The Virtue of Penance

Penance as a virtue (distinct from the sacrament): sorrow for sin as an offence against God.

The works themselves ask 3 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.

Within this topic

The Virtue of Repentance

Also asked about as…

penitence · spirit of penance (ed.)

In the index as Penance · Penance as a virtue · Penance as virtue · Delay · Destruction · Detestation · Displeasure · Fear · God · Impenitence · Means · Moral imperfection · Original sin · Precept · Satisfaction · Sorrow · Venial sin

Further reading Purification as a Symbol of Penance — on Leviticus 12 ↗ — Cornelius a Lapide, The Great Commentary, read off-site at lapide.org (public-domain translation) (ed.)

In the manuals

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

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Hieronymus Noldin, S.J. — 3 passages

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Chapter First. On Penance …, Question First. On the nat…, Article First. On the virtue of penance., nn. 215, 216 & 217 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Ludovicus Wouters, C.SS.R. — 6 passages

Vol. I, Bk. I, Tr. III, Diss. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Ch. II, Art. II, § III, Point II. On Penance, nn. 389, 390, 391, 392 & 393 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. I, Pt. I, Scholion. On the Virtue of Penance, n. 276 — The virtue of penance is a habit inclining man to the destruction of his own past sin, insofar as it is an offense against God (St. Thomas, part 3, question 85, article 2). Moreover: The remote material object is every p… Read in context →

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. — 8 passages

Vol. II, Treatise On the Sacrament …, First Part. On the Essence…, Chapter I. On the Nature of Penance, n. 412 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Dominic M. Prümmer, O.P. — 10 passages

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. V, Ch. I, Article II. On the Virtue of Penance, nn. ¶43, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314 & 315 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Benedict Henry Merkelbach, O.P. — 145 passages

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Article I: On the Virtue of Penance Itself, nn. ¶1, 395, 396 & 397 (22 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Article II: On the Object of Penance, nn. ¶1, 398, 399 & 400 (19 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Article III: On the Distinction of Penance from Other Virtues, nn. ¶1, 401, 402, 403 & 404 (24 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Article IV: On the Acts of Penance, nn. ¶1, 405, 406 & 407 (24 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Article V: On the Subject of Penance, nn. ¶1, 408, 409 & 410 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Article VI: On the Necessity of Penance, nn. ¶1, 411, 412, 413, 414 & 415 (46 passages — hover a number to read it)

Christian Theology, Dogmatic and Moral, in Compendium

Daniele Concina, O.P.

Diss. I, Chapter III — On the virtue of penance, n. IV — IV. Penance is a true virtue. Since those things which are commanded by God pertain to virtue. But penance is frequently commanded by God, Matthew 3: Do penance. … Bring forth fruit worthy of penance. Again, Luke 6: Do p… Read in context →

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

John A. McHugh, O.P., and Charles J. Callan, O.P. — 9 passages (filed under the subtopics)

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. IV, Art. 3. Repentance; Penanc…, The Virtue of Repentance, nn. 2718, 2719, 2720, 2721, 2722, 2723, 2724, 2725 & 2726 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading Justice as a Virtue and Its Parts — Koch–Preuss · Marc, Institutiones Morales · Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · Rickaby, Moral Philosophy · Rickaby, Four-Square — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)