§ 4. On the duration of virtues

471. Moral virtues endure after this life as to their formal element, but not as to their material element.

It suffices to bring forward what St. Thomas has on this matter:⁴⁸ "In virtues of this kind there is something formal and something as it were material. The material element, indeed, in these virtues is a certain inclination of the appetitive part toward passions or operations according to some mode. But because this mode is determined by reason, therefore the formal element in all virtues is the very order of reason. Thus, therefore, it must be said that moral virtues of this kind do not remain in the future life as to that which is material in them; for in the future life concupiscences and pleasures of foods and venereal things will have no place; nor also fears and daring acts concerning dangers of death; nor also distributions and exchanges of things, which come into the use of the present life. But as to that which is formal, they will remain most perfectly in the blessed after this life; inasmuch as the reason of each one will be most right concerning those things which pertain to him according to that state; and the appetitive power will be moved wholly according to the order of reason in those things which pertain to that state. Hence Augustine says that 'prudence will be there without any danger of error; fortitude without the trouble of evils to be endured; temperance without the resistance of lusts; so that it belongs to prudence to prefer or equal no good to God, to fortitude to adhere to him most firmly, to temperance to be delighted by no harmful defect.' But concerning justice it is manifest what act it will have there, namely to be subject to God; because even in this life it pertains to justice to be subject to a superior."

After this life the theological virtue of charity indeed remains, but not faith nor hope.⁴⁹

⁴⁸ S. theol. 1, 2, q. 67, a. 1.

⁴⁹ Cf. ib. 2, 2, q. 18, a. 2.