Summa Theologica Pdf

Summa Theologica PDF: Your Guide to Accessing and Understanding Aquinas's Masterpiece

Are you fascinated by medieval philosophy and theology? Do you yearn to delve into the intricate arguments of Thomas Aquinas, one of history's most influential thinkers? Then you've likely encountered the monumental Summa Theologica. This comprehensive work, a cornerstone of Catholic theology, can feel daunting to approach. But accessing a reliable Summa Theologica PDF and understanding its structure can unlock a treasure trove of philosophical and theological insights. This article serves as your complete guide, offering strategies for finding reputable PDFs, navigating the work's complex organization, and understanding its enduring relevance. We'll demystify Aquinas's masterpiece, empowering you to engage with his profound thought.

Finding Reliable Summa Theologica PDFs: A Cautious Approach

The digital age offers unprecedented access to information, but it also presents challenges in discerning trustworthy sources. Finding a Summa Theologica PDF requires caution. While numerous websites offer downloads, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the text is crucial. Avoid PDFs from dubious websites or those lacking clear attribution.

Here's a recommended approach:

Check Reputable Online Libraries: Many university libraries and digital archives offer free access to digitized versions of the Summa Theologica. These sources usually provide accurate transcriptions and are less likely to contain errors or alterations. Sites like Internet Archive (archive.org) often host such materials.
Look for Academic Publishers' Websites: Some academic publishers have digitized versions of the Summa Theologica available for purchase or subscription. These often come with enhanced features like search functionality and annotations.
Consult Catholic Theological Resources: Official websites of Catholic universities or theological institutions frequently provide links to reliable versions or resources related to the Summa Theologica.

Remember to always cross-reference information from multiple sources to ensure accuracy. Be wary of PDFs that lack clear provenance or appear to be incomplete or significantly altered from established translations.

Navigating the Structure of the Summa Theologica

The Summa Theologica is famously extensive and structured meticulously. Understanding its organization is crucial for effectively engaging with its content. Aquinas employs a systematic approach, addressing theological questions within a defined framework.

Key Structural Elements:

Prima Pars (First Part): This section deals with God and His attributes, covering topics like the existence of God, God's nature, and creation.
Prima Secundae (First Part of the Second Part): This part focuses on human actions, exploring topics such as human nature, the virtues, and the moral law.
Secunda Secundae (Second Part of the Second Part): This section delves into the theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) and the infused moral virtues. It also addresses specific moral issues.
Tertia Pars (Third Part): This final part is dedicated to Christ, the sacraments, and the Church.


Each part is further subdivided into quaestiones (questions), which are then broken down into articuli (articles). Each article presents a specific question, followed by Aquinas's arguments ( objectiones), his own response (sed contra), and his detailed replies (respondeo dicendum est) to the initial objections. This rigorous question-and-answer format is central to the Summa's structure.

Understanding Aquinas's Method: A Key to Unlocking the Summa

Aquinas’s approach is characterized by a distinctive methodology. He employs a style of reasoning known as scholasticism, which relies heavily on logic, reason, and the authority of scripture and tradition. Understanding this framework is vital for grasping the content of the Summa.

Use of Scripture and Tradition: Aquinas constantly references biblical passages and the writings of Church Fathers, integrating these sources into his reasoning.
Syllogistic Reasoning: He employs deductive reasoning, using syllogisms to build logical arguments and support his conclusions.
Dialectical Method: The question-and-answer format reflects a dialectical approach, presenting objections before offering his own response and refutations.
Synthesis of Faith and Reason: Aquinas attempts to harmonize faith and reason, showing how theological truths can be supported by philosophical arguments.

By understanding Aquinas's method, you can better appreciate the nuances of his arguments and follow the intricate threads of his reasoning within the Summa Theologica.

A Sample Outline of the Summa Theologica

Here’s a simplified outline to illustrate the structure:

Title: Summa Theologica

Contents:

Introduction: A brief overview of the work's purpose and methodology.
Main Chapters (Parts):
Prima Pars: God’s existence, nature, attributes, creation.
Prima Secundae: Human actions, morality, virtues, and vices.
Secunda Secundae: Theological virtues (faith, hope, charity), infused moral virtues, specific moral issues.
Tertia Pars: Christology, Sacraments, and the Church.
Conclusion: A summary of the key theological points made throughout the work.


Explanations of the Outline Points:

Introduction: This section usually sets the stage, clarifying the overall purpose of the Summa Theologica. Aquinas explains his aim to systematically address key theological questions.

Prima Pars (First Part): This section forms the foundation of Aquinas's theological system. He argues for the existence of God, exploring God's attributes (omnipotence, omniscience, omnibenevolence), and explaining the relationship between God and creation. It's a cornerstone for understanding his subsequent arguments.

Prima Secundae (First Part of the Second Part): This part shifts focus to human actions, exploring what constitutes moral goodness and badness. Aquinas examines human nature, the role of reason, and the importance of virtues and vices in shaping moral character.

Secunda Secundae (Second Part of the Second Part): Here, Aquinas elaborates on the theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) and discusses the infused moral virtues, such as prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. He also addresses numerous moral questions and dilemmas.

Tertia Pars (Third Part): This final part is dedicated to Christology – the study of Christ's person and work. Aquinas discusses the incarnation, the sacraments (which he sees as channels of God's grace), and the nature and role of the Church.

Conclusion: This section typically summarizes the major conclusions reached throughout the Summa Theologica. It's important to note that the “conclusion” is not a simple summary but a reiteration of the overall theological system built up throughout the work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there a single definitive English translation of the Summa Theologica? No, there are several translations, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The best choice depends on your level of familiarity with theological language.

2. How long would it take to read the entire Summa Theologica? This depends on your reading pace and level of engagement. It's a substantial undertaking that would likely require months or even years to complete.

3. What are the best ways to approach reading the Summa Theologica? Begin by focusing on specific sections relevant to your interests. Use secondary sources and commentaries to aid understanding.

4. Are there any online tools to help navigate the Summa Theologica? Yes, some websites offer searchable databases or annotated versions.

5. Why is the Summa Theologica still relevant today? Aquinas's work addresses fundamental questions about God, humanity, and morality that remain relevant across centuries.

6. What are some good introductory books on Aquinas? Many introductory texts provide an accessible overview of Aquinas's life, work, and philosophical system.

7. Is the Summa Theologica only relevant to Catholics? While rooted in Catholic theology, the Summa Theologica engages with philosophical questions that resonate with people of various religious and philosophical backgrounds.

8. Can I find the Summa Theologica in other languages besides English? Yes, the Summa Theologica has been translated into numerous languages.

9. Where can I find scholarly articles and commentaries on the Summa Theologica? Academic databases such as JSTOR and Project MUSE contain numerous scholarly articles and commentaries.

Related Articles:

1. Thomas Aquinas's Life and Works: A biographical overview of Aquinas's life and his major contributions to philosophy and theology.

2. Aquinas's Five Ways: An in-depth analysis of Aquinas's five arguments for the existence of God.

3. Natural Law in Aquinas's Thought: An exploration of Aquinas's theory of natural law and its implications for morality.

4. Aquinas on the Virtues: A discussion of Aquinas's understanding of the cardinal and theological virtues.

5. Aquinas and the Problem of Evil: An examination of Aquinas's response to the problem of evil in the world.

6. Aquinas's Influence on Modern Thought: An analysis of Aquinas's continuing influence on contemporary philosophy and theology.

7. Comparing Aquinas and Aristotle: A comparative study of the philosophical systems of Aquinas and Aristotle.

8. Scholasticism and its Impact: A historical overview of scholasticism and its impact on Western thought.

9. The Summa Contra Gentiles: A Comparison: A comparison between the Summa Theologica and the Summa Contra Gentiles, two of Aquinas's major works.


  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologica, Volume 1 St Thomas Aquinas, 2013-01-01 The Summa Theologica is the best-known work of Italian philosopher, scholar, and Dominican friar SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS (1225 1274), widely considered the Catholic Church s greatest theologian. Famously consulted (immediately after the Bible) on religious questions at the Council of Trent, Aquinas s masterpiece has been considered a summary of official Church philosophy ever since. Aquinas considers approximately 10,000 questions on Church doctrine covering the roles and nature of God, man, and Jesus, then lays out objections to Church teachings and systematically confronts each, using Biblical verses, theologians, and philosophers to bolster his arguments. In Volume I, Aquinas addresses: the existence and perfection of God the justice and mercy of God predestination the cause of evil the union of body and soul free will and fate and much more. This massive work of scholarship, spanning five volumes, addresses just about every possible query or argument that any believer or atheist could have, and remains essential, more than seven hundred years after it was written, for clergy, religious historians, and serious students of Catholic thought.
  summa theologica pdf: A Summa of the Summa Saint Thomas (Aquinas), Peter Kreeft, 1990-01-01 Combines selected philosophical passages from Thomas' Summa Theologica with detailed footnotes and explanations for modern readers.
  summa theologica pdf: Aquinas's Summa Theologiae Jeffrey Hause, 2020-01-09 Alone among Thomas Aquinas' works, the Summa Theologiae contains well-developed and integrated discussions of metaphysics, ethics, law, human action, and the divine nature. The essays in this volume, by scholars representing varied approaches to the study of Aquinas, offer thorough, cutting-edge expositions and analyses of these topics and show how they relate to Aquinas' larger system of thought. The volume also examines the reception of the Summa Theologiae from the thirteenth century to the present day, showing how scholars have understood and misunderstood this key text - and how, even after seven centuries of interpretation, we still have much to learn from it. Detailed and accessible, this book will be highly important for scholars and students of medieval philosophy and theology.
  summa theologica pdf: A Shorter Summa Peter Kreeft, 2010-06-16 A shortened version of Kreeft's much larger Summa of the Summa, which in turn was a shortened version of the Summa Theologica. The reason for the double shortening is pretty obvious: the original runs some 4000 pages! (The Summa of the Summa was just over 500.) The Summa is certainly the greatest, most ambitious, most rational book of theology ever written. In it, there is also much philosophy, which is selected, excerpted, arranged, introduced, and explained in footnotes here by Kreeft, a popular Thomist teacher and writer. St. Thomas Aquinas is universally recognized as one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived. His writings combine the two fundamental ideals of philosophical writing: clarity and profundity. He is a master of metaphysics and technical terminology, yet so full of both theoretical and practical wisdom. He is the master of common sense. The Summa Theologica is timeless, but particularly important today because of his synthesis of faith and reason, revelation and philosophy, and the Biblical and the classical Greco-Roman heritages. This little book is designed for beginners, either for classroom use or individually. It contains the most famous and influential passages of St. Thomas' philosophy with copious aids to understanding them.
  summa theologica pdf: A Tour of the Summa Paul J. Glenn, Aeterna Press, 2015-09-01 We may adapt a remark of St. Thomas Aquinas, and apply it to his own great work, the Summa Theologica: not everyone has talent to master this work; not everyone has a taste for the study it requires; not everyone has time to devote to such study. Aeterna Press
  summa theologica pdf: The Cambridge Companion to the Summa Theologiae Philip McCosker, Denys Turner, 2016-06-13 Featuring essays from both specialists in Aquinas' thought and constructive contemporary theologians, this Companion provides an accessible, comprehensive guide to his main mature theological work, the Summa Theologiae. The authors demonstrate how to read the text effectively and how to relate it to past and current theological issues.
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologica Part I-II ("Pars Prima Secundae") St. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologica is the best-known work of Thomas Aquinas, and although unfinished, one of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature. The work is intended as a manual for beginners in theology and also a compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Church. It presents the reasoning for almost all points of Christian theology in the West. This is part 1-2, 'Pars Prima Secundae'.
  summa theologica pdf: Thomas Aquinas: A Very Short Introduction Fergus Kerr, 2009-11-05 Thomas Aquinas, an Italian Catholic priest in the early thirteeth century, is considered to be one of the great Christian thinkers who had, and who still has, a profound influence on Western thought. He was a controversial figure who was exposed and engaged in conflict. This Very Short Introduction looks at Aquinas in a historical context, and explores the Church and culture into which Aquinas was born. It considers Aquinas as philosopher, and looks at the relationship between philosophy and religion in the thirteenth century. Fergus Kerr, in this engaging and informative introduction, will make The Summa Theologiae, Aquinas's greatest single work, accessible to new readers. It will also reflect on the importance of Thomas Aquinas in modern debates and asks why Aquinas matters now. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
  summa theologica pdf: Thomas Aquinas on Human Nature Robert Pasnau, 2002 A major new study of Aquinas and his central project: the understanding of human nature.
  summa theologica pdf: Treatise on Law Saint Thomas (Aquinas), 1969
  summa theologica pdf: Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae Bernard McGinn, 2019-05-28 This concise book tells the story of the most important theological work of the Middle Ages, the vast Summa theologiae of Thomas Aquinas, which holds a unique place in Western religion and philosophy. Written between 1266 and 1273, the Summa was conceived by Aquinas as an instructional guide for teachers and novices and a compendium of all the approved teachings of the Catholic Church. It synthesizes an astonishing range of scholarship, covering hundreds of topics and containing more than a million and a half words--and was still unfinished at the time of Aquinas's death. Here, Bernard McGinn, one of today's most acclaimed scholars of medieval Christianity, vividly describes the world that shaped Aquinas, then turns to the Dominican friar's life and career, examining Aquinas's reasons for writing his masterpiece, its subject matter, and the novel way he organized it. McGinn gives readers a brief tour of the Summa itself, and then discusses its reception over the past seven hundred years. He looks at the influence of the Summa on such giants of medieval Christendom as Meister Eckhart, its ridicule during the Enlightenment, the rise and fall of Neothomism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the role of the Summa in the post-Vatican II church, and the book's enduring relevance today.
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologica, Part I (Prima Pars) Thomas Aquinas, 2021-12-12 Summa Theologica Part I (Prima Pars) Thomas Aquinas - The Summa Theologiae (Latin: Compendium of Theology or Theological Compendium; also subsequently called the Summa Theologica or simply the Summa, written 1265-1274) is the best-known work of Thomas Aquinas (c.1225-1274), and although unfinished, one of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature. It is intended as a manual for beginners in theology and a compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Church. It presents the reasoning for almost all points of Christian theology in the West. The Summa's topics follow a cycle: the existence of God; Creation, Man; Man's purpose; Christ; the Sacraments; and back to God. (courtesy of wikipedia.com). This is part 1, 'Prima Pars'. Aquinas's greatest work was the Summa, and it is the fullest presentation of his views. He worked on it from the time of Clement IV (after 1265) until the end of his life. When he died, he had reached Question 90 of Part III (on the subject of penance). What was lacking was added afterwards from the fourth book of his commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard as a supplementum, which is not found in manuscripts of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The Summa was translated into Greek (apparently by Maximus Planudes around 1327), Armenian, many European languages, and Chinese. It consists of three parts. Part I treats of God, who is the first cause, himself uncaused (primum movens immobile) and as such existent only in act (actu) - that is, pure actuality without potentiality, and therefore without corporeality. His essence is actus purus et perfectus. This follows from the fivefold proof for the existence of God; namely, there must be a first mover, unmoved, a first cause in the chain of causes, an absolutely necessary being, an absolutely perfect being, and a rational designer.
  summa theologica pdf: The Essential Summa Theologiae Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt, 2021-11-16 Saint Thomas Aquinas's masterwork, the Summa theologiae, can be daunting to beginners. This volume by an expert on Aquinas's theology offers an ideal introduction. It presents key selections from the Summa along with accessible commentary designed to provide background, explain key concepts, and walk readers through Aquinas's arguments. Previously published as Holy Teaching, this new edition has been fully revised and includes a substantial amount of new material. The book draws from the entire Summa and incorporates selections that focus on moral theology, providing a fuller picture of Aquinas's thought.
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) Thomas Aquinas, 2021-12-12 Summa Theologica Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) Thomas Aquinas - The Summa Theologiae (Latin: Compendium of Theology or Theological Compendium; also subsequently called the Summa Theologica or simply the Summa, written 1265-1274) is the best-known work of Thomas Aquinas (c.1225-1274), and although unfinished, one of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature. It is intended as a manual for beginners in theology and a compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Church. It presents the reasoning for almost all points of Christian theology in the West. The Summa's topics follow a cycle: the existence of God; Creation, Man; Man's purpose; Christ; the Sacraments; and back to God. (courtesy of wikipedia.com). This is part 1-2, 'Pars Prima Secundae'. In a chain of acts of will, man strives for the highest end. They are free acts, insofar as man has in himself the knowledge of their end (and therein the principle of action). In that the will wills the end, it wills also the appropriate means, chooses freely and completes the consensus. Whether the act be good or evil depends on the end. The human reason pronounces judgment concerning the character of the end; it is, therefore, the law for action. Human acts, however, are meritorious insofar as they promote the purpose of God and his honor. By repeating a good action, man acquires a moral habit or a quality which enables him to do the good gladly and easily. This is true, however, only of the intellectual and moral virtues (which Aquinas treats after the manner of Aristotle); the theological virtues are imparted by God to man as a disposition, from which the acts here proceed; while they strengthen, they do not form it. The disposition of evil is the opposite alternative. An act becomes evil through deviation from the reason, and from divine moral law.
  summa theologica pdf: Primary and Secondary Precepts in Thomistic Natural Law Teaching R.A. Armstrong, 2012-12-06 Never before in the history of mankind has there been a period when hitherto accepted moral principles have been more severely tested. The agonized cry of a world smitten by two major wars in a handful of years leaves no doubt in the minds of many that natural law ethics, ifit is to have relevance and to survive, must provide at least the outline of an answer to the problems of every day living. To date, many hundreds of books and articles have been written setting forth with great eloquence the basic and immutable principles of natural law ethics. But too often these discussions fail to consider, in their agonizing detail, situations where there is a choice between conflicting values, conflicting loyalties, conflicting ideas and duties, each of which has a claim to recognition. It is only in the isolation of the particular case that the frightening dilemmas of natural law can be most clearly experienced. To give just two illustrations.
  summa theologica pdf: Aquinas's Shorter Summa Saint Thomas Aquinas, 2002-01-15 The essentials of Catholic doctrine — clearly and succinctly presented Two years before he died, St. Thomas Aquinas — probably the greatest teacher the Church has ever known — was asked by his assistant, Brother Reginald, to write a simple summary of the Faith of the Catholic Church for those who lacked the time or the stamina to tackle his massive Summa Theologica. In response, the great saint quickly set down — in language that non-scholars can understand — his peerless insights into the major topics of theology: the Trinity, Divine Providence, the Incarnation of Christ, the Last Judgment, and much more. Here, then, is not only St. Thomas's concise statement of the key elements of his thought, but a handy reference source for the essential truths of the Catholic Faith. St. Thomas will show you: Why faith is reasonable, not blind Why evil can never be as powerful as good Solid arguments for Christ's Resurrection Powerful arguments for God's existence Why angels are necessary in creation How Adam's sin differed from Eve's Why Jesus descended into Hell Why we must suffer for Adam's sin Why the truths that you can know only through Revelation are nevertheless rational Startling details about God's forgiveness Facts about the punishment of the damned: both spiritual and bodily How a soul's damnation can be compatible with God's goodness What Christians should think about “fate” and “chance” What life after resurrection will be like Three ways in which God is in all things Eternal life: what it is; how to understand it How you can know God through reason Hell-fire: whether it's real or symbolic Why God became man Why God allows evil How Jesus “grew in wisdom” How Christ can have existed for all eternity and yet be God's Son The Beatific Vision: what it really is Why God's knowledge of the future doesn't deny man's free will How the Holy Trinity is three distinct Persons, yet one God Much more that will help you know and love God with greater understanding!
  summa theologica pdf: The Summa Theologica: First Part Saint Thomas Aquinas, 2012-10-01 The Summa Theologica: First Part by Saint Thomas Aquinas: — A Classic in Western Philosophy and the Catholic Church — Part I, 119 Questions, 611 Articles, Thousands of Objections and Answers — Over 500,000 words Publisher: Volumes 1 to 6 in Paperback and Kindle Editions also available. The Summa Theologica, or 'Summary of Theology' was written from 1265 to 1274. It is the greatest achievement of Saint Thomas Aquinas and one of the most influential works of Western literature and Philosophy. His influence on Western thought is considerable, and much of modern Philosophy was conceived as a reaction against, or as an agreement with, his ideas, particularly in the areas of Ethics, Natural Law, Metaphysics, and Political Theory. It is intended as a manual for beginners in Theology and a Compendium of all of the main Theological teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It presents the reasoning for almost all points of Christian Theology in the West. The book is famous, among other things, for its five arguments for the existence of God, the Quinque viae. The First Part is on God. In it, he gives five proofs for God's existence as well as an explication of His attributes. He argues for the actuality and incorporeality of God as the unmoved mover and describes how God moves through His thinking and willing. Includes Treatises on the Creation, on the Angels, on the work of the Six Days, on Man and on the Divine Government. Publisher: Catholic Way Publishing — Click on the Publisher Name in the Title for more Catholic Paperback and E-Books — Go to our website: CatholicWayPublishing dot com for more Catholic E-Books We hope you enjoy this release!
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologica Complete in a Single Volume Thomas Aquinas, 2018-05-14 The Summa Theologica is a compendium of theology written by Thomas Aquinas between 1265 and 1273. In Roman Catholicism it is the sum of all known learning and doctrine, of all that can be known about God and humanity's relations with God -- a landmark in the history of theology that famously offers five proofs of God's existence, the first three of which are cosmological arguments; the fourth, a moral argument; and the fifth, a teleological argument. The third quarter of the thirteenth century marked the first decisive philosophical encounter between Hellenism and Christianity. The rediscovery of Aristotle's works after the Dark Ages ushered in a new era of intellectual fervor in Europe, and the work of Thomas Aquinas is a commentary on Aristotle, whose writings were lost to the non-Arabic world until the beginning of the Thirteenth Century. To many, Aristotle's worldview was a pagan threat to Christianity. To Aquinas, it provided an exciting cosmological framework on which to build an all-encompassing Christian worldview. His thoughts unfolding with a calmness of order and an assurance of judgment, Aquinas explores in the Summa the primary role of the senses in the acquisition of knowledge and the metaphysical analysis of things in terms of matter and form. But unlike Aristotle's God, who did not care one whit about the world, the God of Christianity, insisted Aquinas, is a personal God. Like Aristotle, Aquinas believed that each human being has a soul and that all created things have a purpose. For Christians, all are part of a divine plan. This dazzling synthesis of Catholic doctrine has had a profound impact on Christian thinking since the thirteenth century and has become the de facto official teaching of the Catholic Church -- the intellectual underpinning of the Church to this day.
  summa theologica pdf: Power of God Diane Skinner, 2011
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologiae Supplementum 1-68 Thomas Aquinas, 2017-08-22 The most important work of the towering intellectual of the Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae remains one of the great seminal works of philosophy and theology, while extending to subjects as diverse as law and government, sacraments and liturgy, and psychology and ethics. In his third and final part of the Summa Theologiae, Thomas Aquinas begins to address the life of Christ, lived out both in Jesus himself, and in each of the baptized through the sacraments.
  summa theologica pdf: The 'Summa Theologica' of St. Thomas Aquinas: Part 1, Questions L-LXXIV Thomas Aquinas, 2013-04-18 Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
  summa theologica pdf: Thomas Aquinas Robert Barron, 2022-08 Thomas Aquinas is widely considered the greatest and most influential of Catholic theologians. Yet too often his insights into the nature of God and the meaning of life are seen as somehow cold, impersonal, and divorced from spirituality. In this award-winning book, Bishop Robert Barron shows how Aquinas' profound understanding of the Christian mystical life animates and helps explain his writings on Jesus Christ, creation, God's strange nature, and the human call to ecstasy. When one interprets Thomas merely as a rationalist philosopher or theologian, one misses the burning heart of everything he wrote. Aquinas was a saint deeply in love with Jesus Christ, and the image of Christ pervades the entire edifice that is his philosophical, theological, and scriptural work. Above all, Thomas Aquinas was a consummate spiritual master, holding up the icon of the Word made flesh and inviting others into its transformative power.
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologiae: Prima secundae, 71-114 Saint Thomas (Aquinas), 2012
  summa theologica pdf: Defining Magic Bernd-Christian Otto, Michael Stausberg, 2014-09-11 Magic has been an important term in Western history and continues to be an essential topic in the modern academic study of religion, anthropology, sociology, and cultural history. Defining Magic is the first volume to assemble key texts that aim at determining the nature of magic, establish its boundaries and key features, and explain its working. The reader brings together seminal writings from antiquity to today. The texts have been selected on the strength of their success in defining magic as a category, their impact on future scholarship, and their originality. The writings are divided into chronological sections and each essay is separately introduced for student readers. Together, these texts - from Philosophy, Theology, Religious Studies, and Anthropology - reveal the breadth of critical approaches and responses to defining what is magic. CONTRIBUTORS: Aquinas, Augustine, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Dennis Diderot, Emile Durkheim, Edward Evans-Pritchard, James Frazer, Susan Greenwood, Robin Horton, Edmund Leach, Gerardus van der Leeuw, Christopher Lehrich, Bronislaw Malinowski, Marcel Mauss, Agrippa von Nettesheim, Plato, Pliny, Plotin, Isidore of Sevilla, Jesper Sorensen, Kimberley Stratton, Randall Styers, Edward Tylor
  summa theologica pdf: Practical Theology Peter Kreeft, 2014-11-20 Saint Thomas Aquinas has been admired throughout the ages for his philosophical brilliance and his theological sanity, but author and professor Peter Kreeft thinks the practical spiritual wisdom of Aquinas is just as amazing. In this book, Kreeft brings together 358 useful, everyday insights from Aquinas' masterpiece the Summa Theologiae. He pairs these easily digestible quotes from the Summa with his own delightfully written commentary in order to answer the kinds of questions real people ask their spiritual directors. These 358 passages from the Summa have helped Kreeft in his own struggles to grow closer to the Lord. His practical, personal, and livable advice is the fruit of his labors to apply the insights of Aquinas to his own quest for sanctity, happiness, and union with God.
  summa theologica pdf: Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae Brian Davies, 2014-06-18 Following a scholarly account of Thomas Aquinas's life, Davies explores his purposes in writing the Summa Theologiae and works systematically through each of its three Parts. He also relates their contents and Aquinas's teachings to those of other works and other thinkers both theological and philosophical. The concluding chapter considers the impact Aquinas's best-known work has exerted since its first appearance, and why it is still studied today. Intended for students and general readers interested in medieval philosophy and theology, Davies's study is a solid and reflective introduction both to the Summa Theologiae and to Aquinas in general.
  summa theologica pdf: A Philosophical Primer on the Summa Theologica Richard J. Regan, 2018 What is the meaning of human life? The Summa Theologica is, in effect, Thomas Aquinas' answer to this question. With the goal of showing why human beings exist, their destiny, and how they can achieve it, Aquinas argues that human beings exist to know God, that their destiny is to enjoy the vision of him in the next life, that they need to act properly in this life in order to be worthy of their destiny, and that the Church's sacraments are the means to do so. The Summa Theologica represents a major attempt to introduce the method and principles of Aristotle into the study of Christian theology. Intended for an educated general audience and philosophical neophytes, A Philosophical Primer on the Summa Theologica will help readers become better acquainted with Aquinas' thought, summarily expressing his positions and arguments largely in his own terms. Using an innovative format, author Richard Regan makes available in one volume a more integrated view of Aquinas' philosophy in the Summa Theologica.
  summa theologica pdf: Cicero in the Courtroom of St. Thomas Aquinas Edward Kennard Rand, 1946 The Aristotelian Society of Marquette University each year invites a scholar to speak on the Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. Those lectures have come to be called the Aquinas Lectures and are customarily delivered on the Sunday nearest March 7, the feast day of the Society's patron saint. For the year 1945, the Society has the pleasure of publishing the lecture by Edward Kennard Rand, Pope Professor of Latin emeritus, Harvard University.
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologica, Volume 3 (Part II, Second Section) St Thomas Aquinas, 2013-01-01 The Summa Theologica is the best-known work of Italian philosopher, scholar, and Dominican friar SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS (1225 1274), widely considered the Catholic Church s greatest theologian. Famously consulted (immediately after the Bible) on religious questions at the Council of Trent, Aquinas s masterpiece has been considered a summary of official Church philosophy ever since. Aquinas considers approximately 10,000 questions on Church doctrine covering the roles and nature of God, man, and Jesus, then lays out objections to Church teachings and systematically confronts each, using Biblical verses, theologians, and philosophers to bolster his arguments. In Volume III, Aquinas addresses: faith and heresy charity peace and war mercy, anger, and justice prayer truth and much more. This massive work of scholarship, spanning five volumes, addresses just about every possible query or argument that any believer or atheist could have, and remains essential, more than seven hundred years after it was written, for clergy, religious historians, and serious students of Catholic thought.
  summa theologica pdf: Thomas Aquinas on the Passions Robert Miner, 2009-04-09 Provides an understanding of Thomas Aquinas' account of the passions, the elemental forces that affect human happiness.
  summa theologica pdf: The Summa Halensis Lydia Schumacher, 2020-06-22 For generations, early Franciscan thought has been widely regarded as unoriginal: a mere attempt to systematize the longstanding intellectual tradition of Augustine in the face of the rising popularity of Aristotle. This volume brings together leading scholars in the field to undertake a major study of the major doctrines and debates of the so-called Summa Halensis (1236-45), which was collaboratively authored by the founding members of the Franciscan school at Paris, above all, Alexander of Hales, and John of La Rochelle, in an effort to lay down the Franciscan intellectual tradition or the first time. The contributions will highlight that this tradition, far from unoriginal, laid the groundwork for later Franciscan thought, which is often regarded as formative for modern thought. Furthermore, the volume shows the role this Summa played in the development of the burgeoning field of systematic theology, which has its origins in the young university of Paris. This is a crucial and groundbreaking study for those with interests in the history of western thought and theology specifically.
  summa theologica pdf: Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages Taylor Marshall, 2013-06-26 Nevertheless, if you read this short book and understand what it lays out, you will be in the top 0.001% of people in the world who have a working knowledge of the philosophy and theology of Saint Thomas Aquinas. You will have the knowledge to pass a class called “Thomas Aquinas 101,” and you will be ready to study Thomas Aquinas at the collegiate level. You will have the building blocks to move forward. At the end of this book, I make practical recommendations to take it to the next level and recommend the next books to read.
  summa theologica pdf: Christ and Spirituality in St. Thomas Aquinas Jean-Pierre Torrell, 2011-11-14 The studies in this volume investigate themes of particular spiritual relevance in Aquinas's theology: friendship, charity, prayer, configuration to Christ, priesthood, preaching.
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologiae Thomas Aquinas, 2023-06-22 Summa Theologiae: Complete Set is a comprehensive collection of Thomas Aquinas' monumental work, offering profound insights into Christian theology and philosophy. Dive into the brilliance of Aquinas as he explores the nature of God, moral theology, and the purpose of existence. This transformative set unveils the timeless wisdom of one of history's greatest theological minds.
  summa theologica pdf: Of God and His Creatures Aquinas Thomas, Saint, 2016-06-30 This version of Aquinas' Summa contra Gentiles contains the annotations of Joseph Rickaby, early 20th century Jesuit priest and philosopher, alongside the main text. Aquinas meant his treatise to serve as an apologetics handbook for missionaries and philosophers defending the Christian faith against those outside of or hostile to Christianity. The style and content of Aquinas' arguments were particularly relevant to his time. The major religious communities in close proximity to the Christian West- Jewish and Islamic-had developed their various theological views using borrowed terms and ideas from Aristotelian philosophy just as Aquinas himself had.
  summa theologica pdf: The "Summa Theologica" of St. Thomas Aquinas Saint Thomas (Aquinas), 1917
  summa theologica pdf: Summa Theologica Thomas Aquinas, 2015-08-16 One of the Greatest Philosophical and Theological Masterpieces of All Time “The human mind may perceive truth only through thinking, as is clear from Augustine.” - Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica Summa Theologica is an extensive five-volume masterpiece about the meaning of life and the presence of God in our everyday lives. Just like the universe, the compendium starts and ends with God; everything in between is related to God’s creation and how we as human beings can be saved. This Xist Classics edition has been professionally formatted for e-readers with a linked table of contents. This eBook also contains a bonus book club leadership guide and discussion questions. We hope you’ll share this book with your friends, neighbors and colleagues and can’t wait to hear what you have to say about it. Xist Publishing is a digital-first publisher. Xist Publishing creates books for the touchscreen generation and is dedicated to helping everyone develop a lifetime love of reading, no matter what form it takes
  summa theologica pdf: Embracing Wisdom Gilles Mongeau, 2015 That the exercise of our intellectual powers in the service of the Gospel can prove life-transforming is a principle that both informs the writings of Thomas Aquinas and marks the horizon of his thought. Yet the contemporary interpretation of Aquinas’ thought suffers from the modern divorce between systematic theology and spirituality. Few have asked how Aquinas sets about composing his text in such a way that it orders spiritual operations of memory, affect, imagination, understanding, judgment, and decision to each other and to the purpose of Christian spiritual development. This book proposes a theological interpretation of the Summa theologiae as a spiritual pedagogy ordered to the growth in wisdom and holiness of preachers and confessors. First it examines the social and cultural transformations of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, and the spiritual crisis they occasioned for the Church, which called for the creation of a new kind of pastoral agent. A picture is developed of the socio-cultural role of the theologian and preacher which brings to light the rhetorical means Aquinas deploys to promote the formation of wise preachers who can mediate the Gospel by means of new cultural forms. Successive chapters present the pedagogical structure and spiritual dynamic of the Summa theologiae in light of these rhetorical principles, showing how it climaxes in the Christology of the tertia pars which promotes communion with and conforming of the whole person to Wisdom Incarnate, transforming the student into an agent of Divine Wisdom in the world.
  summa theologica pdf: My Way of Life Walter Farrell, Martin J. Healy, 2014-05 In My Way of Life Fathers Walter Farrell and Martin J. Healy champion a brilliant summation of the Thomistic doctrines that offers the reader an encounter with wisdom and the use of that wisdom in understanding and knowing our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.
  summa theologica pdf: The "Summa Theologica" of St. Thomas Aquinas ... Saint Thomas (Aquinas), 1924