Question III. On the Other Virtues Annexed to Justice, Namely, Gratitude, Vindication, Affability, Liberality, and Epikeia

Preliminary note. Thus far there has been discussion of piety, observance, and obedience, which virtues, although they do not introduce so strict a due as justice, nevertheless still regard a true due which is customarily called legal, for the exercise of those virtues is exacted by positive laws. Thus, for example, positive laws, even civil laws, exact that piety, observance, and obedience be shown to parents.

Now those virtues must be treated which import only a due of fittingness or moral due, that is, a due which indeed cannot be strictly exacted, but which arises from a certain moral goodness and equity. These virtues, namely, gratitude, vindication, affability, liberality, and epikeia, are indeed rarely violated to such an extent that mortal sin arises, but nevertheless they are of great importance not only for the spiritual life, but also for peaceful and pleasant human intercourse. Therefore a confessor will read with great fruit those things which the Angelic Doctor discusses concerning them in S. theol. 2, 2, q. 106ff. Striving for brevity, we hand down very few things concerning them.