perfect contrition.
Quaer. 2° Is the precept of charity satisfied through attrition in the reception of the Sacrament of Penance?
Resp. Negatively, because attrition does not occur principally from love of God, but of oneself, and therefore in it the principal motive of charity is lacking.
Notes to n. 277 - note sequence 1. (1) L. III. 22, 24. (2) Matth. 22, 37, 38. (3) L. III. 8 and H. A. Tr. IV, 13. Notes to n. 277 - note sequence 2. (1) L. III. 8 and H. A. Tr. IV, 13. (2) Cfr. Vind. p. 145 sq. Ed. 2a, T. I, p. XL and 168.