John Clark on the Moral Imperative of Gratitude

"In her 1922 edition of Etiquette, Emily Post mentions over one hundred occasions and ways in which a person should thank another. For Post, whose book served as the standard for social interaction for generations, the idea of failing to express gratitude constituted a major breach in manners. Most would agree. But for Catholics, a deeper question remains: could ingratitude constitute a sin?

"Saint Thomas Aquinas addresses this question in the Summa Theologiae with a powerful condemnation of ingratitude. We might expect to find his question under the heading of charity, yet Aquinas considers gratitude a component of the cardinal virtue of justice; thus, ingratitude violates a cardinal virtue.

"As such, Aquinas explains, 'every ingratitude is a sin.'"

In a recent commentary, writer John Clark reflected on the importance of gratitude - to the point of being a moral imperative.

To access Mr. Clark's complete post, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Blogs: John Clark: Here’s Why Saints Say 'Every Ingratitude is a Sin' (1 AUG 17)