718. 1. From universal precepts, which are common to all men or at least to all the faithful, particular precepts of God or of the Church must be distinguished, which refer only to certain persons, namely to those who have embraced a determinate state of life.

2. State in general is called a constant mode of living. Therefore two elements concur to constitute a state: a certain mode of living and constancy in it.

a. In order that a certain mode of living be called a state in the strict and proper sense, it is required that it be immovable or unchangeable, and indeed from an obligation which he who lives in that state cannot cast off at his own will.

Of this kind is the matrimonial state, which is immutable by reason of the matrimonial bond; the priestly state, by reason of the sacramental character and by reason of the solemn vow of chastity; the regular state, by reason of religious profession.

b. In a broader and improper sense a certain condition of life is called a state, which a man cannot easily change at his own will. Its certain immutability arises not from obligation, but from external circumstances.

Of this kind is the state of merchants, officials, physicians, craftsmen, who, although they cannot easily change the condition of life from which they ordinarily take necessary sustenance, nevertheless absolutely can renounce it.

Note 1. We are accustomed also to speak of the state of the just and sinners, of the blessed and the damned; but in this case not a mode of living, but a mode of existing is called a state. Therefore in German we call their condition not so much Stand but rather Zustand.

Note 2. State differs from office, which is not named from the habitual obligation or liberty of the person, but from the acts to be exercised by a determinate person, as the office of judge, physician, confessor, etc.²

The particular precepts to be explained in this place refer to the state of laymen and to the state of clerics; for concerning other states there is treatment either expressly in canon law, as concerning the state of regulars, or in other parts of moral theology, as concerning married persons.

Book First. On the Precepts of Laymen

The precepts which look here do not affect all laymen, but only certain ones because of the special office which they exercise. These precepts are customarily called obligations of state (Standespflichten). Nevertheless there can be discussion here not of all particular offices, but only of the principal ones, of which kind are the offices of judge, plaintiff, defendant, advocate, witness, and physician.

¹ St. Alphonsus, l. 4, n. 140-292; Lugo, De iustitia et iure, disp. 37-41; Elbel-Bierbaum, Theologia moralis, 8th ed. (Paderborn: Typographia Boni Fac., 1894), II, pr. 7; Ballerini-Palmieri, Opus theolog. mor., 3rd ed. (Prato: Giachetti, 1900), IV, n. 224-614; Genicot, Theologiae moralis institut., 8th ed. (Brussels: Dewit, 1909), II, n. 1-62; Berardi, Praxis confessariorum, 3rd ed. (Faenza: Novelli, 1898), III, n. 1-186.

² Cf. Ballerini-Palmieri IV, n. 9.