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Objection 1: It would seem that devotion is not an act of religion.
Devotion, as stated above (Article 1), consists in giving oneself
up to God. But this is done chiefly by charity, since according to
Dionysius (Div. Nom. iv) "the Divine love produces ecstasy,
for it takes the lover away from himself and gives him to the
beloved." Therefore devotion is an act of charity rather than of
religion.
Objection 2: Further, charity precedes religion; and devotion
seems to precede charity; since, in the Scriptures, charity is
represented by fire, while devotion is signified by fatness which is
the material of fire [Cant. 8:6; Ps. 52:6]. Therefore
devotion is not an act of religion.
Objection 3: Further, by religion man is directed to God alone,
as stated above (Question 81, Article 1). But devotion is
directed also to men; for we speak of people being devout to certain
holy men, and subjects are said to be devoted to their masters; thus
Pope Leo says [Serm. viii, De Pass. Dom.] that the Jews
"out of devotion to the Roman laws," said: "We have no king but
Caesar." Therefore devotion is not an act of religion.
On the contrary, Devotion is derived from "devovere," as stated
(Article 1). But a vow is an act of religion. Therefore devotion
is also an act of religion.
I answer that, It belongs to the same virtue, to will to do
something, and to have the will ready to do it, because both acts have
the same object. For this reason the Philosopher says (Ethic. v,
1): "It is justice whereby men both will end do just actions."
Now it is evident that to do what pertains to the worship or service of
God, belongs properly to religion, as stated above (Question
81). Wherefore it belongs to that virtue to have the will ready to
do such things, and this is to be devout. Hence it is evident that
devotion is an act of religion.
Reply to Objection 1: It belongs immediately to charity that man
should give himself to God, adhering to Him by a union of the
spirit; but it belongs immediately to religion, and, through the
medium of religion, to charity which is the principle of religion,
that man should give himself to God for certain works of Divine
worship.
Reply to Objection 2: Bodily fatness is produced by the natural
heat in the process of digestion, and at the same time the natural heat
thrives, as it were, on this fatness. In like manner charity both
causes devotion (inasmuch as love makes one ready to serve one's
friend) and feeds on devotion. Even so all friendship is safeguarded
and increased by the practice and consideration of friendly deeds.
Reply to Objection 3: Devotion to God's holy ones, dead or
living, does not terminate in them, but passes on to God, in so far
as we honor God in His servants. But the devotion of subjects to
their temporal masters is of another kind, just as service of a
temporal master differs from the service of God.
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