Morals of the Church
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Article — Marc, Institutiones Morales

Article III: On the Distinction of Acts of Religion

¶1.

Religious acts are either elicited by the virtue of religion, or commanded by it.

The Virtue of ReligionThe Commandments of God

¶541.
  1. I. The ELICITED or proper acts of religion are: devotion, prayer, adoration, sacrifice, offerings, first-fruits, tithes, vow, oath, adjuration, praise of God (2.2, q. 82 seqq.; q. 87, a. 1, ad 5).

For those things which belong to man (goods of body and soul, external goods) and those things which belong to God (authority, fidelity, and infinite perfection of God) are suitably assumed for the worship of God. Cf. Grassi, de Virt. Relig.

II. COMMANDED acts of religion are all acts which are elicited by another virtue and at the same time are performed from the motive of religion. Thus, for example, fasts undertaken in honor of God or of the Saints, or ordered by the Church in preparation for solemnities, are acts elicited by temperance, but commanded by religion.

To commanded acts of religion can also be referred acts elicited by FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY; for religion can rightly direct to the worship of God acts which already of themselves tend to this end, according to that saying of St. Augustine (Enchir., c. 3, n. 1): "God is worshiped by faith, hope, and charity."

The Virtue of ReligionThe Commandments of God