Treatise V. On Virtues

Virtue, generally, is a habit of acting according to right order. Virtues are distinguished in many ways; for they are 1st. natural or supernatural, according as they are acquired and increased by natural powers, or by the aid of supernatural grace; 2nd. infused or acquired, according as they are infused by God himself, or are acquired by repeated acts of the agent; 3rd. theological or moral, according as they have for their formal object either God immediately, or the honesty of the action.

There are four cardinal moral virtues to which the others are reduced, namely prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. But since discourse concerning the moral virtues is made here and there throughout this whole Compendium of Moral Theology, here we shall treat specifically of the theological virtues, namely of faith, hope, and charity.

Virtue in General The Origin of Virtues The Theological Virtues

Within this treatise

Chapter I. On the Virtue of Faithnn. 152–161
- Article I. On Necessitynn. 152–154
- Article II. On the Material Object of Faithnn. 155–157
- Article III. On the Vices Opposed to Faithnn. 158–161
  - § I. On Infidelity in Generalnn. 158–159
  - § II. On Heresynn. 160–161
Chapter II. On the Virtue of Hopenn. 162–164
Chapter III. On the Virtue of Charitynn. 165–199
- Article I. On Love of Godnn. 166–167
- Article II. On Love of Neighbornn. 168–199
  - § I. On the Precept of Love of Neighbor in Itselfnn. 168–174
  - § II. On Works of Mercynn. 175–181
  - § III. On the Vices Opposed to Charity toward Neighbornn. 182–199