A Topic of Moral Theology

The Evangelical Counsels

Counsels as distinct from precepts.

See also What Christian Perfection Is — in The Spiritual Life (Christian Perfection)

Also asked about as…

bonum melius · poverty chastity obedience as counsels · works of supererogation (ed.)

In the index as Counsels · Perfection · Obedience · Celibacy · Chastity · Christ · Marriage · *Bonum melius* · Counsel · Orders · Poverty · Sin · Virginity · Charity · Commandments · Concupiscence · Duties of bishops · Evangelical counsels · Grace · Law · Paul, St. · Precepts · Works of supererogation · *Opera meliora*

In the manuals

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology, On the Principles of Moral…, Book Third. On Laws, Second Question. On Divine…, Third Article. On Counsels, nn. 123, 124, 125 & 126 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. I, Bk. I, Tr. II, Diss. II, Pt. I, Sect. III, Ch. I, Art. IX, § IV. On Counsels, nn. 211, 212 & 213 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

A Handbook of Moral Theology (Koch–Preuss)

Vol. I, Its Subject, Norm, and Object, Morality, Its Subject, Norm, and Object, Ch. IV, Section 4: The Evangelical Counsels, nn. ¶1–¶17 (17 passages)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. I, Pt. I, Tr. III, Ch. II, Article III. On Positive Divine Law, n. 162 — 162. Evangelical counsels. To the precepts which must be observed in order to merit eternal life, especially in the New Law, there have been added certain counsels, so called evangelical counsels, concerning supererogato… Read in context →

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Vol. I, General Moral Theology, Treatise: On Laws in General, Sect. C, Fifth Part: On Divine Law, Ch. II, Second Question: On the Power of the New Law, nn. ¶1, 319, 320, 321 & 322 (18 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treatise on Christian Marriage

Ch. I, Thesis IV, nn. ¶95, IV, I, ¶97, IV, II, ¶99, IV, III, IV, IV, ¶102, IV, V, IV, VI, ¶105 & ¶106 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

Palladium Theologicum, Tome V: On the Virtues

Tr. IV, Disputation II: On the Rel…, Sect. I, Question III: Whether, and how, this state is holy, nn. 38–164 (127 passages)

Tr. IV, Disputation II: On the Rel…, Sect. I, Question XIII: Whether every religious is bound to all the counsels, nn. 1, 2 & 3 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Catechism Explained: An Exhaustive Exposition of the Christian Religion

Pt. II, Vice and Virtue, Perfection, C. CHRISTIAN PERFECTION, III. SPECIAL MEANS FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF PERFECTION, nn. ¶1–¶23 (23 passages)

You and Yours: Practical Talks on Home Life

Scott, You and Yours, XIV: Young Men and the Higher Life, nn. ¶594–¶631 (38 passages)

Scott, You and Yours, XV: Young Women and the Higher Life, nn. ¶632–¶651 & ¶653–¶669 (37 passages)

The Foundation of True Morality

Chapter IV: Counsels and Precepts, nn. ¶97, ¶98, ¶99, ¶100, ¶102, ¶103, ¶104, ¶105, ¶106, ¶109, ¶110, ¶111, ¶112, ¶113, ¶114, ¶115, ¶116, ¶117, ¶118, ¶120, ¶121, ¶122, ¶123 & ¶124 (24 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading Law — Slater, Manual of Moral Theology · McHugh–Callan, Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion · Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion (4th ed., 1905) · Bucceroni, Cases of Conscience · Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884) · Tanquerey · Marc, Institutiones Morales · Konings, Theologia Moralis · Sabetti-Barrett, Compendium of Moral Theology · Billuart, Summa Summae · Slater, Cases I · Coppens, Moral Philosophy and 2 more — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)