Greco-Christian stream·Opera Omnia Sancti Thomae (Complete Works of Thomas Aquinas)·Summa Theologiae·Secunda Secundae·Q54. Negligence
Source context
- Theme
- negligence as privation of due diligence in moral and practical action
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
- GA 166, 1916-01-27Steiner uses the example of a negligent chauffeur whose five-minute delay places passengers under a falling rock, illustrating how negligent action introduces karmic consequences distinct from deliberate harmful intent.
- GA 165, 1916-01-01Steiner identifies inexact, negligent thought as a causal factor underlying many unhappy external phenomena, linking carelessness in thinking to negative consequences in the world.
- GA 80b, 1923-05-15Steiner observes that parental negligence does not produce merely psychological effects in a child but manifests as physiological consequences such as altered vascular density, indicating the somatic reach of neglected moral attention.
Cross-tradition
- Aristotelian ethics (acedia and omission)Aquinas's treatment of negligence as a sin of omission — failure to apply due care — has structural precedent in Aristotle's account of voluntary inaction as a mode of moral responsibility in the Nicomachean Ethics.
- Jewish legal tradition (shogeg)Rabbinic halakha distinguishes shogeg (inadvertent transgression through negligence) from meizid (deliberate wrongdoing), paralleling Aquinas's distinction between negligence as deficient vigilance and direct culpable sin.
Q54. Negligence
Article 1
[II-II.q.54.a.1.arg.1] It would seem that negligence is not a special sin. For negligence is opposed to diligence. But diligence is required in every virtue. Therefore negligence is not a special sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.arg.1] Ad primum sic proceditur. 4. Videtur quod Christus post resurrectionem non habuerit verum corpus. Verum enim corpus non potest simul esse cum alio corpore in eodem loco. Sed corpus Christi post resurrectionem fuit simul cum alio corpore in eodem loco; intravit enim ad discipulos suos januis clausis, ut dicitur Joan., xx. Ergo videtur quod Christus post resurrectionem non habuerit verum corpus.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.arg.2] Further, that which is common to every sin is not a special sin. Now negligence is common to every sin, because he who sins neglects that which withdraws him from sin, and he who perseveres in sin neglects to be contrite for his sin. Therefore negligence is not a special sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.arg.2] 2. Præterea, verum corpus non evanescit ab aspectu intuentium, nisi forte corrumpatur. Sed corpus Christi evanuit ab oculis discipulorum eum intuentium, ut dicitur Luc., ult. Ergo videtur quod Christus post resurrectionem non habuerit verum corpus.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.arg.3] Further, every special sin had a determinate matter. But negligence seems to have no determinate matter: since it is neither about evil or indifferent things (for no man is accused of negligence if he omit them), nor about good things, for if these be done negligently, they are no longer good. Therefore it seems that negligence is not a special vice.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.arg.3] 3. Præterea, cujuslibet veri corporis est determina figura. Sed corpus Christi apparuit discipulis in alia effigie, ut patet Matth., ult. Ergo videtur quod Christus post resurrectionem non habuerit verum corpus humanum.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.sc] Sins committed through negligence, are distinguished from those which are committed through contempt.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.sc] Sed contra est quod dicitur Luc., ult. 37, quod Christo discipulis apparente, conturbati et conterriti existimabant se spiritum videre, ac si non haberet verum corpus, sed phantasticum: ad quod removendum ipse postea subdit: Palpate et videte quia spiritus carnem et ossa non habet, sicut me videtis habere. Non ergo habuit corpus phantasticum, sed verum.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.co] Negligence denotes lack of due solicitude. Now every lack of a due act is sinful: wherefore it is evident that negligence is a sin, and that it must needs have the character of a special sin according as solicitude is the act of a special virtue. For certain sins are special through being about a special matter, as lust is about sexual matters, while some vices are special on account of their having a special kind of act which extends to all kinds of matter, and such are all vices affecting an act of reason, since every act of reason extends to any kind of moral matter. Since then solicitude is a special act of reason, as stated above (Question 47, Article 09), it follows that negligence, which denotes lack of solicitude, is a special sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.co] Respondeo dicendum, quod, sicut Damascenus dicit in IV lib. Orth. fid., cap. ult., col. 1219, t. 1, « illud resurgere dicitur quod cecidit. » Corpus autem Christi per mortem cecidit, in quantum scilicet fuit ab eo anima separata, quae erat ejus formalis perfectio. Unde oportuit ad hoc quod esset vera Christi resurrectio, ut idem corpus Christi iterato eidem animæ uniretur. Et quia veritas naturæ corporis est ex forma, consequens est quod corpus Christi post resurrectionem et verum corpus fuerit, et ejusdem naturæ cujus fuerat prius. Si autem ejus corpus fuisset phantasticum, non fuisset vera resurrection, sed apparens.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.ad.1] Diligence seems to be the same as solicitude, because the more we love [diligimus] a thing the more solicitous are we about it. Hence diligence, no less than solicitude, is required for every virtue, in so far as due acts of reason are requisite for every virtue.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod corpus Christi post resurrectionem non ex miraculo, sed ex conditione gloriæ, sicut quidam dicunt, clausis januis ad discipulos introivit, simul cum alio corpore in eodem loco existens. Sed utrum hoc habere possit corpus gloriosum ex aliqua proprietate sibi indita, ut simul cum alio corpore in eodem loco existat, inferius discutietur, ubi agetur de resurrectione communi. Nunc autem quantum ad propositum sufficit, dicendum est quod non ex natura corporis, sed potius virtute divinitatis unitæ, illud corpus ad discipulos, licet verum esset, januis clausis introivit. Unde Augustinus dicit in quodam Sermone paschali, ccxLVII, § 2, col. 1457, t. 5, quod quidam sic disputant: « Si corpus erat, si hoc surrexit de sepulcro quod pependit in ligno, quomodo per clausa ostia intrare potuit? » Et respondet: « Si comprehendis modum, non est miraculum; ubi defecerit ratio, ibi est fideiædificatio. » Et Super Joan., tract. cxxI, § 4, col. 1958, t. 3, dicit: « Moli corporis, ubi divinitas erat, ostia clausa non obstiterunt; ille quipe non eis apertis intrare potuit, quo nascente virginitas matris inviolata permansit. » Et idem dicit Gregorius in quadam Homil. de octava Paschæ, xxvi in Evang., § 1, col. 1497, t. 2.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.ad.2] In every sin there must needs be a defect affecting an act of reason, for instance a defect in counsel or the like. Hence just as precipitation is a special sin on account of a special act of reason which is omitted, namely counsel, although it may be found in any kind of sin; so negligence is a special sin on account of the lack of a special act of reason, namely solicitude, although it is found more or less in all sins.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.ad.2] Ad secundum dicendum, quod, sicut dictum est, Christus resurrexit ad immortalem gloriæ vitam. Hæc est autem dispo- 1 Dæmon Berith dicit interrogantibus de Bartholomæo quod si vellet se eis ostenderet; sin autem ipsum numquam invenire possent. — Hæc ex catalago sanctorum, lib. VII, c. ciii. 2 In sitio corporis gloriosi, ut sit spirituale, id est, subjectum spiritui, ut Apostolus dicit I ad Cor., xv. Ad hoc autem quod sit omnino corpus subjectum spiritui, requiritur quod omnis actio corporis subdatur spiritus voluntati. Quod autem aliquid videatur, fit per actionem visibilis in visum, ut patet per Philosophum in II De anima, text. 73 et 74. Et ideo quicumque habet corpus glorificatum, in potestate sua habet videri quando vult, et quando non vult non videri. Hoc tamen habuit Christus non solum ex conditione corporis gloriosi, sed etiam ex virtute divinitatis, per quam fieri potestut etiam corpora non gloriosa miraculose non videantur; sicut præstitum fuit B. Bartholomæo miraculose, ut si vellet videretur, non autem videretur si non vellet. Dicitur ergo quod Christus ab oculis discipulorum evanuit, non quia corrumperetur, aut resolveretur in aliqua invisibilia; sed quia sua voluntate desiitab eis videri, vel eo præsente, vel etiam eo abscedente per dotem agilitatis.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.ad.3] Properly speaking the matter of negligence is a good that one ought to do, not that it is a good when it is done negligently, but because on account of negligence it incurs a lack of goodness, whether a due act be entirely omitted through lack of solicitude, or some due circumstance be omitted.
[II-II.q.54.a.1.ad.3] Ad tertium dicendum, quod, sicut Severianus dicit in Sermone paschali, « nemo putet Christum sua resurrectione sui vultus effigiem commutasse. » Quod est intelligendum quantum ad lineamenta membrorum; quia nihil inordinatum et deforme fuerat in corpore Christi per Spiritum sanctum concepto, quod in resurrectione corrigendum esset. Accepit tamen in resurrectione gloriam claritatis, unde idem ibidem subdit: « Sed mutatur effigies dum efficitur ex mortali immortalis; ut hoc sit acquisivisse vultus gloriam, non vultus substantiam perdidisse. » Nec tamen illis discipulis in specie gloriosa apparuit; sed sicut in potestate ejus erat ut ex ejus aspectu formaretur in oculis intuentium vel forma gloriosa, vel non gloriosa, aut etiam commixta, vel qualitercumque se habens. Modica tamen differentia sufficit ad hoc quod aliquis videatur in aliena effigie apparere.
Article 2
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.1] It would seem that negligence is not opposed to prudence. For negligence seems to be the same as idleness or laziness, which belongs to sloth, according to Gregory (Moral. xxxi, 45). Now sloth is not opposed to prudence, but to charity, as stated above (Question 35, Article 3). Therefore negligence is not opposed to prudence.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.1] Ad secundum sic proceditur. 1. Videtur quod corpus Christi non resurrexit integrum. Sunt enim de integritate humani corporis caro et sanguis; quæ Christus non videtur habuisse: dicitur enim I ad Corinth., xv, 50: Caro et sanguis regnum Dei non possidebunt *. Christus autem resurrexit in gloria regni Dei. Videtur ergo quod non habuerit carnem et sanguinem.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.2] Further, every sin of omission seems to be due to negligence. But sins of omission are not opposed to prudence, but to the executive moral virtues. Therefore negligence is not opposed to prudence.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.2] 2. Præterea, sanguis est unus de qua-tuor humoribus. Si ergo Christus habuit sanguinem, pari ratione habuit et alios humores, ex quibus causatur corruptio in corporibus animalium. Sic ergo seque-retur quod corpus Christi fuerit corrupti-bile, quod est inconveniens. Non igitur 1 habuit carnem et sanguinem.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.3] Further, imprudence relates to some act of reason. But negligence does not imply a defect of counsel, for that is "precipitation," nor a defect of judgment, since that is "thoughtlessness," nor a defect of command, because that is "inconstancy." Therefore negligence does not pertain to imprudence.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.3] 3. Præterea, corpus Christi quod resurrexit, in cælum ascendit. Sed aliquid de sanguine ejus in quibusdam Ecclesiis reservatur pro reliquiis. Non ergo resurrexit corpus Christi cum integritate om-nium suarum partium.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.4] Further, it is written (Ecclesiastes 7:19): "He that feareth God, neglecteth nothing." But every sin is excluded by the opposite virtue. Therefore negligence is opposed to fear rather than to prudence.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.arg.4] 4. Præterea, Eccle., vii, 49, dicitur: Qui timet Deum, nihil negligit. Sed unumquodque peccatum præcipue excluditur per virtutem oppositam. Ergo negligentia magis opponitur timori quam prudentiæ.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.sc] It is written (Sirach 20:7): "A babbler and a fool [imprudens] will regard no time." Now this is due to negligence. Therefore negligence is opposed to prudence.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.sc] Sed contra est quod Dominus dicit Luc., ult., 39, post resurrectionem discipulis loquens: Spiritus carnem et ossa non habet, sicut me videtis habere.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.co] Negligence is directly opposed to solicitude. Now solicitude pertains to the reason, and rectitude of solicitude to prudence. Hence, on the other hand, negligence pertains to imprudence. This appears from its very name, because, as Isidore observes (Etym. x) "a negligent man is one who fails to choose [nec eligens]": and the right choice of the means belongs to prudence. Therefore negligence pertains to imprudence.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.co] Respondeo dicendum, quod, sicut supra dictum est, corpus Christi in resurrectione fuit ejusdem naturæ, sed alterius gloriæ. Unde quidquid ad naturam corporis humani pertinet, totum fuit in corpore Christi resurgentis. Manifestum est autem quod ad naturam corporis humani pertinent carnes, et ossa, et sanguis, et alia hujusmodi. Et ideo omnia 1sta in corpore Christi resurgentis fuerunt, et etiam integraliter absque omni diminutione: alioquin non fuisset perfecta resurrectio, si non fuisset redintegratum quicquid per mortem ceciderat. Unde et Dominus fidelibus suis promittit, dicens Matth., x, 30: Vestri autem capilli capitis omnes numerati sunt; et Luc., xxI, 2 Plenius in Gregorii textu. Quæres utrum præputium Domini resurrexit? Theologi communiter negativam tenent, et asserunt tam exiguam partem non pertinere moraliter, et præcipue in viro Judæo, ad integritatem corporis. Unde præputium illud relictum fuisset in terra ad venerationem Fidelium, nec 48, dicitur: Capillus de capite vestro non peribit. Dicere autem quod corpus Christi carnem, et ossa non habuerit, et alias hujusmodi partes humano corpori naturales, pertinet ad errorem Eutychii, Constantinopolitanæ urbis episcopi, qui dicebat, ut habet 2 Greg., XIV Moral., cap. LVI, § 72, col. 4078, t. 4, quod « corpus nostrum in illa resurrectionis gloria erit impalpabile, et ventis aereque subtilius; et quod Dominus post confirmata corda discipulorum palpantium, omne illud quod in eo palpari potuit, in subtilitatem aliquam redegit. » Quod ibidem improbat Gregorius quia corpus Christi post resurrectionem immutatum non fuit, secundum illud Rom., vi, 9: Christus resurgens ex mortuis jam non moritur. Unde et ille quæ dixerat in morte retractavit. Si enim inconveniens est ut Christus alterius naturæ corpus in sua conceptione acceperit, puta cæleste, sicut Valentinus asseruit, multo magis inconveniens est quod in resurrectione alterius naturæ corpus resumpserit, quia corpus in resurrectione resumpsit ad vitam immortalem, quod in conceptione assumpserat ad vitam mortalem.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.1] Negligence is a defect in the internal act, to which choice also belongs: whereas idleness and laziness denote slowness of execution, yet so that idleness denotes slowness in setting about the execution, while laziness denotes remissness in the execution itself. Hence it is becoming that laziness should arise from sloth, which is "an oppressive sorrow," i.e. hindering, the mind from action [Cf. 35, 1; I-II, 35, 8].
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod caro et sanguis ibi non accipitur pro natura carnis et sanguinis, sed vel pro culpa carnis et sanguinis, sicut Gregorius dicit in XIV Moral., ubi supra, vel pro corruptione carnis et sanguinis: quia, ut Augustinus dicit Ad Consentium de Resurrectione carnis, epist. ccv, §15, col. 947, t. 2: « Non ibi erit corruptio et mortalitas carnis et sanguinis. » Caro igitur secundum substantiam possidet regnum Dei, secundum quod dictum est Luc., ult., Spiritus carnem et ossa non habet, sicut me videtis habere; caro autem, cum secundum corruptionem intelligitur non possidebit; unde continuo additum est in verbis Apostoli: Neque corruptio incorruptelam.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.2] Omission regards the external act, for it consists in failing to perform an act which is due. Hence it is opposed to justice, and is an effect of negligence, even as the execution of a just deed is the effect of right reason.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.2] Ad secundum dicendum, quod, sicut Augustinus dicit in eodem lib., § 3, col. 943, « fortassis, accepta occasione sanguinis, urgebit nos molestior perscrutator, et dicet: Si sanguis in corpore Christi resurgentis fuit, cur non et pi-remansit Deitati hypostatice unitum. Sed ubi asservatur? Si credas in hoc Innocentio III, et S. Brigittæ revelationibus, Romæ; juxta alios, Antuerpiæ; juxta alios Brugis; juxta alios Anicii; juxta alios in diocesi Pictaviensi; juxta alios in diversis locis divisum ac distributum. Sed cur nullibi? tuita, » id est, phlegma, « cur non et fel flavum, » id est, cholera, « et fel nigrum, » id est, melancholia, « quibus quatuor humoribus naturam carnis temperari, etiam medicinæ disciplina testatur? Sed quod-libet quisquis addat, corruptionem addere caveat, ne suæ fidei sanitatem castitatemque corrumpat; valet enim divina potentia de ista visibili atque tractabili natura corporum quibusdam manentibus, auferre quas voluerit qualitates ut absit labes, » scilicet corruptionis, « adsit effigies, adsit motio, absit fatigatio, adsit vescendi potestas, absit esuriendi necessitas. »
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.3] Negligence regards the act of command, which solicitude also regards. Yet the negligent man fails in regard to this act otherwise than the inconstant man: for the inconstant man fails in commanding, being hindered as it were, by something, whereas the negligent man fails through lack of a prompt will.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.3] Ad tertium dicendum, quod totus sanguis qui de corpore Christi fluxit, cum ad veritatem humanæ naturæ pertineat, in corpore Christi resurrexit; et eadem ratio est de omnibus particulis ad veritatem et integritatem humanæ naturæ pertinentibus. Sanguis autem ille qui in quibusdam Ecclesiis pro reliquiis observatur, non fluxit de latere Christi, sed miraculose dicitur effluxisse de quadam imagine Christi percussa.
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.4] The fear of God helps us to avoid all sins, because according to Proverbs 15:27, "by the fear of the Lord everyone declineth from evil." Hence fear makes us avoid negligence, yet not as though negligence were directly opposed to fear, but because fear incites man to acts of reason. Wherefore also it has been stated above (I-II, 44, 2) when we were treating of the passions, that "fear makes us take counsel."
[II-II.q.54.a.2.ad.4] Ad quartum dicendum, quod timor Dei operatur ad vitationem cujuslibet peccati: quia, ut dicitur Prov., xv, 27, per timorem Domini declinat omnis a malo. Et ideo timor facit negligentiam vitare, non tamen ita quod directa negligentia timori opposatur, sed inquantum timor excitat hominem ad actus rationis. Unde etiam supra habitum est, cum de passionibus ageretur, quod « timor facit consiliativos. »
Article 3
[II-II.q.54.a.3.arg.1] It would seem that negligence cannot be a mortal sin. For a gloss of Gregory [Moral. ix. 34 on Job 9:28, "I feared all my works," etc.] says that "too little love of God aggravates the former," viz. negligence. But wherever there is mortal sin, the love of God is done away with altogether. Therefore negligence is not a mortal sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.arg.1] Ad tertium sic proceditur. 1. Videtur quod corpus Christi non resurrexerit gloriosum. Corpora enim gloriosa sunt fulgentia, secundum illud Matth., xiii, 43: Fulgebunt justi, sicut sol, in regno Patris eorum. Sed corpora fulgentia videntur secundum rationem lucis, non autem secundum rationem coloris. Cum ergo corpus Christi visum fuerit sub coloris specie, sicut et prius videbatur, videtur quod non fuerit gloriosum.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.arg.2] Further, a gloss on Sirach 7:34, "For thy negligences purify thyself with a few," says: "Though the offering be small it cleanses the negligences of many sins." Now this would not be, if negligence were a mortal sin. Therefore negligence is not a mortal sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.arg.2] 2. Præterea, corpus gloriosum est incorruptibile. Sed corpus Christi non videtur fuisse incorruptibile; fuit enim palpabile, sicut et ipse dicit Luc., ult., 39: Palpate, et videte. Dicit autem Gregorius in quadam Hom. xxvi in Evang., § 1, col. 1498, t. 2, quod « corrumpi necesse est quod palpatur; et palpari non potest quod non corrumpitur. » Non ergo corpus Christi fuit gloriosum.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.arg.3] Further, under the law certain sacrifices were prescribed for mortal sins, as appears from the book of Leviticus. Yet no sacrifice was prescribed for negligence. Therefore negligence is not a mortal sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.arg.3] 3. Præterea, corpus gloriosum non est animale sed spirituale, ut patet I ad Cor., xv. Sed corpus Christi videtur fuisse animale post resurrectionem; quia cum discipulis manducavit et bibit, ut legitur Luc, ult., et Joan., ult. Ergo videtur quod corpus Christi non fuerit gloriosum.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.sc] It is written (Proverbs 19:16): "He that neglecteth his own life [Vulgate: 'way'] shall die."
[II-II.q.54.a.3.sc] Sed contra est quod Apostolus dicit ad Philip., 24: Reformabit corpus humilitatis nostræ, configuratum corpori claritatis suæ.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.co] As stated above (2, ad 3), negligence arises out of a certain remissness of the will, the result being a lack of solicitude on the part of the reason in commanding what it should command, or as it should command. Accordingly negligence may happen to be a mortal sin in two ways. First on the part of that which is omitted through negligence. If this be either an act or a circumstance necessary for salvation, it will be a mortal sin. Secondly on the part of the cause: for if the will be so remiss about Divine things, as to fall away altogether from the charity of God, such negligence is a mortal sin, and this is the case chiefly when negligence is due to contempt.
But if negligence consists in the omission of an act or circumstance that is not necessary for salvation, it is not a mortal but a venial sin, provided the negligence arise, not from contempt, but from some lack of fervor, to which venial sin is an occasional obstacle.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.co] Respondeo dicendum, quod corpus Christi in resurrectione fuit gloriosum. Et hoc apparet triplici ratione: primo quidem quia resurrectio Christi fuit exemplar et causa nostræ resurrectionis, ut habetur I ad Cor., xv, 53. Sancti autem in resurrectione habebunt corpora gloriosa, sicut ibidem dicitur: Seminatur in ignobilitate, surget in gloria. Unde cum causa sit potior causato, et exemplar exemplato, multo magis corpus Christi resurgentis fuit gloriosum. Secundo, quia per humilitatem passionis meruit gloriam resurrectionis. Unde et ipse dicebat Joan., xii, 27: Nunc anima mea turbata est, quod pertinet ad passionem; et postea subdit: Pater clarifica nomen tuum; in quo petit gloriam resurrectionis. Tertio, quia, sicut supra habitum est, anima Christi a principio suæ conceptionis fuit gloriosa per fruitionem divinitatis perfectam. Est autem dispensative factum, sicut supra dictum est, ut ab anima gloria non redundaret in corpus, ad hoc quod mysterium nostræ redemptionis sua passione impleret. Et ideo, peracto hoc mysterio passionis et mortis Christi, statim anima in corpus in resurrectione resump tum suam gloriam derivavit; et ita factum est corpus illud gloriosum. Aliter in alio loco S. Thomas sensit, et concessit non omnem sanguinem ad integritatem humanam pertinere, et forte aliquam partem sanguinis Christi non miraculose effluxi esse in terris asservatum. Olim in Capella Regis Franciae ostendebatur de Christi sanguine, et spinea corona sanguinea, et Rekaneti in conventu fratrum Heremitarum una spina ejusdem coronæ similiter sanguine tincta, et Mantuæ in abbatia S. Benedicti de sanguine Christi quem S. Longinus asportaverat, et Nurembergæ lancea Longini sanguine respersa, et apud S. Maximinum una phiala terræ sanguine tinctæ a S. Magdalena delata. An autem hæc vera sint, non disputabimus. — Sed quæritur utrum deitas a tali sanguine separata sit? Pius papa II ordinavit quod nullus sub poena excommunicationis quamcumque opinionem damnare auderet, sive affirmati-vam, sive negativam.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.ad.1] Man may be said to love God less in two ways. First through lack of the fervor of charity, and this causes the negligence that is a venial sin: secondly through lack of charity itself, in which sense we say that a man loves God less when he loves Him with a merely natural love; and this causes the negligence that is a mortal sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod omne quod recipitur in aliquo, recipitur in eo secundum modum recipientis. Quia igitur gloria corporis derivatur ab anima, ut Augustinus dicit in Epistola cxviii ad Dioscorum, § 14, col. 439, t. 2, fulgor seu claritas corporis gloriosi est secundum colorem humano corpori naturalem; sicut vitrum diversimode coloratum recipit splendorem ex illustratione solis, secundum modum sui coloris. Sicut autem in potestate hominis glorificati est ut corpus ejus videatur vel non videatur, sicut dictum est, ita in potestate ejus est quod claritas ejus videatur vel non videatur; unde potest in suo colore sine aliqua claritate videri. Et hoc modo Christus suis discipulis post resurrectionem suam apparuit.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.ad.2] According to the same authority (gloss), a small offering made with a humble mind and out of pure love, cleanses man not only from venial but also from mortal sin.
[II-II.q.54.a.3.ad.2] Ad secundum dicendum, quod corpus aliquod dicitur esse palpabile, non solum ratione resistentiæ, sed ratione suæ spissitudinis. Ad rarum autem et spissum sequuntur grave et leve, calidum et frigidum et alia hujusmodi contraria, quæ sunt principia corruptionis corporum elementarium. Unde corpus quod est palpabile humano tactu, est naturaliter corruptibile. Si autem sit aliquod corpus resistens tactui, quod non sit dispositum secundum prædictas qualitates, quæ sunt propria objecta tactus humani, sicut est corpus cæleste, tale corpus non potest dici palpabile. Corpus autem Christi post resurrectionem vere fuit ex elementis compositum, habens in se tangibiles qualitates, secundum quod requirit natura corporis humani; et ideo naturaliter erat palpabile, et si nihil aliud habuisset supra corporis humani naturam, fuisset etiam corruptibile. Habuit autem aliquid aliud quod ipsum incorruptibile reddidit, non quidem naturam cælestis corporis, ut quidam dicunt, de quo infra magis inquiretur, sed gloriam redundantem ab anima beata: quia, ut Augustinus dicit in Epistola ad Dioscorum, ubi sup., « tam potenti natura Deus fecit animam, ut ex ejus plenissima beatitudine redundet in corpus plenitudo sanitatis, id est, incorruptionis vigor. » Et ideo, sicut Gregorius dicit ibid., « ostenditur corpus Christi post resurrectionem fuisse ejusdem naturæ, sed alterius gloriæ. »
[II-II.q.54.a.3.ad.3] When negligence consists in the omission of that which is necessary for salvation, it is drawn to the other more manifest genus of sin. Because those sins that consist of inward actions, are more hidden, wherefore no special sacrifices were prescribed for them in the Law, since the offering of sacrifices was a kind of public confession of sin, whereas hidden sins should not be confessed in public.
The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas AquinasSecond and Revised Edition, 1920Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican ProvinceOnline Edition Copyright © 2009 by Kevin Knight Nihil Obstat. F. Innocentius Apap, O.P., S.T.M., Censor. Theol.Imprimatur. Edus. Canonicus Surmont, Vicarius Generalis. Westmonasterii.APPROBATIO ORDINISNihil Obstat. F. Raphael Moss, O.P., S.T.L. and F. Leo Moore, O.P., S.T.L.Imprimatur. F. Beda Jarrett, O.P., S.T.L., A.M., Prior Provincialis AngliæMARIÆ IMMACULATÆ - SEDI SAPIENTIÆ
[II-II.q.54.a.3.ad.3] Ad tertium dicendum, quod, sicut Augustinus dicit, XIII De civ. Dei, cap. xxii, col. 395, t. 7, « Salvator noster post resurrectionem jam quidem in spirituali carne, sed tamen vera, cibum ac potum cum discipulis sumpsit, non alimentorum indigentia, sed ea qua hoc poterat potestate. » Ut enim Beda dicit Super Lucam, xxiv, v. 41, col. 634, t. 3, « aliter absorbet aquam terra sitiens, aliter solis radius candens; illa indigentia, iste potentia. » Manducavit ergo post resurrectionem, non quasi cibo indigens, sed ut eo modo naturam corporis resurgentis adstrueret. Et propter hoc non sequitur quod fuerit ejus corpus animale, quod est indigens cibo.
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