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Objection 1: It seems that it does not belong to observance to pay
worship and honor to persons in positions of dignity. For according to
Augustine (De Civ. Dei x), we are said to worship those persons
whom we hold in honor, so that worship and honor would seem to be the
same. Therefore it is unfitting to define observance as paying worship
and honor to persons in positions of dignity.
Objection 2: Further, it belongs to justice that we pay what we
owe: wherefore this belongs to observance also, since it is a part of
justice. Now we do not owe worship and honor to all persons in
positions of dignity, but only to those who are placed over us.
Therefore observance is unfittingly defined as giving worship and honor
to all.
Objection 3: Further, not only do we owe honor to persons of
dignity who are placed over us; we owe them also fear and a certain
payment of remuneration, according to Rm. 13:7, "Render . .
. to all men their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to
whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." Moreover, we
owe them reverence and subjection, according to Heb. 13:17,
"Obey your prelates, and be subject to them." Therefore observance
is not fittingly defined as paying worship and honor.
On the contrary, Tully says (De Invent. Rhet. ii) that "it is
by observance that we pay worship and honor to those who excel in some
kind of dignity."
I answer that, It belongs to persons in positions of dignity to
govern subjects. Now to govern is to move certain ones to their due
end: thus a sailor governs his ship by steering it to port. But every
mover has a certain excellence and power over that which is moved.
Wherefore, a person in a position of dignity is an object of twofold
consideration: first, in so far as he obtains excellence of position,
together with a certain power over subjects: secondly, as regards the
exercise of his government. In respect of his excellence there is due
to him honor, which is the recognition of some kind of excellence; and
in respect of the exercise of his government, there is due to him
worship, consisting in rendering him service, by obeying his
commands, and by repaying him, according to one's faculty, for the
benefits we received from him.
Reply to Objection 1: Worship includes not only honor, but also
whatever other suitable actions are connected with the relations between
man and man.
Reply to Objection 2: As stated above (Question 80), debt is
twofold. One is legal debt, to pay which man is compelled by law;
and thus man owes honor and worship to those persons in positions of
dignity who are placed over him. The other is moral debt, which is
due by reason of a certain honesty: it is in this way that we owe
worship and honor to persons in positions of dignity even though we be
not their subjects.
Reply to Objection 3: Honor is due to the excellence of persons in
positions of dignity, on account of their higher rank: while fear is
due to them on account of their power to use compulsion: and to the
exercise of their government there is due both obedience, whereby
subjects are moved at the command of their superiors, and tributes,
which are a repayment of their labor.
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