§ 1. On Continence

Continence, leaving aside its various acceptations, is taken here insofar as it implies firmness of will, lest it decline toward illicit things.¹³⁷⁸ It can be defined: a disposition of the will by which evil and vehement concupiscences concerning touch are resisted, that is, concerning food and venereal things.¹³⁷⁹ Therefore, he who resists passions in the matter of temperance is called simply continent; but he who resists other passions is called continent in a qualified respect, for example, continent as to anger, continent as to avarice, etc. Continence differs from temperance as the imperfect from the perfect.¹³⁸⁰ For temperance is subjectively seated in the concupiscible appetite, which it holds as though tamed under the right will; but continence resides in the will, which strongly resists the rebellious motions of the appetite and restrains concupiscences of touch not yet tamed.¹³⁸¹ Hence the continent man is not badly compared by some to one who receives wild beasts to be tamed, but the temperate man to one who has already tamed them. These things, however, are not to be understood as though the temperate man no longer felt any rebellious motions of concupiscence within himself - St. Paul himself experienced the contrary in himself - but a man endowed with the virtue of temperance more easily represses all rising motions.

Continence is not a perfect virtue; wherefore the Angelic Doctor notes:¹³⁸² "Continence has something of the nature of virtue, insofar, namely, as reason is made firm against the passions, lest it be led away by them; nevertheless it does not attain to the perfect nature of moral virtue, according to which even the sensitive appetite is subjected to reason, so that vehement passions contrary to reason do not rise up in it."

¹³⁷⁸ Selbstbeherrschung in sinnlichen Genüssen, maîtrise de soi-même, self-control [self-mastery in sensual enjoyments, mastery of oneself, self-control].

¹³⁷⁹ Cf. S. theol. 2, 2, q. 155, a. 2.

¹³⁸⁰ Ibid., a. 4.

¹³⁸¹ Ibid., a. 3.

¹³⁸² S. theol. 2, 2, q. 155, a. 1.