Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume I › Book I. On the General Principles of the Christian Life › Treatise III. On Those Things which Dispose Toward Human Acts, or on Habits › Dissertation I. On Virtues › Part II. On Virtues in Particular › Section II. On Supernatural Moral Virtues › Chapter II. On Supernatural Moral Virtues in Particular › Article IV. On Temperance › § IV. On the Potential Parts of Temperance

point — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Point I. On Meekness

447.

I. Notion of Meekness. Meekness is a moral virtue inclining man to moderate anger according to the prescription of reason illumined by faith. It is said to moderate anger, that is, the appetite for vengeance.

Meekness

448.

II. Object of Meekness. 1. The remote material object is constituted by all things from which the appetite for vengeance can break forth into act, for example words, deeds, or contraries which, by the aid of others, through one's own fault, or from elsewhere, happen to someone; the proximate object is the very movements of anger, insofar as they are, according to the rule of faith, either to be suppressed, or moderated, or aroused.

  1. The remote formal object is the reason of debt of measuring the movements of anger according to the principle of faith; the proximate formal object is the special moral goodness shining forth in this measuring (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 157, aa. 1 and 2).

Meekness

449.

III. Opposed Vices. By excess there is opposed to meekness irascibility, by which someone indulges the movements of anger too much, whether as to object or as to manner (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 158, aa. 1-8); by defect, however, sluggishness, by which someone unduly is not angry, or is not angry enough (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 158, a. 8).

Meekness