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 II. On Justice › § III. On the Potential Parts of Justice

point — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Point IX. On Affability

413.

I. Notion of Affability. Affability is a moral virtue inclining man to converse with his neighbor fittingly and pleasantly, according to the prescription of reason illumined by faith. It is said:

  1. To converse, that is, in common association as it relates to social life.

  2. Fittingly and pleasantly, etc., that is, as the condition of persons and the circumstances require.

Affability (Friendliness)

414.

II. Object of Affability. 1. The material object is all external words and deeds of which conversation with one's neighbor consists (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 114, a. 1).

  1. The remote formal object is the special reason of debt from moral goodness, by which fitting and pleasant conversation is owed to the companions of life; and thus affability is distinguished from friendship, which acts from benevolence. The proximate formal object is the special moral goodness shining forth in rendering this debt.

Affability (Friendliness)

415.

III. Opposed Vices. To affability are opposed: by defect, contentiousness, by which someone contradicts another beyond what is due; by excess, flattery, by which someone desires too much to please another, praising him beyond what is due (St. Thomas, II-II, qq. 115-116).

Affability (Friendliness)