On prayer and the contemplative life · Aquinas, Saint Thomas
3. Further, adoration belongs to religion. But adoration is paid to
Chapter 9 of 107 · 1 min read
images for one reason and to God for another. But since diversity of "reason" serves to differentiate the virtues, it seems that religion is not one virtue.
But religious worship is not paid to images considered in themselves as entities, but precisely as images bringing God Incarnate to our mind. Further, regarding an image precisely as an image of some one, we do not stop at it; it carries us on to that which it represents. Hence the fact that religious veneration is paid to images of Christ in no sense means that there are various kinds of latria, nor different virtues of religion.
IV
Is Religion a Special Virtue Distinct From Others?
Religion is regarded as a part of Justice, and is distinct from the other parts of Justice.
Since virtue is ordained to what is good, where there exists some special ratio of good there must be some special corresponding virtue. But the particular good towards which religion is ordained is the showing due honour to God. Honour, however, is due by reason of some excellency. And to God belongs pre-eminent excellence, since He in every possible way infinitely transcends all things. Hence special honour is due to Him; just as we note that in human concerns varying honours are due to the varying excellencies of persons; one is the honour of a father, another that of a king, and so on. Hence it is manifest that religion is a special virtue.
Some, however, maintain that religion is not a special virtue distinct from others, thus:
