Modesty in Speech: St. Thomas Aquinas, Decorum & the Virtue of Silence ~ Fr. Ripperger

This conference explores modesty in speech through the lens of St. Thomas Aquinas and Catholic moral theology. We define modesty as a virtue moderating the pleasure we take in externals—especially speech, comportment, and dress—and focus here on speech: truth (veracity), prudence, decorum, and silence.

You’ll learn:
Why every external sin already chisels away at modesty.
How decorum means “what fits what”: person, place, time, audience, and intention.
The difference between finis operis (the act’s built-in end) and finis operantis (the doer’s intention) in judging speech.
Excess vs. defect in speech: talking too much (pleasure in our own ideas, talking at not with others) vs. not speaking when charity or justice requires it.
Why anger, bombast, malice, vulgarity, and profanity are immodest—and how they harm souls and destroy persuasion.
When sarcasm and comedy can be licit (and when they can’t).
Practical rules for tone, timing, audience, place, and motive—online and offline.

Key takeaways:
Speak the truth in charity; regulate pleasure in speech with reason.
Choose words that serve the listener’s spiritual good.
Prefer silence to needless talk; speak when duty calls.
Avoid vulgar and profane language; honor the dignity of Christian speech.

🙏 Mary, Seat of Wisdom—pray for us.

0:00 Opening prayer
0:44 Topic: Modesty in Speech
1:51 What Modesty Is (Aquinas; concupiscible appetite; externals)
3:05 Three Areas: Speech, Comportment, Dress
5:04 Why Speech Needs Regulation (pleasure & moderation)
6:27 Other Virtues Governing Speech: Veracity & Prudence
7:09 Foundation: Decorum (“what fits what”)
10:22 Finis operis vs. finis operantis (objective end vs. intention)
13:24 First Rule: Speech must be true
16:02 Anger & Immodesty in Expression
17:59 Usurpation & Knowing vs. Authority
18:47 Circumstances: who, to whom, how, where, when, why, what
21:52 What Clergy/Laity Should/Shouldn’t Say (scandal & roles)
24:01 Quantity: Speaking too much vs. too little
33:58 Virtue of Silence (men/women tendencies; balance)
37:11 Online Behavior & Comment Culture
39:02 Tone & Quality: harshness, exaggeration, emotionalism
45:51 “Whatever is received…”: speaking to the listener
46:48 By What Aid: terms, setting, privacy, location
48:38 Where & When: not in public, not before children
50:18 Why We Speak: the other’s spiritual good
54:04 Pleasure in Certitude & Overconfidence
56:37 Ecclesiology examples & ultracrepidarianism
1:03:11 Q&A: Comedy & Sarcasm (limits)
1:05:57 Vulgarity vs. Profanity (definitions & sins against modesty)
1:09:24 Closing

For more by Fr. Ripperger & please visit http://sensustraditionis.org/
Fr. Ripperger's Press for his books at https://sentradpress.com/
Fr. Ripperger's order is found at https://dolorans.org/
(C) 2024 Sensus Fidelium
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