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59. Moral Virtues and the Passions

1. Although moral virtue is an appetitive habit, it is nota passion. Passion is properly of the sentient order; moral virtuebelongs to the intellective order and specifically to the will.Besides, passions in themselves are neither good nor bad in a moralsense, and moral virtues are necessarily good.

2. The passions (called "passions of the soul"because they rise readily to the intellective order through thewill's permission, and exercise influence there) are compatiblewith moral virtues as long as they remain in line with reason.Indeed, when rightly ordered, the passions enhance moral virtue, asis manifest in the man who exercises the works of justice with loveand joy.

3. Even the passion of sorrow is compatible with moralvirtue if it be sorrow for what thwarts or opposes that virtue.

4. Moral virtues serve the will by giving right directionto all that comes under the rule of reason; this includes thepassions of the soul and the intellectual operations.

5. Moral virtues bring the passions along with them oroverflow into the passions. Thus perfect justice is not a thingcoldly aloof, but joyous; and joy is a passion.

"Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise. "
Thomas á Kempis

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"God commands not impossibilities, but by commanding he suggests to you to do what you can, to ask for what is beyond your strength; and he helps you, that you may be able."
St Augustine

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"Whoever wants to stand alone without the support of a master and guide will be like the tree that stands alone in a field without a proprietor. No matter how much the tree bears, passers-by will pick the fruit before it ripens. "
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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