Article — Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis
Article II. On Observance
572. Definition. Observance965 is "a virtue by which homage and honor are offered to persons constituted in some dignity." Thus St. Thomas,966 after St. Augustine967 and Cicero,968 who say: "Observance is the virtue by which men excelling in some dignity are judged worthy of a certain homage and honor."
The name observance seems to have been imposed upon this virtue because to observe is attentively to behold or notice something; hence the veneration by which we honor those who are in some dignity is called observance, because we attentively observe such persons when they need our service.969 That which observance chiefly regards in a person excelling in some dignity is governance. For just as piety offers homage to parents because they are the authors of our life, so observance honors superiors because they govern us. Nevertheless, as St. Thomas aptly observes,970 by this virtue we honor not only our superiors, but also all those who are endowed with learning, virtue, and other excellences, so that although they do not actually govern us, nevertheless, should the occasion arise, they would be fit to govern us. Hence also that subscription commonly used in letters, "your most observant," is very significant and honorable toward the recipient of the letters.
965 Hochachtung, Ehrerbietung [high esteem, reverence].
966 S. theol. 2, 2, q. 102, a. 1.
967 Liber octoginta trium quaest. q. 31.
968 De invent. Rhet. l. 2, c. 53.
969 Cf. Billuart, De virt. iustitiae annexis diss. 1, a. 3.
970 L.c. ad 2.
573. Distinctions. A threefold observance is customarily distinguished, according as the dignity on account of which observance is offered is threefold: a) civil observance, if the dignity is civil, as in kings, teachers, masters, etc.; b) religious observance, if the dignity is ecclesiastical, as in the Pope, a bishop, a priest, etc.; c) supernatural observance, if the dignity is founded upon the heroic virtues of the saints. In this last sense observance is customarily called dulia in the strict acceptation. Sometimes, however, dulia is taken in a broader acceptation for honor also rendered to men still living.
574. The principal obligations which observance causes are honor with reverence and obedience; and these obligations are frequently inculcated in Sacred Scripture.971 It is evident of itself that not only piety but also observance is due to parents; for they are at once the authors of our life and our governors. Cajetan subtly observes972 that piety is due to the fatherland, since it is, as it were, the principle of our origin; but to the prince governing the fatherland observance alone is due, since he is not the principle of our origin, but only the governor of the citizens.
Observance is a special virtue because it has a special object distinct from the object both of piety and of the other virtues. For piety offers the homage due to someone as the principle of our origin; observance, however, furnishes the homage due to someone as the principle of our governance. Observance is violated in a manner similar to piety; nevertheless, sins against observance are (other things being equal) lighter than sins against piety, since piety introduces a closer obligation. For piety renders due homage to persons more closely joined to us, to whom consequently we are more obligated and whose injury is a graver sin.973
971 Cf. Ecclus. 7:31; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 1:17ff.
972 Comm. in 2, 2, q. 102, a. 1.
973 S. theol. 2, 2, q. 102, a. 3.