Part II-II - Secunda Secundæ Partis

The Virtues and Vices

The second part of the Second Part examines the specific virtues and vices, providing detailed analysis of the theological and cardinal virtues, as well as the various sins and moral failings that oppose them.

Topics Covered

The Theological Virtues

Faith (Questions 1-16)

• The nature of faith
• The act of faith
• The gift of understanding
• The gift of knowledge
• Vices opposed to faith

Hope (Questions 17-22)

• The nature of hope
• The gift of fear
• Vices opposed to hope
• The precepts relating to hope

Charity (Questions 23-46)

• The nature of charity
• The act of charity
• The joy and peace of charity
• The gift of wisdom
• Vices opposed to charity
• The precepts of charity

The Cardinal Virtues

Prudence (Questions 47-56)

• The nature of prudence
• The parts of prudence
• The gift of counsel
• Vices opposed to prudence

Justice (Questions 57-122)

• The nature of justice
• Right and the law
• Commutative justice
• Distributive justice
• Religion and its acts
• Vices opposed to religion
• Other virtues connected with justice

Fortitude (Questions 123-140)

• The nature of fortitude
• Martyrdom
• The gift of fortitude
• Vices opposed to fortitude
• The parts of fortitude

Temperance (Questions 141-170)

• The nature of temperance
• Abstinence and sobriety
• Chastity and virginity
• The parts of temperance
• Vices opposed to temperance

Special States and Conditions (Questions 171-189)

• Prophecy and revelation
• Rapture and visions
• The gift of tongues
• The gratuitous graces
• The active and contemplative life
• Religious life
• Episcopal and clerical states

Available Questions

Navigation

• ← Part II-I: Human Acts and Morality
• Part III: Christ and the Sacraments →
• Back to Summa Index

“The theological virtues are so called because they have God for their object.” - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae II-II, q. 62, a. 1