Articulus 1 Article 1 Utrum debeant religionem ingredi nisi qui sunt in praeceptis exercitati Whether those who are not practiced in keeping the commandments should enter religion? Ad primum sic proceditur. Videtur quod non debeant religionem ingredi nisi qui sunt in praeceptis exercitati. Dominus enim consilium perfectionis dedit adolescenti qui dixerat se praecepta a iuventute servasse. Sed a Christo sumpsit initium omnis religio. Ergo videtur quod non sunt ad religionem admittendi nisi qui sunt in praeceptis exercitati. Objection 1: It would seem that none should enter religion but those who are practiced in the observance of the commandments. For our Lord gave the counsel of perfection to the young man who said that he had kept the commandments from his youth. Now all religious orders originate from Christ. Therefore it would seem that none should be allowed to enter religion but those who are practiced in the observance of the commandments. Praeterea, Gregorius dicit, super Ezech., nemo repente fit summus, sed in bona conversatione a minimis quis inchoat, ut ad magna perveniat. Sed magna sunt consilia, quae pertinent ad perfectionem vitae, minora autem sunt praecepta, quae pertinent ad communem iustitiam. Ergo videtur quod non debent aliqui, ad observantiam consiliorum, religionem intrare, nisi prius fuerint in praeceptis exercitati. Obj. 2: Further, Gregory says (Hom. xv in Ezech., and Moral. xxii): No one comes suddenly to the summit; but he must make a beginning of a good life in the smallest matters, so as to accomplish great things. Now the great things are the counsels which pertain to the perfection of life, while the lesser things are the commandments which belong to common righteousness. Therefore it would seem that one ought not to enter religion for the purpose of keeping the counsels, unless one be already practiced in the observance of the precepts. Praeterea, sicut sacri ordines habent quandam excellentiam in Ecclesia, ita et status religionis. Sed sicut Gregorius scribit Siagrio episcopo, et habetur in decretis, dist. XLVIII, ordinate ad ordines accedendum est, nam casum appetit qui ad summi loci fastigia, postpositis gradibus, per abrupta quaerit ascensum. Scimus enim quod aedificati parietes non prius tignorum pondus accipiunt, nisi a novitatis suae humore siccentur, ne, si ante pondera quam solidentur accipiant, cunctam simul fabricam deponant. Ergo videtur quod non debent aliqui ad religionem transire nisi in praeceptis exercitati. Obj. 3: Further, the religious state, like the holy orders, has a place of eminence in the Church. Now, as Gregory writes to the bishop Siagrius, order should be observed in ascending to orders. For he seeks a fall who aspires to mount to the summit by overpassing the steps. For we are well aware that walls when built receive not the weight of the beams until the new fabric is rid of its moisture, lest if they should be burdened with weight before they are seasoned they bring down the whole building (Dist. xlviii, can. Sicut neophytus). Therefore it would seem that one should not enter religion unless one be practiced in the observance of the precepts. Praeterea, super illud Psalmi, sicut ablactatus super matre sua, dicit Glossa, in utero matris Ecclesiae primo concipimur, dum fidei rudimentis instruimur; deinde in lucem edimur, dum per Baptismum regeneramur; deinde quasi manibus Ecclesiae portamur et lacte nutrimur, cum post Baptismum bonis operibus informamur et lacte spiritualis doctrinae nutrimur, proficiendo donec, iam grandiusculi, a lacte matris accedamus ad mensam patris; idest, a simplici doctrina, ubi praedicatur verbum caro factum, accedamus ad verbum patris in principio apud Deum. Obj. 4: Further, a gloss on Ps. 130:2, As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, says: First we are conceived in the womb of Mother Church, by being taught the rudiments of faith. Then we are nourished as it were in her womb, by progressing in those same elements. Afterwards we are brought forth to the light by being regenerated in baptism. Then the Church bears us as it were in her hands and feeds us with milk, when after baptism we are instructed in good works and are nourished with the milk of simple doctrine while we progress; until having grown out of infancy we leave our mother’s milk for a father’s control, that is to say, we pass from simple doctrine, by which we are taught the Word made flesh, to the Word that was in the beginning with God. Et postea subdit quod nuper baptizati in sabbato sancto, quasi manibus Ecclesiae gestantur et lacte nutriuntur usque ad Pentecosten, quo tempore nulla difficilia indicuntur, non ieiunatur, non media nocte surgitur, postea, spiritu Paraclito confirmati, quasi ablactati, incipiunt ieiunare et alia difficilia servare. Multi vero hunc ordinem pervertunt, ut haeretici et schismatici, se ante tempus a lacte separantes, unde exstinguuntur. Sed hunc ordinem pervertere videntur illi qui religionem intrant, vel alios ad intrandum inducunt, antequam sint in faciliori observantia praeceptorum exercitati. Ergo videtur quod sint haeretici vel schismatici. Afterwards it goes on to say: For those who are just baptized on Holy Saturday are borne in the hands of the Church as it were and fed with milk until Pentecost, during which time nothing arduous is prescribed, no fasts, no rising at midnight. Afterwards they are confirmed by the Paraclete Spirit, and being weaned so to speak, begin to fast and keep other difficult observances. Many, like the heretics and schismatics, have perverted this order by being weaned before the time. Hence they have come to naught. Now this order is apparently perverted by those who enter religion, or induce others to enter religion, before they are practiced in the easier observance of the commandments. Therefore they would seem to be heretics or schismatics. Praeterea, a prioribus ad posteriora est transeundum. Sed praecepta sunt priora consiliis, quia sunt communiora, utpote a quibus non convertitur consequentia essendi, quicumque enim servat consilia, servat praecepta, sed non convertitur. Congruus autem ordo est ut a prioribus ad posteriora transeatur. Ergo non debet aliquis transire ad observantiam consiliorum in religione, nisi prius sit exercitatus in praeceptis. Obj. 5: Further, one should proceed from that which precedes to that which follows after. Now the commandments precede the counsels, because they are more universal, for the implication of the one by the other is not convertible, since whoever keeps the counsels keeps the commandments, but the converse does not hold. Since he right order requires one to pass from that which comes first to that which comes after, it follows that one ought not to pass to the observance of the counsels in religion, without being first of all practiced in the observance of the commandments. Sed contra est quod dominus Matthaeum publicanum, qui in observantia praeceptorum exercitatus non erat, advocavit ad consiliorum observantiam, dicitur enim Luc. V, quod, relictis omnibus, secutus est eum. Ergo non est necessarium quod ante aliquis exerceatur in observantia praeceptorum quam transeat ad perfectionem consiliorum. On the contrary, Matthew the publican who was not practiced in the observance of the commandments was called by our Lord to the observance of the counsels. For it is stated (Luke 5:28) that leaving all things he . . . followed Him. Therefore it is not necessary for a person to be practiced in the observance of the commandments before passing to the perfection of the counsels. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut ex supra dictis patet, status religionis est quoddam spirituale exercitium ad consequendum perfectionem caritatis, quod quidem fit inquantum per religionis observantias auferuntur impedimenta perfectae caritatis. Haec autem sunt quae implicant affectum hominis ad terrena. Per hoc autem quod affectus hominis implicatur ad terrena, non solum impeditur perfectio caritatis, sed interdum etiam ipsa caritas perditur, dum per inordinatam conversionem ad bona temporalia homo avertitur ab incommutabili bono mortaliter peccando. Unde patet quod religionis observantiae, sicut tollunt impedimenta perfectae caritatis, ita etiam tollunt occasiones peccandi, sicut patet quod per ieiunium et vigilias et obedientiam et alia huiusmodi, retrahitur homo a peccatis gulae et luxuriae, et a quibuscumque aliis peccatis. I answer that, As shown above (Q. 188, A. 1), the religious state is a spiritual schooling for the attainment of the perfection of charity. This is accomplished through the removal of the obstacles to perfect charity by religious observances; and these obstacles are those things which attach man’s affections to earthly things. Now the attachment of man’s affections to earthly things is not only an obstacle to the perfection of charity, but sometimes leads to the loss of charity, when through turning inordinately to temporal goods man turns away from the immutable good by sinning mortally. Hence it is evident that the observances of the religious state, while removing the obstacles to perfect charity, remove also the occasions of sin: for instance, it is clear that fasting, watching, obedience, and the like withdraw man from sins of gluttony and lust and all other manner of sins. Et ideo ingredi religionem non solum expedit his qui sunt exercitati in praeceptis, ut ad maiorem perfectionem perveniant, sed etiam his qui non sunt exercitati, ut facilius peccata vitent et perfectionem assequantur. Consequently it is right that not only those who are practiced in the observance of the commandments should enter religion in order to attain to yet greater perfection, but also those who are not practiced, in order the more easily to avoid sin and attain to perfection. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod Hieronymus dicit, super Matth., mentitus est adolescens dicens, haec omnia servavi a iuventute mea. Si enim quod positum est in mandatis, diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum, opere complesset, quomodo postea, audiens, vade et vende omnia quae habes et da pauperibus, tristis recessit? Sed intelligendum est eum mentitum esse quantum ad perfectam observantiam huius praecepti. Unde Origenes, super Matth., dicit quod scriptum est in Evangelio secundum Hebraeos, quod cum dominus dixisset ei, vade et vende omnia quae habes, coepit dives scalpere caput suum. Et dixit ad eum dominus, quomodo dicis, feci legem et prophetas? Est in lege, diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum, et ecce, multi fratres tui, filii Abrahae, amicti sunt stercore, morientes prae fame; et domus tua plena est multis bonis, et non egreditur aliquid omnino ex ea ad eos. Itaque dominus, redarguens eum, dicit, si vis perfectus esse, et cetera. Impossibile est enim implere mandatum quod dicit, diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum, et esse divitem, et maxime, tantas possessiones habere. Quod est intelligendum de perfecta impletione huius praecepti. Imperfecte autem et communi modo verum est eum observasse praecepta. Perfectio enim principaliter in observantia praeceptorum caritatis consistit, ut supra habitum est. Ut ergo dominus ostenderet perfectionem consiliorum utilem esse et innocentibus et peccatoribus, non solum vocavit adolescentem innocentem, sed etiam Matthaeum peccatorem. Et tamen Matthaeus secutus est vocantem, non autem adolescens, quia facilius convertuntur ad religionem peccatores quam illi qui de sua innocentia praesumunt, quibus dicit dominus, Matth. XXI, publicani et meretrices praecedunt vos in regnum Dei. Reply Obj. 1: Jerome (Super Matth. xix, 20) says: The young man lies when he says: ‘All these have I kept from my youth.’ For if he had fulfilled this commandment, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,’ why did he go away sad when he heard: Go, sell all thou hast and give to the poor? But this means that he lied as to the perfect observance of this commandment. Hence Origen says (Tract. viii super Matth.) that it is written in the Gospel according to the Hebrews that when our Lord had said to him: ‘Go, sell all thou hast,’ the rich man began to scratch his head; and that our Lord said to him: How sayest thou: I have fulfilled the law and the prophets, seeing that it is written in the law: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself? Behold many of thy brethren, children of Abraham, are clothed in filth, and die of hunger, whilst thy house is full of all manner of good things, and nothing whatever hath passed thence to them. And thus our Lord reproves him saying: If thou wilt be perfect, go, etc. For it is impossible to fulfill the commandment which says, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, and to be rich, especially to have such great wealth. This also refers to the perfect fulfilment of this precept. On the other hand, it is true that he kept the commandments imperfectly and in a general way. For perfection consists chiefly in the observance of the precepts of charity, as stated above (Q. 184, A. 3). Wherefore in order to show that the perfection of the counsels is useful both to the innocent and to sinners, our Lord called not only the innocent youth but also the sinner Matthew. Yet Matthew obeyed His call, and the youth obeyed not, because sinners are converted to the religious life more easily than those who presume on their innocency. It is to the former that our Lord says (Matt 21:31): The publicans and the harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you. Ad secundum dicendum quod summum et infimum tripliciter accipi potest. Uno modo, in eodem statu et in eodem homine. Et sic manifestum est quod nemo repente fit summus, quia unusquisque recte vivens toto tempore vitae suae proficit, ut ad summum perveniat. Alio modo, per comparationem ad diversos status. Et sic non oportet ut quicumque vult ad superiorem statum pervenire, a minori incipiat, sicut non oportet ut qui vult esse clericus, prius in laicali vita exerceatur. Tertio modo, quantum ad diversas personas. Et sic manifestum est quod unus statim incipit, non solum ab altiori statu, sed etiam ab altiori gradu sanctitatis quam sit summum ad quod alius pervenit per totam vitam suam. Unde Gregorius dicit, in II Dialog., omnes cognoscant, Benedictus puer conversationis gratiam a quanta perfectione coepisset. Reply Obj. 2: The highest and the lowest place can be taken in three ways. First, in reference to the same state and the same man; and thus it is evident that no one comes to the summit suddenly, since every man that lives aright, progresses during the whole course of his life, so as to arrive at the summit. Second, in comparison with various states; and thus he who desires to reach to a higher state need not begin from a lower state: for instance, if a man wish to be a cleric he need not first of all be practiced in the life of a layman. Third, in comparison with different persons; and in this way it is clear that one man begins straightway not only from a higher state, but even from a higher degree of holiness, than the highest degree to which another man attains throughout his whole life. Hence Gregory says (Dial. ii, 1): All are agreed that the boy Benedict began at a high degree of grace and perfection in his daily life. Ad tertium dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, sacri ordines praeexigunt sanctitatem, sed status religionis est exercitium quoddam ad sanctitatem assequendam. Unde pondus ordinum imponendum est parietibus iam per sanctitatem desiccatis, sed pondus religionis desiccat parietes, idest homines, ab humore vitiorum. Reply Obj. 3: As stated above (Q. 184, A. 6) the holy orders prerequire holiness, whereas the religious state is a school for the attainment of holiness. Hence the burden of orders should be laid on the walls when these are already seasoned with holiness, whereas the burden of religion seasons the walls, i.e., men, by drawing out the damp of vice. Ad quartum dicendum quod, sicut manifeste ex verbis illius Glossae apparet, principaliter loquitur de ordine doctrinae, prout transeundum est a facilioribus ad difficiliora. Unde quod dicit haereticos et schismaticos hunc ordinem pervertere, manifestum est ex sequentibus ad ordinem doctrinae pertinere. Sequitur enim, hic vero se servasse, scilicet praedictum ordinem, dicit, constringens se maledicto, sic, quasi, non modo in aliis fui humilis, sed etiam in scientia. Quia humiliter sentiebam, prius nutritus lacte, quod est verbum caro factum, ut sic crescerem ad panem Angelorum, idest ad verbum quod est in principio apud Deum. Exemplum autem quod in medio interponitur, quod noviter baptizatis non indicitur ieiunium usque ad Pentecosten, ostendit quod non sunt ex necessitate ad difficilia cogendi antequam per spiritum sanctum interius ad hoc instigentur ut difficilia propria voluntate assumant. Unde et post Pentecosten, post receptionem spiritus sancti, ieiunium celebrat Ecclesia. Spiritus autem sanctus, sicut Ambrosius dicit, super Luc., non arcetur aetatibus, non finitur morte, non excluditur alvo. Et Gregorius dicit, in homilia Pentecostes, implet citharaedum puerum, et Psalmistam facit, implet puerum abstinentem, et iudicem senum facit. Et postea subdit, nulla ad discendum mora agitur, omne quod voluerit, mox ut tetigerit mentem, docet. Et sicut dicitur Eccle. VIII, non est in hominis ditione prohibere spiritum. Et apostolus, I ad Thess. V, monet, spiritum nolite extinguere. Et Act. VII, contra quosdam dicitur, vos semper spiritui sancto restitistis. Reply Obj. 4: It is manifest from the words of this gloss that it is chiefly a question of the order of doctrine, insofar as one has to pass from easy matter to that which is more difficult. Hence it is clear from what follows that the statement that certain heretics and schismatics have perverted this order refers to the order of doctrine. For it continues thus: But he says that he has kept these things, namely the aforesaid order, binding himself by an oath. Thus I was humble not only in other things but also in knowledge, for ‘I was humbly minded’; because I was first of all fed with milk, which is the Word made flesh, so that I grew up to partake of the bread of angels, namely the Word that is in the beginning with God. The example which is given in proof, of the newly baptized not being commanded to fast until Pentecost, shows that no difficult things are to be laid on them as an obligation before the Holy Spirit inspires them inwardly to take upon themselves difficult things of their own choice. Hence after Pentecost and the receiving of the Holy Spirit the Church observes a fast. Now the Holy Spirit, according to Ambrose (Super Luc. 1:15), is not confined to any particular age; He ceases not when men die, He is not excluded from the maternal womb. Gregory also in a homily for Pentecost (xxx in Ev.) says: He fills the boy harpist and makes him a psalmist: He fills the boy abstainer and makes him a wise judge, and afterwards he adds: No time is needed to learn whatsoever He will, for He teaches the mind by the merest touch. Again it is written (Eccl 8:8), It is not in man’s power to stop the Spirit, and the Apostle admonishes us (1 Thess 5:19): Extinguish not the Spirit, and (Acts 7:51) it is said against certain persons: You always resist the Holy Spirit. Ad quintum dicendum quod praeceptorum quaedam sunt principalia, quae sunt fines et praeceptorum et consiliorum, scilicet praecepta caritatis. Ad quae consilia ordinantur, non ita quod sine consiliis servari non possint, sed ut per consilia perfectius observentur. Alia vero sunt praecepta secundaria, quae ordinantur ad praecepta caritatis ut sine quibus caritatis praecepta observari non possunt omnino. Sic igitur perfecta observantia praeceptorum caritatis praecedit intentione consilia, sed interdum tempore sequitur. Hic est enim ordo finis respectu eorum quae sunt ad finem. Reply Obj. 5: There are certain chief precepts which are the ends, so to say, of the commandments and counsels. These are the precepts of charity, and the counsels are directed to them, not that these precepts cannot be observed without keeping the counsels, but that the keeping of the counsels conduces to the better observance of the precepts. The other precepts are secondary and are directed to the precepts of charity; in such a way that unless one observe them it is altogether impossible to keep the precepts of charity. Accordingly in the intention the perfect observance of the precepts of charity precedes the counsels, and yet sometimes it follows them in point of time. For such is the order of the end in relation to things directed to the end. Observantia vero praeceptorum caritatis secundum communem modum, et similiter alia praecepta, comparantur ad consilia sicut commune ad proprium, quia observantia praeceptorum potest esse sine consiliis, sed non convertitur. Sic ergo observantia praeceptorum communiter sumpta, praecedit naturae ordine consilia, non tamen oportet quod tempore, quia non est aliquid prius in genere quam sit in aliqua specierum. Observantia vero praeceptorum sine consiliis ordinatur ad observantiam praeceptorum cum consiliis sicut species imperfecta ad perfectam, sicut animal irrationale ad rationale. Perfectum autem est naturaliter prius imperfecto, natura enim, ut Boetius dicit, a perfectis sumit initium. Nec tamen oportet quod prius observentur praecepta sine consiliis et postea cum consiliis, sicut non oportet quod aliquis prius sit asinus quam sit homo, vel quod prius sit coniugatus quam sit virgo. Et similiter non oportet quod aliquis prius servet praecepta in saeculo quam transeat ad religionem, praesertim quia conversatio saecularis non disponit ad perfectionem religionis, sed magis impedit. But the observance in a general way of the precepts of charity together with the other precepts, is compared to the counsels as the common to the proper, because one can observe the precepts without observing the counsels, but not vice versa. Hence the common observance of the precepts precedes the counsels in the order of nature; but it does not follow that it precedes them in point of time, for a thing is not in the genus before being in one of the species. But the observance of the precepts apart from the counsels is directed to the observance of the precepts together with the counsels; as an imperfect to a perfect species, even as the irrational to the rational animal. Now the perfect is naturally prior to the imperfect, since nature, as Boethius says (De Consol. iii, 10), begins with perfect things. And yet it is not necessary for the precepts first of all to be observed without the counsels, and afterwards with the counsels, just as it is not necessary for one to be an ass before being a man, or married before being a virgin. In like manner it is not necessary for a person first of all to keep the commandments in the world before entering religion; especially as the worldly life does not dispose one to religious perfection, but is more an obstacle thereto. Articulus 2 Article 2 Utrum debeant aliqui voto obligari ad religionis ingressum Whether one ought to be bound by vow to enter religion? Ad secundum sic proceditur. Videtur quod non debeant aliqui voto obligari ad religionis ingressum. Per professionem enim aliquis voto religioni adstringitur. Sed ante professionem conceditur annus probationis, secundum regulam beati Benedicti, et secundum statutum Innocentii IV, qui etiam prohibuit, ante annum probationis completum, eos per professionem religioni adstringi. Ergo videtur quod multo minus adhuc in saeculo existentes debeant voto ad religionem obligari. Objection 1: It would seem that one ought not to be bound by vow to enter religion. For in making his profession a man is bound by the religious vow. Now before profession a year of probation is allowed, according to the rule of the Blessed Benedict (lviii) and according to the decree of Innocent IV who moreover forbade anyone to be bound to the religious life by profession before completing the year of probation. Therefore it would seem that much less ought anyone while yet in the world to be bound by vow to enter religion. Praeterea, Gregorius dicit, in registro, et habetur in decretis, dist. XLV, quod Iudaei, non vi, sed libera voluntate ut convertantur suadendi sunt. Sed implere id quod vovetur, necessitatis est. Ergo non sunt aliqui obligandi ad religionis ingressum. Obj. 2: Further, Gregory says (Regist. xi, Ep. 15): Jews should be persuaded to be converted, not by compulsion but of their own free will (Dist. xlv, can. De Judaeis). Now one is compelled to fulfill what one has vowed. Therefore no one should be bound by vow to enter religion. Praeterea, nullus debet alteri praebere occasionem ruinae, unde Exod. XXI dicitur, si quis aperuerit cisternam, cecideritque bos vel asinus in eam, dominus cisternae reddet pretium iumentorum. Sed ex hoc quod aliqui obligantur ad religionem per votum, frequenter aliqui ruunt in desperationem et in diversa peccata. Ergo videtur quod non sint aliqui ad religionis ingressum voto obligandi. Obj. 3: Further, no one should give another an occasion of falling; wherefore it is written (Exod 21:33, 34): If a man open a pit . . . and an ox or an ass fall into it, the owner of the pit shall pay the price of the beasts. Now through being bound by vow to enter religion it often happens that people fall into despair and various sins. Therefore it would seem that one ought not to be bound by vow to enter religion. Sed contra est quod in Psalmo dicitur, vovete, et reddite domino Deo vestro, ubi dicit Glossa quod quaedam sunt vota propria singulorum, ut castitas, virginitas et huiusmodi, ad haec ergo vovenda nos invitat. Sed Scriptura sacra non invitat nisi ad id quod est melius. Ergo melius est quod aliquis voto se obliget ad religionis ingressum. On the contrary, It is written, (Ps 75:12): Vow ye, and pay to the Lord your God; and a gloss of Augustine says that some vows concern the individual, such as vows of chastity, virginity, and the like. Consequently Holy Scripture invites us to vow these things. But Holy Scripture invites us only to that which is better. Therefore it is better to bind oneself by vow to enter religion. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, cum de voto ageretur, unum et idem opus ex voto factum est laudabilius quam si sine voto fiat. Tum quia vovere est actus religionis, quae habet quandam excellentiam inter virtutes. Tum quia per votum firmatur voluntas hominis ad bonum faciendum, et sicut peccatum est gravius ex hoc quod procedit ex voluntate obstinata in malum, ita bonum opus est laudabilius ex hoc quod procedit ex voluntate confirmata in bonum per votum. Et ideo obligari voto ad religionis ingressum est secundum se laudabile. I answer that, As stated above (Q. 88, A. 6), when we were treating of vows, one and the same work done in fulfilment of a vow is more praiseworthy than if it be done apart from a vow, both because to vow is an act of religion, which has a certain pre-eminence among the virtues, and because a vow strengthens a man’s will to do good; and just as a sin is more grievous through proceeding from a will obstinate in evil, so a good work is the more praiseworthy through proceeding from a will confirmed in good by means of a vow. Therefore it is in itself praiseworthy to bind oneself by vow to enter religion. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod duplex est religionis votum. Unum solemne, quod hominem facit monachum vel alterius religionis fratrem, quod vocatur professio. Et tale votum debet praecedere annus probationis, ut probat obiectio. Aliud autem est votum simplex, ex quo aliquis non fit monachus vel religiosus, sed solum obligatus ad religionis ingressum. Et ante tale votum non oportet praecedere probationis annum. Reply Obj. 1: The religious vow is twofold. One is the solemn vow which makes a man a monk or a brother in some other religious order. This is called the profession, and such a vow should be preceded by a year’s probation, as the objection proves. The other is the simple vow which does not make a man a monk or a religious, but only binds him to enter religion, and such a vow need not be preceded by a year’s probation. Ad secundum dicendum quod auctoritas illa Gregorii intelligitur de violentia absoluta. Necessitas autem quae ex obligatione voti requiritur, non est necessitas absoluta, sed necessitas ex fine, quia scilicet, post votum, non potest aliquis finem salutis consequi nisi impleat votum. Talis autem necessitas non est vitanda, quinimmo, ut Augustinus dicit, ad Armentarium et Paulinam, felix est necessitas quae ad meliora transmittit. Reply Obj. 2: The words quoted from Gregory must be understood as referring to absolute violence. But the compulsion arising from the obligation of a vow is not absolute necessity, but a necessity of end, because after such a vow one cannot attain to the end of salvation unless one fulfill that vow. Such a necessity is not to be avoided; indeed, as Augustine says (Ep. cxxvii ad Armentar. et Paulin.), happy is the necessity that compels us to better things. Ad tertium dicendum quod vovere religionis ingressum est quaedam confirmatio voluntatis ad meliora. Et ideo, quantum est de se, non dat homini occasionem ruinae, sed magis subtrahit. Sed si aliquis voti transgressor gravius ruat, hoc non derogat bonitati voti, sicut nec derogat bonitati Baptismi quod aliqui post Baptismum gravius peccant. Reply Obj. 3: The vow to enter religion is a strengthening of the will for better things, and consequently, considered in itself, instead of giving a man an occasion of falling, withdraws him from it. But if one who breaks a vow falls more grievously, this does not derogate from the goodness of the vow, as neither does it derogate from the goodness of Baptism that some sin more grievously after being baptized. Articulus 3 Article 3 Utrum ille qui obligatus est voto ad religionis ingressum, teneatur intrare Whether one who is bound by a vow to enter religion is under an obligation of entering religion? Ad tertium sic proceditur. Videtur quod ille qui obligatus est voto ad religionis ingressum, non teneatur intrare. Dicitur enim in decretis, XVII, qu. II, Consaldus presbyter, quondam infirmitatis passione pressus, monachum se fieri promisit, non tamen monasterio aut abbati se tradidit, nec promissionem scripsit, sed beneficium Ecclesiae in manu advocati refutavit, ac postquam convaluit, monachum se negavit fieri. Et postea subdit, iudicamus ut praefatus presbyter beneficium et altaria recipiat et quiete retineat. Hoc autem non esset, si teneretur religionem intrare. Ergo videtur quod non teneatur aliquis implere votum quo se ad religionis ingressum obligavit. Objection 1: It would seem that one who is bound by the vow to enter religion is not under an obligation of entering religion. For it is said in the Decretals (XVII, qu. ii, can. Consaldus): Consaldus, a priest under pressure of sickness and emotional fervour, promised to become a monk. He did not, however, bind himself to a monastery or abbot; nor did he commit his promise to writing, but he renounced his benefice in the hands of a notary; and when he was restored to health he refused to become a monk. And afterwards it is added: We adjudge and by apostolic authority we command that the aforesaid priest be admitted to his benefice and sacred duties, and that he be allowed to retain them in peace. Now this would not be if he were bound to enter religion. Therefore it would seem that one is not bound to keep one’s vow of entering religion. Praeterea, nullus tenetur facere id quod non est in sua potestate. Sed quod aliquis religionem ingrediatur, non est in potestate ipsius, sed requiritur ad hoc assensus eorum ad quos debet transire. Ergo videtur quod non teneatur aliquis implere votum quo se ad religionis ingressum obligavit. Obj. 2: Further, no one is bound to do what is not in his power. Now it is not in a person’s power to enter religion, since this depends on the consent of those whom he wishes to join. Therefore it would seem that a man is not obliged to fulfill the vow by which he bound himself to enter religion. Praeterea, per votum minus utile non potest derogari voto magis utili. Sed per impletionem voti religionis impediri posset impletio voti crucis in subsidium terrae sanctae, quod videtur esse utilius, quia per hoc votum consequitur homo remissionem peccatorum. Ergo videtur quod votum quo quis se obligavit ad religionis ingressum, non sit ex necessitate implendum. Obj. 3: Further, a less useful vow cannot remit a more useful one. Now the fulfilment of a vow to enter religion might hinder the fulfilment of a vow to take up the cross in defense of the Holy Land; and the latter apparently is the more useful vow, since thereby a man obtains the forgiveness of his sins. Therefore it would seem that the vow by which a man has bound himself to enter religion is not necessarily to be fulfilled. Sed contra est quod dicitur Eccle. V, si quid vovisti Deo, ne moreris reddere, displicet enim Deo infidelis et stulta promissio. Et super illud Psalmi, vovete et reddite domino Deo vestro, dicit Glossa, vovere voluntati consulitur, sed post voti promissionem, redditio necessario exigitur. On the contrary, It is written (Eccl 5:3): If thou hast vowed anything to God, defer not to pay it, for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth Him; and a gloss on Ps. 75:12, Vow ye, and pay to the Lord your God, says: To vow depends on the will: but after the vow has been taken the fulfilment is of obligation. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, cum de voto ageretur, votum est promissio Deo facta de his quae ad Deum pertinent. Ut autem Gregorius dicit, in epistola ad Bonifacium, si inter homines solent bonae fidei contractus nulla ratione dissolvi, quanto magis ista pollicitatio quam cum Deo pepigit, solvi sine vindicta non poterit. Et ideo ad implendum id quod homo vovit, ex necessitate tenetur, dummodo sit aliquid quod ad Deum pertineat. I answer that, As stated above (Q. 88, A. 1), when we were treating of vows, a vow is a promise made to God in matters concerning God. Now, as Gregory says in a letter to Boniface: If among men of good faith contracts are wont to be absolutely irrevocable, how much more shall the breaking of this promise given to God be deserving of punishment! Therefore a man is under an obligation to fulfill what he has vowed, provided this be something pertaining to God. Manifestum est autem quod ingressus religionis maxime ad Deum pertinet, quia per hoc homo totaliter se mancipat divinis obsequiis, ut ex supra dictis patet. Unde relinquitur quod ille qui se obligat ad religionis ingressum, teneatur religionem ingredi, secundum quod se voto obligare intendit, ita scilicet quod, si intendit se absolute obligare, tenetur quam citius poterit ingredi, legitimo impedimento cessante; si autem ad certum tempus, vel sub certa conditione, tenetur religionem ingredi tempore adveniente, vel conditione existente. Now it is evident that entrance into religion pertains very much to God, since thereby man devotes himself entirely to the divine service, as stated above (Q. 186, A. 1). Hence it follows that he who binds himself to enter religion is under an obligation to enter religion according as he intends to bind himself by his vow: so that if he intend to bind himself absolutely, he is obliged to enter as soon as he can, through the cessation of a lawful impediment; whereas if he intend to bind himself to a certain fixed time, or under a certain fixed condition, he is bound to enter religion when the time comes or the condition is fulfilled. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod ille presbyter non fecerat votum solemne, sed simplex. Unde non erat monachus effectus, ut cogi deberet de iure in monasterio remanere et Ecclesiam dimittere. Tamen in foro conscientiae esset sibi consulendum quod, omnibus dimissis, religionem intraret. Unde extra, de voto et voti Redempt., cap. per tuas, consulitur episcopo Gratianopolitano, qui post votum religionis episcopatum assumpserat, voto non impleto, ut, si suam sanare desideraret conscientiam, regimen Ecclesiae resignaret, et redderet altissimo vota sua. Reply Obj. 1: This priest had made, not a solemn, but a simple vow. Hence he was not a monk in effect, so as to be bound by law to dwell in a monastery and renounce his cure. However, in the court of conscience one ought to advise him to renounce all and enter religion. Hence (Extra, De Voto et Voti Redemptione, cap. Per tuas) the Bishop of Grenoble, who had accepted the episcopate after vowing to enter religion, without having fulfilled his vow, is counseled that if he wish to heal his conscience he should renounce the government of his see and pay his vows to the Most High.