What the natural law commands

Acts conformable or contrary to rational nature; its universality and immutability.

The works themselves ask 2 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.

In the index as Law · Interpretation · Natural divine law · Promulgation · Age · Boy · Decalogue · Dispensations · Ignorance · Independent, or lay, morality · Infants · Lay or independent morality · Natural · Right · Subject · Synderesis

In the manuals

Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Thomas Slater, S.J. — 3 passages

Vol. I, Bk. III, Ch. X, Section I. The Natural Law, nn. 1, 2 & 3 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

John A. McHugh, O.P., and Charles J. Callan, O.P. — 23 passages

Vol. I, Pt. I, Q. III, Art. 2. The Natural Law, Properties, nn. 305–327 (23 passages)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Jean-Pierre Gury, S.J.; notes by Antonio Ballerini, S.J. — 3 passages

Vol. I, Treatise On Laws, Part One. On Laws in General, Ch. III, Article II. On the Subject of Law, n. 91 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Adolphe Tanquerey, S.S. — 8 passages

Vol. II, Fundamental Moral Theology…, On Laws, nn. 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227 & 228 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Benedict Henry Merkelbach, O.P. — 42 passages

Vol. I, General Moral Theology, Treatise: On Laws in General, Section B: On the Laws Whi…, Third Part: On Natural Law, First Question: On the Essence of Natural Law, nn. ¶1, 245, 246, 247, 248 & 249 (42 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Aloysius Sabetti, S.J., and Timothy Barrett, S.J.

Vol. I, Tr. III, Pt. II, Chapter I. On Natural Law, n. 107 — Natural law, according to St. Thomas, is "the participation of the eternal law in the rational creature." If you unfold this definition a little, you will be able to say that natural law is a necessary divine command, ma… Read in context →

Moral Philosophy: Ethics, Deontology and Natural Law

Joseph Rickaby, S.J. — 7 passages

Rickaby, Moral Philosophy, Appendix, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6 & ¶7 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading Natural Law — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Koch–Preuss · Vermeersch, Theologia Moralis · Coppens, Medical Practice · Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis · Marc, Institutiones Morales · Konings, Theologia Moralis · Billuart, Summa Summae · Slater, Back to Morality · Decretum of Gratian — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)