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Objection 1: It seems that piety is not a special virtue distinct
from other virtues. For the giving of service and homage to anyone
proceeds from love. But it belongs to piety. Therefore piety is not
a distinct virtue from charity.
Objection 2: Further, it is proper to religion to give worship to
God. But piety also gives worship to God, according to Augustine
(De Civ. Dei x). Therefore piety is not distinct from religion.
Objection 3: Further, piety, whereby we give our country worship
and duty, seems to be the same as legal justice, which looks to the
common good. But legal justice is a general virtue, according to the
Philosopher (Ethic. v, 1,2). Therefore piety is not a special
virtue.
On the contrary, It is accounted by Tully (De Invent. Rhet.
ii) as a part of justice.
I answer that, A special virtue is one that regards an object under a
special aspect. Since, then, the nature of justice consists in
rendering another person his due, wherever there is a special aspect of
something due to a person, there is a special virtue. Now a thing is
indebted in a special way to that which is its connatural principle of
being and government. And piety regards this principle, inasmuch as
it pays duty and homage to our parents and country, and to those who
are related thereto. Therefore piety is a special virtue.
Reply to Objection 1: Just as religion is a protestation of faith,
hope and charity, whereby man is primarily directed to God, so again
piety is a protestation of the charity we bear towards our parents and
country.
Reply to Objection 2: God is the principle of our being and
government in a far more excellent manner than one's father or
country. Hence religion, which gives worship to God, is a distinct
virtue from piety, which pays homage to our parents and country. But
things relating to creatures are transferred to God as the summit of
excellence and causality, as Dionysius says (Div. Nom. i):
wherefore, by way of excellence, piety designates the worship of
God, even as God, by way of excellence, is called "Our
Father."
Reply to Objection 3: Piety extends to our country in so far as the
latter is for us a principle of being: but legal justice regards the
good of our country, considered as the common good: wherefore legal
justice has more of the character of a general virtue than piety has.
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