Part 2 (1/2)

[30] Smith and Wace, _Dict. of Christian Biography_, i. 847.

[31] Fabricius, _Bibliotheca Latina_, _s.v._ Walafridus and Raba.n.u.s.

[32] _Ibid._, _s.v._ Hugo a S. Caro.

QUESTION Lx.x.xI

OF THE VIRTUE OF RELIGION

I. Does the Virtue of Religion Direct a Man To G.o.d Alone?

S. Augustine, _sermon_, cccx.x.xiv. 3 ” _on Psalm_ lxxvi. 32 _sermon_, cccxi. 14-15 II. Is Religion a Virtue?

III. Is Religion One Virtue?

IV. Is Religion a Special Virtue Distinct From Others?

V. Is Religion One of the Theological Virtues?

VI. Is Religion To Be Preferred To the Other Moral Virtues?

VII. Has Religion, Or Latria, Any External Acts?

S. Augustine, _of Care for the Dead_, V.

VIII. Is Religion the Same As Sanct.i.ty?

Cardinal Cajetan, on the Distinction Between Sanct.i.ty and Religion

I

Does the Virtue of Religion direct a Man to G.o.d Alone?

Cicero says[33]: ”Religion offers internal and external reverence to that Superior Nature which we term the Divine.”

S. Isidore says[34]: ”A religious man is, as Cicero remarks, so called from _religion_, for he is occupied with and, as it were, reads through again and again (_relegit_) the things that concern Divine wors.h.i.+p.”

Thus religion seems to be so called from reading again (_religendo_) things concerning Divine wors.h.i.+p; for such things are to be repeatedly revolved in the mind, according to those words of Proverbs iii. 6: _In all thy ways think on Him._ At the same time _religion_ might be said to be so called because ”we ought to choose again (_re-eligere_) those things which through our negligence we have lost,” as S. Augustine has noted.[35] Or perhaps it is better derived from ”binding again”

(_religando_); thus S. Augustine says[36]: ”Let religion bind us once more to the One Almighty G.o.d.”

But whether religion be so called from frequent _reading_, or from _fresh election_ of Him Whom we have negligently lost, or from _rebinding_, it properly implies a certain relation to G.o.d. For it is He to Whom we ought to be especially _bound_ as our indefectible principle; to Him must we a.s.siduously direct our _choice_ as our ultimate end; He it is Whom we negligently lose by sin and Whom we must regain by believing in Him and by professing our faith in Him.

But some deny that religion directs a man to G.o.d alone, thus:

1. S. James says[37]: _Religion clean and undefiled before G.o.d and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation; and to keep oneself unspotted from this world._ But _to visit the fatherless and widows_ indicates relation to our neighbour, and _to keep oneself unspotted from this world_ refers to ourselves. Hence religion is not confined to our relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d.

But religion has two sorts of acts. Some belong to it properly and immediately, those acts, namely, which it elicits and by which man is directed to G.o.d alone, as, for instance, to offer Him sacrifice, to adore Him, etc.

But there are other acts which religion produces through the medium of the virtues which it controls, directing them, that is, towards reverence to G.o.d; for that virtue which is concerned with the end directs those virtues which have to do with the means to the end. And in this sense _to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation_ is said to be an act of religion because commanded by it, though actually elicited by the virtue of mercy. Similarly _to keep oneself unspotted from this world_ is an act commanded by religion, though elicited by temperance or some other virtue.

2. S. Augustine says[38]: ”Since according to the genius of the Latin speech--and that not merely of the unlearned, but even of the most learned--religion is said to be shown towards our human relatives and connexions and intimates, this word 'religion' cannot be used without some ambiguity when applied to the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d; hence we cannot say with absolute confidence that religion is nought else but the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d.” Religion, then, is not limited to our relation to G.o.d, but embraces, our neighbour as well.

But it is only by an extension of the name ”religion” that it is made to embrace our relations towards our human kin, it is not according to the proper signification of the word. Hence S.