Greco-Christian stream·Opera Omnia Sancti Thomae (Complete Works of Thomas Aquinas)·Summa Theologiae·Secunda Secundae·Q103. Dulia
Source context
- Theme
- Dulia: the virtue of rendering fitting honor and reverence to persons of excellence or authority
- Soul-faculty
- Intellectual Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Aristotelian ethicsAquinas draws on Aristotle's analysis of honor (timē) as a proper response to virtue and excellence, structuring dulia as the mean between obsequiousness and contempt of legitimate authority.
- Confucian ritual propriety (lǐ)Cross-tradition congruence exists between Aquinas's dulia and the Confucian emphasis on graduated reverence owed to persons according to role and merit within a structured moral hierarchy.
Q103. Dulia
Article 1
[II-II.q.103.a.1.arg.1] It seems that honor does not denote something corporal. For honor is showing reverence in acknowledgment of virtue, as may be gathered from the Philosopher (Ethic. i, 5). Now showing reverence is something spiritual, since to revere is an act of fear, as stated above (81, 2, ad 1). Therefore honor is something spiritual.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.arg.1] Ad primum sic proceditur. 1. Videtur quod honor non importet aliquid corporale. Honor enim est exhibitio reverentiae in testimonium virtutis, ut potest accipi a Philosopho in I Ethic., cap. v. Sed exhibitio reverentiae est aliquid spirituale: revereri enim est actus timoris, ut supra habitum est. Ergo honor est aliquid spirituale.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.arg.2] Further, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. iv, 3), "honor is the reward of virtue." Now, since virtue consists chiefly of spiritual things, its reward is not something corporal, for the reward is more excellent than the merit. Therefore honor does not consist of corporal things.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.arg.2] 2. Præterea secundum Philosophum in IV Ethic., cap. III, aliquant. a princ., « honor est præmium virtutis. » Virtutis autem, quæ principaliter in spiritualibus consistit, præmium non est aliquid corporale, cum præmium sit potius merito. Ergo honor non consistit in corporalibus.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.arg.3] Further, honor is distinct from praise, as also from glory. Now praise and glory consist of external things. Therefore honor consists of things internal and spiritual.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.arg.3] 3. Præterea, honor a laude distinguitur, et etiam a gloria. Sed laus, et gloria in exterioribus consistunt. Ergo honor consistit in interioribus, et spiritualibus.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.sc] Jerome in his exposition of 1 Timothy 5:3, "Honor widows that are widows indeed," and (1 Timothy 5:17), "let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honor" etc. says (Ep. ad Ageruch.): "Honor here stands either for almsgiving or for remuneration." Now both of these pertain to corporal things. Therefore honor consists of corporal things.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.sc] Sed contra est quod Hieronymus, exponens illud I ad Tim., v: Viduas honora quæ vere viduæ sunt, et qui bene præsunt presbyteri, duplici honore digni haeantur, dicit, Ep. cxxiii, col. 1049, t. 1: « Honor in præsentiarum vel pro eleemosyna, vel pro munere accipitur. » Utrumque autem horum ad corporalia pertinet. Ergo honor in corporalibus consistit.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.co] Honor denotes a witnessing to a person's excellence. Therefore men who wish to be honored seek a witnessing to their excellence, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. i, 5; viii, 8). Now witness is borne either before God or before man. Before God, Who is the searcher of hearts, the witness of one's conscience suffices. wherefore honor, so far as God is concerned, may consist of the mere internal movement of the heart, for instance when a man acknowledges either God's excellence or another man's excellence before God. But, as regards men, one cannot bear witness, save by means of signs, either by words, as when one proclaims another's excellence by word of mouth, or by deeds, for instance by bowing, saluting, and so forth, or by external things, as by offering gifts, erecting statues, and the like. Accordingly honor consists of signs, external and corporal.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.co] Respondeo dicendum, quod honor testificationem quamdam importat de excellentia alicujus. Unde homines qui volunt honorari, testimonium suæ excellentiæ quærunt, ut per Philosophum patet, in I Ethic., cap. v et in VIII, cap. viii. Testimonium autem redditur vel coram Deo, vel coram hominibus. Coram Deo qui dem, qui inspector est cordium, testimonium conscientiae sufficit; et ideo honor quoad Deum potest consistere in solo interiori motu cordis, dum scilicet aliquis recogitat vel Dei excellentiam, vel etiam alterius hominis coram Deo. Sed quoad homines aliquis non potest testimonium ferre nisi per aliqua signa exteriora, vel verborum, puta cum aliquis ore pronuntiat excellentiam alicu-jus; vel factis, sicut inclinationibus, obviationibus etaliis hujusmodi; vel etiam exterioribus rebus, puta in exniorum vel munerum oblatione $^1$, aut imaginum institutione, vel aliis hujusmodi. Et secundum hoc honor in signis exterioribus et corporalibus consistit.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.ad.1] Reverence is not the same as honor: but on the one hand it is the primary motive for showing honor, in so far as one man honors another out of the reverence he has for him; and on the other hand, it is the end of honor, in so far as a person is honored in order that he may be held in reverence by others.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod reverentia non est idem quod honor. Sed ex una parte est principium $^2$ motivum ad honorandum, inquantum scilicet aliquis ex reverentia quam habet ad aliquem eum honorat; ex alia vero parte est honoris finis, inquantum scilicet aliquis ad hoc honoratur, ut in reverentia habeatur ab aliis.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.ad.2] According to the Philosopher (Ethic. iv, 3), honor is not a sufficient reward of virtue: yet nothing in human and corporal things can be greater than honor, since these corporal things themselves are employed as signs in acknowledgment of excelling virtue. It is, however, due to the good and the beautiful, that they may be made known, according to Matthew 5:15, "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house." In this sense honor is said to be the reward of virtue.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.ad.2] Ad secundum dicendum, quod, sicut Philosophus ibidem dicit, honor non est sufficiens virtutis præmium; sed nihil potest esse in humanis rebus et corporalibus majus honore, inquantum scilicet ipsæ corporales res sunt signa determinativa $^5$ excellentis virtutis. Est autem debitum bono et pulchro, ut manifestetur, secundum illud Matth., v, 15: Neque ascendunt lucernam et ponunt eam sub modio, sed super candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt. Et pro tanto præmium virtutis dicitur honor.
[II-II.q.103.a.1.ad.3] Praise is distinguished from honor in two ways. First, because praise consists only of verbal signs, whereas honor consists of any external signs, so that praise is included in honor. Secondly, because by paying honor to a person we bear witness to a person's excelling goodness absolutely, whereas by praising him we bear witness to his goodness in reference to an end: thus we praise one that works well for an end. On the other hand, honor is given even to the best, which is not referred to an end, but has already arrived at the end, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. i, 5).
Glory is the effect of honor and praise, since the result of our bearing witness to a person's goodness is that his goodness becomes clear to the knowledge of many. The word "glory" signifies this, for "glory" is the same as kleria, wherefore a gloss of Augustine on Romans 16:27 observes that glory is "clear knowledge together with praise."
[II-II.q.103.a.1.ad.3] Ad tertium dicendum, quod laus distinguitur ab honore dupliciter: uno modo, quia laus consistit in solis signis verborum, honor autem in quibuscumque exterioribus signis, et secundum hoc laus in honore includitur; alio modo, quia per exhibitionem honoris testimonium reddimus de excellentia bonitatis alicujus absolute; sed per laudem testificamur de bonitate alicujus in ordine ad finem, sicut laudamus bene operantem propter finem. Honor autem est etiam optimorum, quæ non ordinantur ad finem, sed jam sunt in fine, ut patet per Philosophum in I Ethic., cap. v. Gloria autem est effectus honoris et laudis, quia ex hoc quod testificamur de bonitate alicujus clarescit bonitas ejus in notitia plurimorum, et hoc importat nomen gloriæ: nam gloria dicitur, quasi claria; unde ad Rom., ult., dicit quædam glossa $^4$ Augustini quod « gloria est clara cum laude notitia. » $^1$ Ita cod.; $^2$ $^3$ $^4$ Non ex Ambrosio desumpta, ut olim notabatur, sed ex Augustino, II contra Maximinum,
Article 2
[II-II.q.103.a.2.arg.1] It seems that honor is not properly due to those who are above us. For an angel is above any human wayfarer, according to Matthew 11:11, "He that is lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist." Yet an angel forbade John when the latter wished to honor him (Apocalypse 22:10). Therefore honor is not due to those who are above us.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.arg.2] Further, honor is due to a person in acknowledgment of his virtue, as stated above (1; 63, 3). But sometimes those who are above us are not virtuous. Therefore honor is not due to them, as neither is it due to the demons, who nevertheless are above us in the order of nature.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.arg.2] 2. Præterea, honor debetur alicui in testimonium virtutis, ut dictum est. Sed quandoque contingit quod superiores non sunt virtuosi. Ergo eis non debetur honor, sicut nec dæmonibus, qui tamen superiores nobis sunt ordine naturæ.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.arg.3] Further, the Apostle says (Romans 12:10): "With honor preventing one another," and we read (1 Peter 2:17): "Honor all men." But this would not be so if honor were due to those alone who are above us. Therefore honor is not due properly to those who are above us.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.arg.3] 3. Præterea, Apostolus dicit ad Rom., xii, 10: Honore invicem prævenientes; et I Petr., ii, 17: Omnes honorate. Sed hoc non esset servandum, si solis superioribus hnor deberetur. Ergo honor non debetur proprie superioribus. Præterea, Tobiæ, i, 16, dicitur quod Tobias habebat ex his quibus fuerat honoratus a rege decem talenta; legitur etiam Esther, vi, 41, quod Assuerus honoravit Mardochæum, et coram eo fecit clamari: Hoc honore * dignus est quem rex honorare voluerit. Ergo honor etiam exhibetur inferioribus; et ita non videtur quod honor proprie superioribus debeatur $^5$.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.arg.4] Further, it is written (Tobit 1:16) that Tobias "had ten talents of silver of that which he had been honored by the king": and we read (Esther 6:11) that Assuerus honored Mardochaeus, and ordered it to be proclaimed in his presence: "This honor is he worthy of whom the king hath a mind to honor." Therefore honor is paid to those also who are beneath us, and it seems, in consequence, that honor is not due properly to those who are above us.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.sc] The Philosopher says (Ethic. i, 12) that "honor is due to the best."
[II-II.q.103.a.2.sc] Sed contra est quod Philosophus dicit in I Ethic., cap. xii, et lib. IV, cap. iii, quod « honor debetur optimis. »
[II-II.q.103.a.2.co] As stated above (Article 1), honor is nothing but an acknowledgment of a person's excelling goodness. Now a person's excellence may be considered, not only in relation to those who honor him, in the point of his being more excellent than they, but also in itself, or in relation to other persons, and in this way honor is always due to a person, on account of some excellence or superiority.
For the person honored has no need to be more excellent than those who honor him; it may suffice for him to be more excellent than some others, or again he may be more excellent than those who honor him in some respect and not simply.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.co] Respondeo dicendum, quod, sicut supra dictum est, honor nihil aliud est quam quædam protestatio de excellentia bonitatis alicujus. Potest autem alicujus excellentia considerari, non solum per comparisonem ad honorantem, ut scilicet sit excellentior eo qui honoratur $^6$, sed etiam secundum se, vel per comparisonem ad aliquos alios: et secundum hoc honor sem-per debetur alicui propter aliquam excellentiam vel superioritatem. Non enim opor- $^7$ Sic cod.; $^8$ Sic cod.; tet quod ille qui honoratur sit excellentior honorante, sed forte quibusdam aliis, vel etiam ipso honorante quantum ad aliquid, et non simpliciter.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.1] The angel forbade John to pay him, not any kind of honor, but the honor of adoration and latria, which is due to God. Or again, he forbade him to pay the honor of dulia, in order to indicate the dignity of John himself, for which Christ equaled him to the angels "according to the hope of glory of the children of God": wherefore he refused to be honored by him as though he were superior to him.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod angelus prohibuit Joannem non a quacumque honoratione, sed ab honoratione adorationis latriæ, quæ debetur Deo; vel etiam ab honoratione duliæ, ut ostenderet ipsius Joannis dignitatem, qua per Christum erat angelis adæquatus, secundum spem gloriæ filiorum Dei; et ideo nolebat ab eo honorari tamquam superior.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.2] A wicked superior is honored for the excellence, not of his virtue but of his dignity, as being God's minister, and because the honor paid to him is paid to the whole community over which he presides. As for the demons, they are wicked beyond recall, and should be looked upon as enemies, rather than treated with honor.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.2] Ad secundum dicendum, quod si prælati sunt mali, non honorantur propter excellentiam propriæ virtutis, sed propter excellentiam dignitatis, secundum quam sunt Dei ministri: et etiam in eis honoratur tota communitas cui præsunt. Dæmones autem sunt irrevocabiliter mali, et pro inimicis habendi magis quam honorandi.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.3] In every man is to be found something that makes it possible to deem him better than ourselves, according to Philippians 2:3, "In humility, let each esteem others better than themselves," and thus, too, we should all be on the alert to do honor to one another.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.3] Ad tertium dicendum, quod in quolibet inventur aliquid ex quo potest aliquis eum superiorem reputare, secundum illud ad Philip., ii, 3: In humilitate superiores invicem arbitrantes; et secundum hoc etiam omnes se invicem debent honore prævenire.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.4] Private individuals are sometimes honored by kings, not that they are above them in the order of dignity but on account of some excellence of their virtue: and in this way Tobias and Mardochaeus were honored by kings.
[II-II.q.103.a.2.ad.4] Ad quartum dicendum, quod privatæ personæ interdum honorantur a regibus, non quia sint eis superiores secundum ordinem dignitatis, sed propter aliquam excellentiam virtutis ipsarum; et secundum hoc honorati sunt Tobias et Mardochæus a regibus.
Article 3
[II-II.q.103.a.3.arg.1] It seems that dulia is not a special virtue distinct from latria. For a gloss on Psalm 7:1, "O Lord my God, in Thee have I put my trust," says: "Lord of all by His power, to Whom dulia is due; God by creation, to Whom we owe latria." Now the virtue directed to God as Lord is not distinct from that which is directed to Him as God. Therefore dulia is not a distinct virtue from latria.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.arg.1] Ad tertium sic proceditur. 4. Videtur quod dulia non sit specialis virtus a latria distincta. Quia super illud psal. vii: Domine Deus meus, in te speravi, dicit Glossa interl.: « Dominus omnium per potentiam cui debetur dulia; Deus per creationem, cui debetur latria. » Sed non est distincta virtus quæ ordinatur in Deum, secundum quod est Dominus, et secun-dum quod est Deus. Ergo dulia non est virtus distincta a latria.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.arg.2] Further, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. viii, 8), "to be loved is like being honored." Now the charity with which we love God is the same as that whereby we love our neighbor. Therefore dulia whereby we honor our neighbor is not a distinct virtue from latria with which we honor God.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.arg.2] 2. Præterea, secundum Philosophum, in VIII Ethic., cap. viii, circa princ., « amari simile est ei quod est honorari. » Sed eadem est virtus charitatis qua amatur Deus et qua amatur proximus. Ergo dulia, qua honoratur proximus, non est alia virtus a latria, qua honoratur Deus.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.arg.3] Further, the movement whereby one is moved towards an image is the same as the movement whereby one is moved towards the thing represented by the image. Now by dulia we honor a man as being made to the image of God. For it is written of the wicked (Wisdom 2:22-23) that "they esteemed not the honor of holy souls, for God created man incorruptible, and to the image of His own likeness He made him." Therefore dulia is not a distinct virtue from latria whereby God is honored.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.arg.3] 3. Præterea, idem est motus quo aliquis movetur in imaginem et in rem cujus est imago. Sed per duliam honoratur homo, inquantum est ad Dei imaginem; dicitur enim Sap., ii, 22, de impiis quod non judicaverunt honorem animarum sanctarum, quoniam Deus creavit hominem inexterminabilem, et ad imaginem similitudinis suæ fecit illum. Ergo dulia non est alia virtus a latria, qua honoratur Deus.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.sc] Augustine says (De Civ. Dei x), that "the homage due to man, of which the Apostle spoke when he commanded servants to obey their masters and which in Greek is called dulia, is distinct from latria which denotes the homage that consists in the worship of God."
[II-II.q.103.a.3.sc] Sed contra est quod Augustinus dicit in X De civit. Dei, cap. i, col. 278, t. 7, quod « alia est servitus quæ debetur hominibus, secundum quam præcipit Apostolus servos dominis suis subditos esse, » quæ scilicet græce dulia dicitur, « alia vero latria quæ dicitur servitus pertinens ad colendum Deum. »
[II-II.q.103.a.3.co] According to what has been stated above (Question 101, Article 3), where there are different aspects of that which is due, there must needs be different virtues to render those dues. Now servitude is due to God and to man under different aspects: even as lordship is competent to God and to man under different aspects. For God has absolute and paramount lordship over the creature wholly and singly, which is entirely subject to His power: whereas man partakes of a certain likeness to the divine lordship, forasmuch as he exercises a particular power over some man or creature. Wherefore dulia, which pays due service to a human lord, is a distinct virtue from latria, which pays due service to the lordship of God. It is, moreover, a species of observance, because by observance we honor all those who excel in dignity, while dulia properly speaking is the reverence of servants for their master, dulia being the Greek for servitude.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.co] Respondeo dicendum, quod secundum ea quæ supra dicta sunt, ubi est alia ratio debiti, ibi necesse est quod sit alia virtus, quæ debitum reddat. Alia autem ratione debetur servitus Deo et homini; sicut et alia ratione dominium competit Deo et homini: nam Deus plenarium et principale dominium habet respectu totius et cujuslibet creaturæ, quæ totaliter ejus subjicitur potestati: homo autem participat quam-dam similitudinem divini dominii, secundum quod habet particularem potestatem super aliquem hominem, vel super aliquam creaturam. Et ideo dulia, quæ debitam servitutem exhibet homini dominanti, alia virtus est a latria, quæ exhibet debitam servitutem divino dominio. Et est quædam observantiæ species, quia per observantiam honoramus quascumque personas dignitate præcellentes; per duliam autem proprie sumptam servi dominos suos venerantur: dulia enim græce servitus dicitur.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.ad.1] Just as religion is called piety by way of excellence, inasmuch as God is our Father by way of excellence, so again latria is called dulia by way of excellence, inasmuch as God is our Lord by way of excellence. Now the creature does not partake of the power to create by reason of which latria is due to God: and so this gloss drew a distinction, by ascribing latria to God in respect of creation, which is not communicated to a creature, but dulia in respect of lordship, which is communicated to a creature.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod sicut religio per excellentiam dicitur pietas, inquantum Deus est per excellentiam pater, ita etiam latria per excellentiam dicitur dulia, inquantum Deus excellenter est dominus. Non autem creatura participat potentiam creandi, ratione cujus Deo debetur latria. Et ideo Glossa illa distinxit attribuens latriam Deo secundum creationem, quæ creaturæ non communicatur, duliam vero secundum dominium, quod creaturæ communicatur.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.ad.2] The reason why we love our neighbor is God, since that which we love in our neighbor through charity is God alone. Wherefore the charity with which we love God is the same as that with which we love our neighbor. Yet there are other friendships distinct from charity, in respect of the other reasons for which a man is loved. On like manner, since there is one reason for serving God and another for serving man, and for honoring the one or the other, latria and dulia are not the same virtue.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.ad.2] Ad secundum dicendum, quod ratio diligendi proximum Deus est; non enim per charitatem diligimus in proximo nisi Deum. Et ideo eadem charitas est qua diligitur Deus et proximus. Sunt tamen aliæ amicitiæ differentes a charitate secundum alias rationes quibus homines amantur. Et similiter cum sit alia ratio serviendi Deo et homini, aut honorandi utrumque, non est eadem virtus latria et dulia.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.ad.3] Movement towards an image as such is referred to the thing represented by the image: yet not every movement towards an image is referred to the image as such, and consequently sometimes the movement to the image differs specifically from the movement to the thing. Accordingly we must reply that the honor or subjection of dulia regards some dignity of a man absolutely. For though, in respect of that dignity, man is made to the image or likeness of God, yet in showing reverence to a person, one does not always refer this to God actually.
Or we may reply that the movement towards an image is, after a fashion, towards the thing, yet the movement towards the thing need not be towards its image. Wherefore reverence paid to a person as the image of God redounds somewhat to God: and yet this differs from the reverence that is paid to God Himself, for this in no way refers to His image.
[II-II.q.103.a.3.ad.3] Ad tertium dicendum, quod motus qui est in imaginem, inquantum est imago, refertur in rem cujus est imago; non tamen omnis motus qui est in imaginem refertur in eam, inquantum est imago; et ideo quandoque est alius motus specie in imaginem, et motus in rem. Sic ergo dicendum est quod honor vel subjectio duliæ respicit absolute quamdam hominis dignitatem; licet enim secundum illam dignitatem sit homo ad imaginem vel similitudinem Dei, non tamen semper homo, quando reverentiam alteri exhibit, refert hoc actu in Deum. Vel dicendum, quod motus qui est in imaginem, quodammodo est in rem, non tamen motus qui est in rem oportet quod sit in imaginem. Et ideo reverentia quæ exhibetur alicui, inquantum est imago Dei, redundat quodammodo in Deum. Alia tamen est reverentia quæ ipsi Deo exhibetur, quæ nullo modo pertinet ad ejus imaginem.
Article 4
[II-II.q.103.a.4.arg.1] It seems that dulia has various species. For by dulia we show honor to our neighbor. Now different neighbors are honored under different aspects, for instance king, father and master, as the Philosopher states (Ethic. ix, 2). Since this difference of aspect in the object differentiates the species of virtue, it seems that dulia is divided into specifically different virtues.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.arg.1] Ad quartum sic proceditur. 4. Videtur quod dulia habeat diversas species. Per duliam enim exhibetur honor proximo. Diversa autem ratione honorantur diversi proximi, sicut rex, pater et magister, ut patet per Philosophum in IX Ethic., cap. 11. Cum ergo diversa ratio objecti diversificet speciem virtutis, videtur quod dulia dividatur in virtutes specie differentes.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.arg.2] Further, the mean differs specifically from the extremes, as pale differs from white and black. Now hyperdulia is apparently a mean between latria and dulia: for it is shown towards creatures having a special affinity to God, for instance to the Blessed Virgin as being the mother of God. Therefore it seems that there are different species of dulia, one being simply dulia, the other hyperdulia.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.arg.2] 2. Præterea, medium differt specie ab extremis, sicut pallidum ab albo et nigro. Sed hyperdulia videtur esse medium inter latriam et duliam: exhibetur enim creaturis, quæ habent specialem affinitatem ad Deum, sicut B. Virgini, inquantum est mater Dei. Ergo videtur quod duliæ sint species differentes, una quidem dulia simpliciter, alia vero hyperdulia.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.arg.3] Further, just as in the rational creature we find the image of God, for which reason it is honored, so too in the irrational creature we find the trace of God. Now the aspect of likeness denoted by an image differs from the aspect conveyed by a trace. Therefore we must distinguish a corresponding difference of dulia: and all the more since honor is shown to certain irrational creatures, as, for instance, to the wood of the Holy Cross.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.arg.3] 3. Præterea, sicut in creatura rationali inventur imago Dei, ratione cujus honoratur, ita etiam in creatura irrationali inventur vestigium Dei. Sed alia ratio similitudinis importatur in nomine imaginis, et in nomine vestigii. Ergo etiam oportet secundum hoc diversas species duliæ attendi, præsertim cum quibusdam irrationabilibus creaturis honor exhibeatur, sicut ligno sanctæ crucis, et aliis hujusmodi.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.sc] Dulia is condivided with latria. But latria is not divided into different species. Neither therefore is dulia.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.sc] Sed contra est quod dulia contra latriam dividitur. Latria autem non dividitur per diversas species. Ergo nec dulia.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.co] Dulia may be taken in two ways. On one way it may be taken in a wide sense as denoting reverence paid to anyone on account of any kind of excellence, and thus it comprises piety and observance, and any similar virtue whereby reverence is shown towards a man. Taken in this sense it will have parts differing specifically from one another. On another way it may be taken in a strict sense as denoting the reverence of a servant for his lord, for dulia signifies servitude, as stated above (Article 3). Taken in this sense it is not divided into different species, but is one of the species of observance, mentioned by Tully (De Invent. Rhet. ii), for the reason that a servant reveres his lord under one aspect, a soldier his commanding officer under another, the disciple his master under another, and so on in similar cases.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.co] Respondeo dicendum, quod dulia potest accipi dupliciter: uno modo communiter, secundum quod exhibet reverentiam cuicumque homini ratione cujuscumque excellentiae, et sic continet sub se pietatem et observantiam, et quamcumque hujusmodi virtutem, quæ homini reverentiam exhibet; et secundum hoc habebit partes specie diversas. Alio modo potest accipi stricte, prout secundum eam, reverentiam exhibet servus domino; nam dulia servitus dicitur, ut dictum est, et secundum hoc non dividitur in diversas species, sed est una specierum observantiæ, quam Tullius ponit, lib. II de Invent., aliquant. ante fin., eo quod alia ratione servus reveretur dominum, miles ducem, discipulus magistrum, et sic de aliis hujusmodi.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.ad.1] This argument takes dulia in a wide sense.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod ratio illa procedit de dulia communiter sumpta.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.ad.2] Hyperdulia is the highest species of dulia taken in a wide sense, since the greatest reverence is that which is due to a man by reason of his having an affinity to God.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.ad.2] Ad secundum dicendum, quod hyperdulia est potissima species duliæ communiter sumptæ: maxima enim reverentia debetur homini ex affinitate quam habet ad Deum.
[II-II.q.103.a.4.ad.3] Man owes neither subjection nor honor to an irrational creature considered in itself, indeed all such creatures are naturally subject to man. As to the Cross of Christ, the honor we pay to it is the same as that which we pay to Christ, just as the king's robe receives the same honor as the king himself, according to Damascene (De Fide Orth. iv).
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.103.a.4.ad.3] Ad tertium dicendum, quod creaturæ irrationali in se consideratæ non debetur ab homine aliqua subjectio vel honor; quin potius omnis talis creatura est naturaliter homini subjecta. Quod autem crux Christi honoretur, hoc fit eodem honore quo Christus honoratur; sicut purpura regis honoratur eodem honore quo rex, ut Damascenus dicit in IV libro Orth. fid., cap. iii, col. 4106, t. 1.
JSON: /api/sources/opera-omnia-aquinas/summa-theologiae/secunda-secundae/q103.json