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Romulus suggested that I post selections from St. Thomas on a regular basis. As a fan of the Angelic Doctor, I'm more than happy to oblige. This is the first installment.

Where to begin? St. Thomas began his Summa Theologica with an examination of the nature of God and proofs for the existence of God. But we probably shouldn't begin here until we understand the metaphysical basis from which St. Thomas was working. The Summa Theologica takes for granted a knowledge of realist metaphysics in the tradition of Aristotle (among many others). It also takes for granted a knowledge of the terms of classical philosophy, which may seem very arcane and obscure to the uninitiated. But as one becomes more familiar with the terms, one will see how essentially important they are in any attempt to understand the philosophy of St. Thomas.

It is important to begin with metaphysics and epistemology for another reason. Since the time of Descartes, philosophy has been diminished by subjectivism, skepticism and relativism. The notion of objective truth is held in contempt by academics, and relativism is rampant, particularly regarding morality.

So to address a fundamentally skeptical, agnostic, modern audience, it is wise to address fundamental issues regarding metaphysics (the study of being or "the way things are") and epistemology (how we know what we know).

Unfortunately, the metaphysical and epistemological system of Aquinas' time was so taken for granted that Aquinas never wrote extensively or exclusively on either. However, James Anderson recently edited a wonderful little book entitled "An Introduction to the Metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/089526420X/qid=1004532597/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/103-1239511-6109426)," which gathers and organizes the metaphysical writings of St. Thomas from many sources including the Summa Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles I highly recommend it.

So lets begin the study of St. Thomas with this introduction to the Metaphysics of St. Thomas by Joseph Magee, Ph.D.

(Also, since an understanding of the metaphysics and epistemology of St. Thomas is so crucial to an understanding of any of St. Thomas' writings, and because the terminology can seem at first to be so arcane to those unfamiliar with it, I will begin with very small posts, and we can proceed from there.

Patent, Would you bump this to the Catholic list? Also, would you tell me how to do this so I won't have to bother you in the future? ;-) Please post the instructions here so others can learn how to do it too. Thanks!

Romulus suggested that I post selections from St. Thomas on a regular basis. As a fan of the Angelic Doctor, I'm more than happy to oblige. This is the first installment.

I ran out of time earlier (meeting to go to) but I would suggest that you start to create a bump list for these articles. You could either create a list of names (which I would recommend for this) or create a new bump list such as “Aquinas_list.” If you do create a list I would enjoy being bumped to these articles.

patent +AMDG

Thanks! Reading...

Nevertheless, it is obvious that what a dog is is not the same as its color, or its size, etc.

Obvious? Is there an "ideal form" for dog? How is "what a dog is" not the same as its size, color, organs, body, brain, and every particular aspect that makes up a dog?

I, too, am a big fan (to the limited extent I can understand him, that is).

Thanks for the post!!

just a note on Dr. Magee's terminology: ...For Aristotle there are 10 categories into which things naturally fall. They are

* Substance, and
* Nine Accidents:
...
* Action,
* Passion,
...

I believe that it common to use the word "passion" in Aristotle scholarship with a different meaning than the modern use. I'm a little rusty on this, but here's how I think it goes in Aristotle:

A substance, by its nature, has a number of potentialities. A man has a potential to run, to think, and so on. A block of stone has a potential to become a statue. These potentialities can be realized. When a man runs, this is an "action". A running man is not a different substance from a standing man, rather it is the same substance with an "accidental" (ie not essential) modification.
Similarly, when the block of stone is carved into a statue, one of its potentials is realized. In this case, however, it is a "passion", not an "action" (think "active/passive"). In each case, the substance has changed inasmuch as a potentiality has been realized, and in each case it remains the same substance. The difference is how the change was initiated. I can't remember if Aristotle has a specific way to distinguish these two in all cases (is it an action or a passion when a man falls asleep?), but it's pretty clear to him at least that there are these two different ways that a potentiality is realized, and thus they deserve separate (if related) places in the system.

Add me to your list, if you like. Thanx.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor of the Church

Saint Thomas Aquinas,
Priest & Doctor of the Church
Memorial
January 28th

Benozzo Gozzoli
Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas
1471 -- Tempera on panel
Musée du Louvre, Paris

Adoremus Hymnal

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was educated at the Abbey of Monte Cassino and at the University of Naples. In 1244 he joined the Dominican Order. Considered one of the greatest philosophers and theologians of all time, St. Thoms gained the title of "Angelic Doctor". He had an undisputed mastery of scholastic theology and a profound holiness oflife. Pope Leo XIII declared him Patron of Catholic Schools. His monumental work, the Summa Theologica, wasstill unfinished when he died.

Collect:
God our Father,
You made Thomas Aquinas known
for his holiness and learning.
Help us to grow in wisdom by his teaching,
and in holiness by imitating his faith.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

First Reading: Wisdom 7:7-10,15-16
Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me;
I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepters and thrones,
and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem,
because all gold is but a little sand in her sight,
and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
I loved her more than health and beauty,
and I chose to have her rather than light,
because her radiance never ceases.

May God grant that I speak with judgment
and have thought worthy of what I have received,
for He is the guide even of wisdom and the corrector of the wise.
For both we and our words are in His hand,
as are all understanding and skill in crafts.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:8-12
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

SHORT PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Sweetest Jesus,
Body and Blood most Holy,
be the delight and pleasure of my soul,
my strenght and salvation in all temptations,
my joy and peace in every trial,
my light and guide in every word and deed,
and my final protection in death. Amen

St. Thomas Aquinas
The Aquinas Prayer Book, Sophia Institute Press, ©2000.

Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas:
"Ad Sacrosanctum Sacramentum"

O sacred banquet at which
Christ is consumed,
The memory of His Passion recalled,
our soul filled with grace,
and our pledge of future glory received:

How delightful, Lord, is Your spirit,
which shows Your sweetness to men,
offers the precious bread of heaven,
fills the hungry with good things,
and sends away empty the scornful rich.

V. You have given them bread from heaven.
R. A bread having all sweetness within it.

Let us pray:

God, Who left for us a memorial of Your Passion in this miraculous sacrament, Grant we implore You, that we may venerate the holy mystery of Your Body and Blood, so that we may ever experience in ourselves the fruitfulness of Your redemption.
You who life and reign, world without end. Amen.

(Translation from The Aquinas Prayer Book, Sophia Institute Press)

Link to The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas - http://www.newadvent.org/summa/