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 III. On Fortitude › § II. On the Parts of Fortitude

point — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Point III. On Patience

426.

I. Notion of Patience. Patience is a moral virtue inclining man to moderate sorrow in sustaining evils below dangers of death. It is said: in sustaining evils below dangers of death; by these words it is indicated that it is a potential part of fortitude.

Patience

427.

II. Object of Patience. 1. The remote material object is external actions, such as words and gestures of the body, by which internal sorrow is externally manifested; but the proximate object is the internal feelings of sorrow in sustaining evils below dangers of death.

  1. The remote formal object is the reason of debt by which we do not allow the mind to succumb to sorrow (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 136, a. 1); but the proximate formal object is the special moral goodness shining forth in the moderation of sorrow.

Patience

428.

III. Opposed Vices. By defect there is opposed impatience, by which someone indulges sorrow more than is fair, and which is accustomed to lead to complaints, anger, etc.; by excess, insensibility, by which someone is moved less by evils, whether his own or another's, than right reason prescribes.

PatienceInsensibility