Et ideo dicendum est quod etiam secundum affectum oportet magis unum proximorum quam alium diligere. Et ratio est quia, cum principium dilectionis sit Deus et ipse diligens, necesse est quod secundum propinquitatem maiorem ad alterum istorum principiorum maior sit dilectionis affectus, sicut enim supra dictum est, in omnibus in quibus invenitur aliquod principium, ordo attenditur secundum comparationem ad illud principium. We must, therefore, say that, even as regards the affection we ought to love one neighbor more than another. The reason is that, since the principle of love is God, and the person who loves, it must needs be that the affection of love increases in proportion to the nearness to one or the other of those principles. For as we stated above (A. 1), wherever we find a principle, order depends on relation to that principle. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod dilectio potest esse inaequalis dupliciter. Uno modo, ex parte eius boni quod amico optamus. Et quantum ad hoc, omnes homines aeque diligimus ex caritate, quia omnibus optamus bonum idem in genere, scilicet beatitudinem aeternam. Alio modo dicitur maior dilectio propter intensiorem actum dilectionis. Et sic non oportet omnes aeque diligere. Reply Obj. 1: Love can be unequal in two ways: first on the part of the good we wish our friend. In this respect we love all men equally out of charity: because we wish them all one same generic good, namely everlasting happiness. Second love is said to be greater through its action being more intense: and in this way we ought not to love all equally. Vel aliter dicendum quod dilectio inaequaliter potest ad aliquos haberi dupliciter. Uno modo, ex eo quod quidam diliguntur et alii non diliguntur. Et hanc inaequalitatem oportet servare in beneficentia, quia non possumus omnibus prodesse, sed in benevolentia dilectionis talis inaequalitas haberi non debet. Alia vero est inaequalitas dilectionis ex hoc quod quidam plus aliis diliguntur. Augustinus ergo non intendit hanc excludere inaequalitatem, sed primam, ut patet ex his quae de beneficentia dicit. Or we may reply that we have unequal love for certain persons in two ways: first, through our loving some and not loving others. As regards beneficence we are bound to observe this inequality, because we cannot do good to all: but as regards benevolence, love ought not to be thus unequal. The other inequality arises from our loving some more than others: and Augustine does not mean to exclude the latter inequality, but the former, as is evident from what he says of beneficence. Ad secundum dicendum quod non omnes proximi aequaliter se habent ad Deum, sed quidam sunt ei propinquiores, propter maiorem bonitatem. Qui sunt magis diligendi ex caritate quam alii, qui sunt ei minus propinqui. Reply Obj. 2: Our neighbors are not all equally related to God; some are nearer to Him, by reason of their greater goodness, and those we ought, out of charity, to love more than those who are not so near to Him. Ad tertium dicendum quod ratio illa procedit de quantitate dilectionis ex parte boni quod amicis optamus. Reply Obj. 3: This argument considers the quantity of love on the part of the good which we wish our friends. Articulus 7 Article 7 Utrum magis debeamus diligere meliores quam nobis coniunctiores Whether we ought to love those who are better more than those who are more closely united to us? Ad septimum sic proceditur. Videtur quod magis debeamus diligere meliores quam nobis coniunctiores. Illud enim videtur esse magis diligendum quod nulla ratione debet odio haberi, quam illud quod aliqua ratione est odiendum, sicut et albius est quod est nigro impermixtius. Sed personae nobis coniunctae sunt secundum aliquam rationem odiendae, secundum illud Luc. XIV, si quis venit ad me et non odit patrem et matrem, etc., homines autem boni nulla ratione sunt odiendi. Ergo videtur quod meliores sint magis amandi quam coniunctiores. Objection 1: It would seem that we ought to love those who are better more than those who are more closely united to us. For that which is in no way hateful seems more lovable than that which is hateful for some reason: just as a thing is all the whiter for having less black mixed with it. Now those who are connected with us are hateful for some reason, according to Luke 14:26: If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, etc. On the other hand good men are not hateful for any reason. Therefore it seems that we ought to love those who are better more than those who are more closely connected with us. Praeterea, secundum caritatem homo maxime conformatur Deo. Sed Deus diligit magis meliorem. Ergo et homo per caritatem magis debet meliorem diligere quam sibi coniunctiorem. Obj. 2: Further, by charity above all, man is likened to God. But God loves more the better man. Therefore man also, out of charity, ought to love the better man more than one who is more closely united to him. Praeterea, secundum unamquamque amicitiam illud est magis amandum quod magis pertinet ad id supra quod amicitia fundatur, amicitia enim naturali magis diligimus eos qui sunt magis nobis secundum naturam coniuncti, puta parentes vel filios. Sed amicitia caritatis fundatur super communicatione beatitudinis, ad quam magis pertinent meliores quam nobis coniunctiores. Ergo ex caritate magis debemus diligere meliores quam nobis coniunctiores. Obj. 3: Further, in every friendship, that ought to be loved most which has most to do with the foundation of that friendship: for, by natural friendship we love most those who are connected with us by nature, our parents for instance, or our children. Now the friendship of charity is founded upon the fellowship of happiness, which has more to do with better men than with those who are more closely united to us. Therefore, out of charity, we ought to love better men more than those who are more closely connected with us. Sed contra est quod dicitur I ad Tim. V, si quis suorum, et maxime domesticorum curam non habet, fidem negavit et est infideli deterior. Sed interior caritatis affectio debet respondere exteriori effectui. Ergo caritas magis debet haberi ad propinquiores quam ad meliores. On the contrary, It is written (1 Tim 5:8): If any man have not care of his own and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Now the inward affection of charity ought to correspond to the outward effect. Therefore charity regards those who are nearer to us before those who are better. Respondeo dicendum quod omnis actus oportet quod proportionetur et obiecto et agenti, sed ex obiecto habet speciem, ex virtute autem agentis habet modum suae intensionis; sicut motus habet speciem ex termino ad quem est, sed intensionem velocitatis habet ex dispositione mobilis et virtute moventis. Sic igitur dilectio speciem habet ex obiecto, sed intensionem habet ex parte ipsius diligentis. I answer that, Every act should be proportionate both to its object and to the agent. But from its object it takes its species, while, from the power of the agent it takes the mode of its intensity: thus movement has its species from the term to which it tends, while the intensity of its speed arises from the disposition of the thing moved and the power of the mover. Accordingly love takes its species from its object, but its intensity is due to the lover. Obiectum autem caritativae dilectionis Deus est; homo autem diligens est. Diversitas igitur dilectionis quae est secundum caritatem, quantum ad speciem est attendenda in proximis diligendis secundum comparationem ad Deum, ut scilicet ei qui est Deo propinquior maius bonum ex caritate velimus. Quia licet bonum quod omnibus vult caritas, scilicet beatitudo aeterna, sit unum secundum se, habet tamen diversos gradus secundum diversas beatitudinis participationes, et hoc ad caritatem pertinet, ut velit iustitiam Dei servari, secundum quam meliores perfectius beatitudinem participant. Et hoc pertinet ad speciem dilectionis, sunt enim diversae dilectionis species secundum diversa bona quae optamus his quos diligimus. Now the object of charity’s love is God, and man is the lover. Therefore the specific diversity of the love which is in accordance with charity, as regards the love of our neighbor, depends on his relation to God, so that, out of charity, we should wish a greater good to one who is nearer to God; for though the good which charity wishes to all, viz. everlasting happiness, is one in itself, yet it has various degrees according to various shares of happiness, and it belongs to charity to wish God’s justice to be maintained, in accordance with which better men have a fuller share of happiness. And this regards the species of love; for there are different species of love according to the different goods that we wish for those whom we love. Sed intensio dilectionis est attendenda per comparationem ad ipsum hominem qui diligit. Et secundum hoc illos qui sunt sibi propinquiores intensiori affectu diligit homo ad illud bonum ad quod eos diligit, quam meliores ad maius bonum. On the other hand, the intensity of love is measured with regard to the man who loves, and accordingly man loves those who are more closely united to him, with more intense affection as to the good he wishes for them, than he loves those who are better as to the greater good he wishes for them. Est etiam ibi et alia differentia attendenda. Nam aliqui proximi sunt propinqui nobis secundum naturalem originem, a qua discedere non possunt, quia secundum eam sunt id quod sunt. Sed bonitas virtutis, secundum quam aliqui appropinquant Deo, potest accedere et recedere, augeri et minui, ut ex supradictis patet. Et ideo possum ex caritate velle quod iste qui est mihi coniunctus sit melior alio, et sic ad maiorem beatitudinis gradum pervenire possit. Again a further difference must be observed here: for some neighbors are connected with us by their natural origin, a connection which cannot be severed, since that origin makes them to be what they are. But the goodness of virtue, wherein some are close to God, can come and go, increase and decrease, as was shown above (Q. 24, AA. 4, 10, 11). Hence it is possible for one, out of charity, to wish this man who is more closely united to one, to be better than another, and so reach a higher degree of happiness. Est autem et alius modus quo plus diligimus ex caritate magis nobis coniunctos, quia pluribus modis eos diligimus. Ad eos enim qui non sunt nobis coniuncti non habemus nisi amicitiam caritatis. Ad eos vero qui sunt nobis coniuncti habemus aliquas alias amicitias, secundum modum coniunctionis eorum ad nos. Cum autem bonum super quod fundatur quaelibet alia amicitia honesta ordinetur sicut ad finem ad bonum super quod fundatur caritas, consequens est ut caritas imperet actui cuiuslibet alterius amicitiae, sicut ars quae est circa finem imperat arti quae est circa ea quae sunt ad finem. Et sic hoc ipsum quod est diligere aliquem quia consanguineus vel quia coniunctus est vel concivis, vel propter quodcumque huiusmodi aliud licitum ordinabile in finem caritatis, potest a caritate imperari. Et ita ex caritate eliciente cum imperante pluribus modis diligimus magis nobis coniunctos. Moreover there is yet another reason for which, out of charity, we love more those who are more nearly connected with us, since we love them in more ways. For, towards those who are not connected with us we have no other friendship than charity, whereas for those who are connected with us, we have certain other friendships, according to the way in which they are connected. Now since the good on which every other friendship of the virtuous is based, is directed, as to its end, to the good on which charity is based, it follows that charity commands each act of another friendship, even as the art which is about the end commands the art which is about the means. Consequently this very act of loving someone because he is akin or connected with us, or because he is a fellow-countryman or for any like reason that is referable to the end of charity, can be commanded by charity, so that, out of charity both eliciting and commanding, we love in more ways those who are more nearly connected with us. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod in propinquis nostris non praecipimur odire quod propinqui nostri sunt; sed hoc solum quod impediunt nos a Deo. Et in hoc non sunt propinqui, sed inimici, secundum illud Mich. VII, inimici hominis domestici eius. Reply Obj. 1: We are commanded to hate, in our kindred, not their kinship, but only the fact of their being an obstacle between us and God. In this respect they are not akin but hostile to us, according to Micah 7:6: A man’s enemies are they of his own household. Ad secundum dicendum quod caritas facit hominem conformari Deo secundum proportionem, ut scilicet ita se habeat homo ad id quod suum est, sicut Deus ad id quod suum est. Quaedam enim possumus ex caritate velle, quia sunt nobis convenientia, quae tamen Deus non vult, quia non convenit ei ut ea velit, sicut supra habitum est, cum de bonitate voluntatis ageretur. Reply Obj. 2: Charity conforms man to God proportionately, by making man comport himself towards what is his, as God does towards what is His. For we may, out of charity, will certain things as becoming to us which God does not will, because it becomes Him not to will them, as stated above (I-II, Q. 19, A. 10), when we were treating of the goodness of the will. Ad tertium dicendum quod caritas non solum elicit actum dilectionis secundum rationem obiecti, sed etiam secundum rationem diligentis, ut dictum est. Ex quo contingit quod magis coniunctus magis amatur. Reply Obj. 3: Charity elicits the act of love not only as regards the object, but also as regards the lover, as stated above. The result is that the man who is more nearly united to us is more loved. Articulus 8 Article 8 Utrum sit maxime diligendus ille qui est nobis coniunctus secundum carnalem originem Whether we ought to love more those who are connected with us by ties of blood? Ad octavum sic proceditur. Videtur quod non sit maxime diligendus ille qui est nobis coniunctus secundum carnalem originem. Dicitur enim Proverb. XVIII, vir amicabilis ad societatem magis erit amicus quam frater. Et maximus Valerius dicit quod amicitiae vinculum praevalidum est, neque ulla ex parte sanguinis viribus inferius. Hoc etiam certius et exploratius, quod illud nascendi sors fortuitum opus dedit; hoc uniuscuiusque solido iudicio incoacta voluntas contrahit. Ergo illi qui sunt coniuncti sanguine non sunt magis amandi quam alii. Objection 1: It would seem that we ought not to love more those who are more closely united to us by ties of blood. For it is written (Prov 18:24): A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother. Again, Valerius Maximus says (Fact. et Dict. Memor. iv 7): The ties of friendship are most strong and in no way yield to the ties of blood. Moreover it is quite certain and undeniable, that as to the latter, the lot of birth is fortuitous, whereas we contract the former by an untrammelled will, and a solid pledge. Therefore we ought not to love more than others those who are united to us by ties of blood. Praeterea, Ambrosius dicit, in I de Offic., non minus vos diligo, quos in Evangelio genui, quam si in coniugio suscepissem. Non enim vehementior est natura ad diligendum quam gratia. Plus certe diligere debemus quos perpetuo nobiscum putamus futuros, quam quos in hoc tantum saeculo. Non ergo consanguinei sunt magis diligendi his qui sunt aliter nobis coniuncti. Obj. 2: Further, Ambrose says (De Officiis i, 7): I love not less you whom I have begotten in the Gospel, than if I had begotten you in wedlock, for nature is no more eager to love than grace. Surely we ought to love those whom we expect to be with us for ever more than those who will be with us only in this world. Therefore we should not love our kindred more than those who are otherwise connected with us. Praeterea, probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis; ut Gregorius dicit, in homilia. Sed quibusdam magis debemus impendere dilectionis opera quam etiam consanguineis, sicut magis est obediendum in exercitu duci quam patri. Ergo illi qui sunt sanguine iuncti non sunt maxime diligendi. Obj. 3: Further, Love is proved by deeds, as Gregory states (Hom. in Evang. xxx). Now we are bound to do acts of love to others than our kindred: thus in the army a man must obey his officer rather than his father. Therefore we are not bound to love our kindred most of all. Sed contra est quod in praeceptis Decalogi specialiter mandatur de honoratione parentum; ut patet Exod. XX. Ergo illi qui sunt nobis coniuncti secundum carnis originem sunt a nobis specialius diligendi. On the contrary, The commandments of the decalogue contain a special precept about the honor due to our parents (Exod 20:12). Therefore we ought to love more specially those who are united to us by ties of blood. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut dictum est, illi qui sunt nobis magis coniuncti, sunt ex caritate magis diligendi, tum quia intensius diliguntur; tum etiam quia pluribus rationibus diliguntur. Intensio autem dilectionis est ex coniunctione dilecti ad diligentem. Et ideo diversorum dilectio est mensuranda secundum diversam rationem coniunctionis, ut scilicet unusquisque diligatur magis in eo quod pertinet ad illam coniunctionem secundum quam diligitur. Et ulterius comparanda est dilectio dilectioni secundum comparationem coniunctionis ad coniunctionem. Sic igitur dicendum est quod amicitia consanguineorum fundatur in coniunctione naturalis originis; amicitia autem concivium in communicatione civili; et amicitia commilitantium in communicatione bellica. Et ideo in his quae pertinent ad naturam plus debemus diligere consanguineos; in his autem quae pertinent ad civilem conversationem plus debemus diligere concives; et in bellicis plus commilitones. Unde et philosophus dicit, in IX Ethic., quod singulis propria et congruentia est attribuendum. Sic autem et facere videntur. Ad nuptias quidem vocant cognatos, videbitur utique et nutrimento parentibus oportere maxime sufficere, et honorem paternum. I answer that, As stated above (A. 7), we ought out of charity to love those who are more closely united to us more, both because our love for them is more intense, and because there are more reasons for loving them. Now intensity of love arises from the union of lover and beloved: and therefore we should measure the love of different persons according to the different kinds of union, so that a man is more loved in matters touching that particular union in respect of which he is loved. And, again, in comparing love to love we should compare one union with another. Accordingly we must say that friendship among blood relations is based upon their connection by natural origin, the friendship of fellow-citizens on their civic fellowship, and the friendship of those who are fighting side by side on the comradeship of battle. Wherefore in matters pertaining to nature we should love our kindred most, in matters concerning relations between citizens, we should prefer our fellow-citizens, and on the battlefield our fellow-soldiers. Hence the Philosopher says (Ethic. ix, 2) that it is our duty to render to each class of people such respect as is natural and appropriate. This is in fact the principle upon which we seem to act, for we invite our relations to a wedding . . . It would seem to be a special duty to afford our parents the means of living . . . and to honor them. Et simile etiam in aliis. The same applies to other kinds of friendship. Si autem comparemus coniunctionem ad coniunctionem, constat quod coniunctio naturalis originis est prior et immobilior, quia est secundum id quod pertinet ad substantiam; aliae autem coniunctiones sunt supervenientes, et removeri possunt. Et ideo amicitia consanguineorum est stabilior. Sed aliae amicitiae possunt esse potiores secundum illud quod est proprium unicuique amicitiae. If however we compare union with union, it is evident that the union arising from natural origin is prior to, and more stable than, all others, because it is something affecting the very substance, whereas other unions supervene and may cease altogether. Therefore the friendship of kindred is more stable, while other friendships may be stronger in respect of that which is proper to each of them. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod quia amicitia sociorum propria electione contrahitur in his quae sub nostra electione cadunt, puta in agendis, praeponderat haec dilectio dilectioni consanguineorum, ut scilicet magis cum illis consentiamus in agendis. Amicitia tamen consanguineorum est stabilior, utpote naturalior existens, et praevalet in his quae ad naturam spectant. Unde magis eis tenemur in provisione necessariorum. Reply Obj. 1: inasmuch as the friendship of comrades originates through their own choice, love of this kind takes precedence of the love of kindred in matters where we are free to do as we choose, for instance in matters of action. Yet the friendship of kindred is more stable, since it is more natural, and preponderates over others in matters touching nature: consequently we are more beholden to them in the providing of necessaries. Ad secundum dicendum quod Ambrosius loquitur de dilectione quantum ad beneficia quae pertinent ad communicationem gratiae, scilicet de instructione morum. In hac enim magis debet homo subvenire filiis spiritualibus, quos spiritualiter genuit, quam filiis corporalibus, quibus tenetur magis providere in corporalibus subsidiis. Reply Obj. 2: Ambrose is speaking of love with regard to favors respecting the fellowship of grace, namely, moral instruction. For in this matter, a man ought to provide for his spiritual children whom he has begotten spiritually, more than for the sons of his body, whom he is bound to support in bodily sustenance. Ad tertium dicendum quod ex hoc quod duci exercitus magis obeditur in bello quam patri, non probatur quod simpliciter pater minus diligatur, sed quod minus diligatur secundum quid, idest secundum dilectionem bellicae communicationis. Reply Obj. 3: The fact that in the battle a man obeys his officer rather than his father proves, that he loves his father less, not simply, but relatively, i.e., as regards the love which is based on fellowship in battle. Articulus 9 Article 9 Utrum homo ex caritate magis debeat diligere filium quam patrem Whether a man ought, out of charity, to love his children more than his father? Ad nonum sic proceditur. Videtur quod homo ex caritate magis debeat diligere filium quam patrem. Illum enim magis debemus diligere cui magis debemus benefacere. Sed magis debemus benefacere filiis quam parentibus, dicit enim apostolus, II ad Cor. XII, non debent filii thesaurizare parentibus, sed parentes filiis. Ergo magis sunt diligendi filii quam parentes. Objection 1: It seems that a man ought, out of charity, to love his children more than his father. For we ought to love those more to whom we are more bound to do good. Now we are more bound to do good to our children than to our parents, since the Apostle says (2 Cor 12:14): Neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. Therefore a man ought to love his children more than his parents. Praeterea, gratia perficit naturam. Sed naturaliter parentes plus diligunt filios quam ab eis diligantur; ut Philosophus dicit, in VIII Ethic. Ergo magis debemus diligere filios quam parentes. Obj. 2: Further, grace perfects nature. But parents naturally love their children more than these love them, as the Philosopher states (Ethic. viii, 12). Therefore a man ought to love his children more than his parents. Praeterea, per caritatem affectus hominis Deo conformatur. Sed Deus magis diligit filios quam diligatur ab eis. Ergo etiam et nos magis debemus diligere filios quam parentes. Obj. 3: Further, man’s affections are conformed to God by charity. But God loves His children more than they love Him. Therefore we also ought to love our children more than our parents.