Part — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology
Part I. On the First Precept of the Decalogue
The first three precepts of the Decalogue, as we have said, order man to God, insofar, namely, as they assign the worship or honor to be shown to God. Moreover, the first precept treats of the worship which is paid to God by acts; the second, of the worship which is shown to him by words; the third prescribes public worship, to be paid through the special sanctification of certain days.
But before we treat the individual points, it is helpful to premise certain things concerning worship taken generally.
I. Notion of worship. Worship is the testimony of another's excellence and of one's own submission.
II. Division of worship. Worship taken generally is divided into civil and religious or sacred worship. Civil worship is that which is paid to men because of their natural excellence. Religious worship is that which is shown either to God because of his infinite excellence, or to angels or the blessed because of their supernatural excellence. We speak of religious worship, which is divided:
Into the worship of latria, hyperdulia, and dulia, according as it is offered to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or other heavenly citizens. The worship of latria pertains to religion (n. 385), the worship of hyperdulia and dulia to observance (n. 400).
Into absolute and relative worship. Absolute worship is that by which God and the heavenly citizens are honored in themselves; relative worship is that by which relics and images are honored with a view to the person to whom they are referred.
Into public and private worship. Worship is called public if it is offered in the name of the Church by persons legitimately deputed for this, and through acts which by institution of the Church are to be shown to God, the Saints, and the Blessed only; otherwise, private (can. 1256).
With these things noted, we shall speak first of the acts of worship prescribed by the first precept, then of the vices opposed to it, with a scholion added on the worship of heavenly citizens, images, and relics.
Within this part
Section I. On the Prescribed Actsnn. 577–588
- Chapter I. On Devotionnn. 577–579
Chapter II. On Prayernn. 580–587
- Article I. On Meditative Prayern. 581
- Article II. On Deprecative Prayernn. 582–587
- Chapter III. On Adorationn. 588
Section II. On Opposed Vicesnn. 589–631
Chapter I. On Superstitionnn. 590–605
- Article I. On Vicious Worship of Godn. 591
Article II. On Vicious Worship of a Creaturenn. 592–605
- § I. On Idolatrynn. 592–594
§ II. On Superstitious Observancenn. 595–605
- Point I. On Superstitious Observance in Generalnn. 595–598
Point II. On Superstitious Observances in Particularnn. 599–605
- Scholion I. On Hypnotismnn. 602–603
- Scholion II. On Spiritismnn. 604–605
Chapter II. On Irreligiositynn. 606–631
- Article I. On the Temptation of Godnn. 607–609
Article II. On Sacrilegenn. 610–619
- § I. On Sacrilege in Generalnn. 610–612
§ II. On Sacrileges in Particularnn. 613–619
- Point I. On Personal Sacrilegenn. 613–614
- Point II. On Local Sacrilegenn. 615–616