y, an act springs from
charity, being, so to speak, commanded by charity; and thus, since
charity commands all the virtues, inasmuch as it directs them to its
own end, an act springing from charity may belong even to another
special virtue. Accordingly, if in the act of the penitent we
consider the mere displeasure in the past sin, it belongs to charity
immediately, in the same way as joy for past good acts; but the
intention to aim at the destruction of past sin requires a special
virtue subordinate to charity.

Reply Obj. 2: In point of fact, penance has indeed a general matter,
inasmuch as it regards all sins; but it does so under a special
aspect, inasmuch as they can be remedied by an act of man in
co-operating with God for his justification.

Reply Obj. 3: Every special virtue removes formally the habit of the
opposite vice, just as whiteness removes blackness from the same
subject: but penance removes every sin effectively, inasmuch as it
works for the destruction of sins, according as they are pardonable
through the grace of God if man co-operate therewith. Wherefore it
does not follow that it is a general virtue.
_______________________

THIRD ARTICLE [III, Q. 85, Art. 3]

Whether the Virtue of Penance Is a Species of Justice?

Objection 1: It would seem that the virtue of penance is not a
species of justice. For justice is not a theological but a moral
virtue, as was shown in the Second Part (II-II, Q. 62, A. 3). But
penance seems to be a theological virtue, since God is its object,
for it makes satisfaction to God, to Whom, moreover, it reconciles
the sinner. Therefore it seems that penance is not a species of
justice.

Obj. 2: Further, since justice is a moral virtue it observes the
mean. Now penance does not observe the mean, but rather goes to the
extreme, according to Jer. 6:26: "Make thee mourning as for an only
son, a bitter lamentation." Therefore penance is not a species of
justice.

Obj. 3: Further, there are two species of justice, as stated in
_Ethic._ v, 4, viz. "distributive" and "commutative." But penance
does not seem to be contained under either of them. Therefore it
seems that penance is not a species of justice.

Obj. 4: Further, a gloss on Luke 6:21, "Blessed are ye that weep
now," says: "It is prudence that teaches us the unhappiness of
earthly things and the happiness of heavenly things." But weeping is
an act of penance. Therefore penance is a species of prudence rather
than