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nuntym
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I was reading St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica online (newadvent.org/summa/index.html), and I came across the section on Mercy. This was on the “Second Part of the Second Part,” Question 30. Article 4 has the question, “Whether mercy is the greatest of the virtues?” and St. Thomas wrote,
I answer that, A virtue may take precedence of others in two ways: first, in itself; secondly, in comparison with its subject. On itself, mercy takes precedence of other virtues, for it belongs to mercy to be bountiful to others, and, what is more, to succor others in their wants, which pertains chiefly to one who stands above. Hence mercy is accounted as being proper to God: and therein His omnipotence is declared to be chiefly manifested [Collect, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost].
On the other hand, with regard to its subject, mercy is not the greatest virtue, unless that subject be greater than all others, surpassed by none and excelling all: since for him that has anyone above him it is better to be united to that which is above than to supply the defect of that which is beneath. Hence, as regards man, who has God above him, charity which unites him to God, is greater than mercy, whereby he supplies the defects of his neighbor. But of all the virtues which relate to our neighbor, mercy is the greatest, even as its act surpasses all others, since it belongs to one who is higher and better to supply the defect of another, in so far as the latter is deficient.
Source
Please note what I italicized above; it seems to me he was saying that mercy is the second greatest virtue, after charity. Am I understanding this one right?
TIA and God bless!
I was reading St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica online (newadvent.org/summa/index.html), and I came across the section on Mercy. This was on the “Second Part of the Second Part,” Question 30. Article 4 has the question, “Whether mercy is the greatest of the virtues?” and St. Thomas wrote,
I answer that, A virtue may take precedence of others in two ways: first, in itself; secondly, in comparison with its subject. On itself, mercy takes precedence of other virtues, for it belongs to mercy to be bountiful to others, and, what is more, to succor others in their wants, which pertains chiefly to one who stands above. Hence mercy is accounted as being proper to God: and therein His omnipotence is declared to be chiefly manifested [Collect, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost].
On the other hand, with regard to its subject, mercy is not the greatest virtue, unless that subject be greater than all others, surpassed by none and excelling all: since for him that has anyone above him it is better to be united to that which is above than to supply the defect of that which is beneath. Hence, as regards man, who has God above him, charity which unites him to God, is greater than mercy, whereby he supplies the defects of his neighbor. But of all the virtues which relate to our neighbor, mercy is the greatest, even as its act surpasses all others, since it belongs to one who is higher and better to supply the defect of another, in so far as the latter is deficient.
Source
Please note what I italicized above; it seems to me he was saying that mercy is the second greatest virtue, after charity. Am I understanding this one right?
TIA and God bless!