Question 26 — The Order of Charity

We must now consider the order of charity, under which head there are thirteen points of inquiry:

(1) Whether there is an order in charity?

• (2) Whether man ought to love God more than his neighbor?
• (3) Whether more than himself?
• (4) Whether he ought to love himself more than his neighbor?
• (5) Whether man ought to love his neighbor more than his own body?
• (6) Whether he ought to love one neighbor more than another?
• (7) Whether he ought to love more, a neighbor who is better, or one who is more closely united to him?
• (8) Whether he ought to love more, one who is akin to him by blood, or one who is united to him by other ties?
• (9) Whether, out of charity, a man ought to love his son more than his father?
• (10) Whether he ought to love his mother more than his father?
• (11) Whether he ought to love his wife more than his father or mother?
• (12) Whether we ought to love those who are kind to us more than those whom we are kind to?
• (13) Whether the order of charity endures in heaven?