Section I. On the Virtue Itself of Pudicity

Pudicity is chastity insofar as it moderates acts which are ordered to venereal things, such as looks, kisses, embraces, and immodest touches. "The name of pudicity," says St. Thomas, "is taken from shame; and therefore pudicity is properly concerned with those things about which men are affected by shame or are ashamed. But men are most ashamed concerning venereal things and the signs of venereal things, such as immodest looks, kisses, and touches. And because these, that is, signs, are more often detected, therefore pudicity regards such exterior signs more; but chastity regards rather the venereal commingling itself; and therefore pudicity is ordered to chastity, not as a virtue distinct from it, but as expressing a certain circumstance of chastity" (II-II, q. 151, a. 4).