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Customer Reviews (6)

Amazon should be ashamed
This is an insightful exploration of Thomas Aquinas the man and his philosophy.But Amazon scanned the text for the Kindle version and made no attempt whatsoever to edit it -- even pre-edit clean it up. Bizarre punctuation, bizarre computer-read spellings: "he" often seen as "lie" is just one example. Few pages are without several errors and most pages have many errors.This may be the pit of western publishing as we know it. Very disturbing.Hire me, Amazon, I'll clean it up for you. / You can google this book and find it online -- properly edited.

Distillation of the essence Aquinas
Chesterton displays his genius for insight forcefully in this distillation of St. Thomas's thought.He focuses on a very few key ideas of St. Thomas's and shows how these underly a philosophy that could encompass common sense, reason, intuition, and Christian revelation. You will probably not find another such introduction, as it represents distinctively Chesterton's views and does not aim for comprehensiveness or the slightest pedantry--the quoting of other critics, for example. But his views have withstood the scrutiny of many scholars.

The manner of its writing shows Chesterton's genius. According to his biographer Maisie Ward, when Chesterton decided to write a book on Thomas Aquinas he simply began to dictate it aloud to his secretary, as he had so many other books. Then he asked her to go to the library to borrow some books on St. Thomas."Which books?" she asked.Any books, he replied.She brought him a stack."He flipped them rapidly through" and then dictated the second half of the book.Of the result, Thomist scholar Etienne Gilson said "Chesterton makes one despair.I have been studying St. Thomas all my life and could never have written such a book."

Not a good introduction
I can't say this is a bad book because I didn't understand it well enough to make that judgment.The parts I did understand were wonderful and suggest that any lack of appreciation for the book is the fault of the reader and not the text.So I'm giving it 5 stars.However, this is certainly not a "biography" in the standard sense of the word, and is certainly not a good introduction to Aquinas unless you're already a philosophy student (or a student of philosophy, not quite the same thing).Chesterton jumps right into explaining Aquinas' positions without providing sufficient (or sometimes any) context for the uninformed, even if intelligent, reader.There were some gems in the text, Chesterton writes well, but be prepared to do a lot of outside reading if you're not already well-versed in the philosophy of Aquinas and his opponents and want to make sense of the book.

St Thomas as modern as he is medieval?
Chesterton had converted to Catholicism in 1922 and in 1923 had published a book on St Francis of Assisi.He is clearly a partisan for Catholicism against Protestantism and the modern world; for the `living' Middle Ages against the Renaissance `which was a resurrection of old things discovered in a dead thing';and for the Aristotelian view against thePlatonic, neo-Platonic, and what he calls the neo-neo-Platonic view of the Renaissance.And he lays about himself lustily against thinkers with whom he disagrees: Francis Bacon, for example was `third-rate' and Hegel was `mad'.Soberly abstract though St Thomas often is, his abstractions, according to Chesterton, arenever cloudy nonsense and are always rooted in Common Sense.

The brilliant opening chapter of the book is built around a comparison between St Francis and St Thomas - very different in character, appearance and in the aspects of Christianity which they developed; but Chesterton stresses that, though they were both accused by their detractors of corrupting Christianity by importing into it a pagan goddess (Nature) or a pagan sage (Aristotle), both actually expanded the possibilities and implications of Christian doctrine from within, "depending on external things only as every living and growing thing depends on them; that is, it digests and transforms them, but continues in its own image and not in theirs", so that "St Thomas did not reconcile Christ to Aristotle; he reconciled Aristotle to Christ."

The book is sometimes quite difficult: it assumes some familiarity with philosophy and theology (though it delights in showing that those who think they are familiar with them often labour under vulgar misconceptions). Actually it even assumes that the reader is familiar with St Thomas' ideas; for this is no way a text-book that gives aclear or methodical account of what St Thomas actually wrote.It occasionally makes comparisons with modern times with which a reader of the 1930s was perhaps more familiar than a reader of today.Many pages are a bit windy.But Chesterton's style is a delight to read: it is mixture of Carlyle and of a more modern version of Gibbon in that it delights in apparent paradoxes and in witty confrontations of opposite verbalphrases. His admiration for St Thomas is unbounded; but even those who do not share the faith of St Thomas (or that of Chesterton) will still find some formulations throughout this book which are as wonderfully happy as they are wise, insightful and thought-provoking.

A delightful book!
I first read this book 5 years ago when taking an undergraduate course in mediaeval philosophy. At that time I was only passingly familiar with Chesterton and, despite faithful attendence in class, only noddingly familiar with Aquinas. Since that time I have come to understand both men in more depth, and since that time this little book has grown and shimmered until, much to my surprise, it has became one of my favourite books of all.

All of the usual caveats about Chesterton's writing apply here: he cannot resist a digression, he cannot resist an alliterative allusion, he cannot resist a pun. He is so full of life that he is constantly threatening to spin out of control. He is not a scholar, he is not writing a sober appraisal, he is probably not sure of most of the biographical details of his subject (and he candidly admits to this dearth of dates and details).

In spite of these defects, the book is a triumph. Toast it with your best wine. Chesterton, for me, is the embodiment of "A Man in Full"; he is the polar opposite of C.S. Lewis' "Men without Chests". He is so full of good sense, penetrating insight, sound moral judgement, and the joy of life that it is all spilling out in every direction.This is criticism in an old key; it is appreciative criticism; it is an encounter with a writer by an entire man, and not just by a theory. It is wonderfully refreshing. I don't know of anyone writing today in a similar vein.

He brings all of his larger-than-life presence to bear on this account of the life (sort of) and thought of one of history's great minds. And on just what aspect of Thomas' thought does he focus? In one diabolically politically incorrect section near the end of the book he bellows out that "on a map like the mind of Aquinas the mind of Luther was barely a speck", and I'm sure that he would hasten to add that his little book suffers the same ignoble comparison. There is a great deal to Thomas that he, of necessity, leaves out. But what he does include is very astutely chosen, for he understands the basic structure of Thomas' thought and emphasizes the essentials. Thus there is a chapter on Thomas' argument with the Manicheans and his affirmation of the goodness of the world. He treats with great aplomb Thomas' notion of "being" and its relation to God. He does great honor to Thomas' mode of argumentation, to his sober balance and fair treatment of opponents. He is appreciative of the devotional side of Thomas, which does not come through explicitly in his philosophical writings but is important for an understanding of the man.

I suppose it must be granted that the book is as much about Chesterton as it is about Aquinas. Those wanting a more straight-forward treatment should seek out one of Josef Pieper's books on Aquinas. But if you have any adventurous spirit, by all means read this book. It is written by a man who loves and understands his subject in his very bones, and who brings his subject to life in a way that is most uncanny. Five stars. ... Read more

Product Description
St. Thomas Aquinas on Politics and Ethics contains translations ofcarefully chosen and central selections from The Summa Against theGentiles, On Kingship or The Governance of Rulers, and The Summa ofTheology.The selections not only include St. Thomas Aquinas’s views ongovernment, law, war, property, and sexual ethics, but also provide thetheological, epistemological, and psychological background for hispolitical and ethical thought, including the Five Proofs on theexistence of God and Aquinas’s theories of knowledge, the soul, thepurpose of man, and the order of the universe. Throughout the book,footnotes explain technical terms and historical, biblical, andclassical references.

"Backgrounds and Sources" follows the text, with selections from thewritings of Aristotle, St. Augustine, and Dionysius the Areopagite.

"Interpretations" traces Aquinas’s influence on medieval thought, onRoman Catholicism during the Renaissance, on early modern politicalthought (Richard Hooker and Francisco Suarez), on nineteenth-andtwentieth-century papal social thought, and on contemporary ChristianDemocratic political parties in Europe and Latin America.

The volume concludes with "Contemporary Problems in Thomistic Ethics",which contains eight analyses of the influence of Aquinas's thought onmodern debates on war, contraception, and abortion.

A Selected Bibliography is included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Thinner Aquinas
This book is "The Thinner Aquinas," a targeted text specifically focusing on Aquinas's political and ethical writings.

Incluced are obvious selections from Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologica (Five Ways of God's Existence and Essay on Law), but also included are excerpts from "De Regimine Principum."

There are hidden treasures in the back, excerpts from backgound sources and essays that influenced and were influenced by Thomisitic thought.

This book is geared towards a poltical scientist and poltical philosopher.For the theologian or the philosopher, however, I would reccomed Penguin Classics "Selected Writings."

PS--Nice picture on the cover!

A truly excellent anthology of Thomistic thought
This is a truly excellent selection of Thomistic writing, both by theAngelic Doctor and his critics and modern-day followers. It is not onlycomprehensive on the subject of Aquinas's politics and ethics but it is agood introduction to Thomism and natural law theory in general. MortimerAdler's spanking of Bill Moyers on the subject of objective ethics is worththe price of the book just by itself. ... Read more

Product Description
Dominican Fr. Brendan Larnen and children’s author Milton Lomask present the latest in the Vision Books series of saints' lives for youth. The story of St. Thomas Aquinas is one full of moving and dramatic scenes: the flaming destruction of Monte Cassino Abbey, the reception into the Dominican order of the quiet, determined young Thomas, the breath-taking escape from the donjon tower, and the striking instances of the saint's eloquence and brilliance.

In this 26th volume of the acclaimed Vision Books series of saints lives, children from ages 9 to 15 will enjoy the exciting story of the man who wrote the masterful Summa Theologica, the advisor to popes who refused ecclesiastical honor, the simple friar who shook the medieval world with his intellect. ... Read more

Product Description
An accessible and solid entry into the metaphysics of St. Thomas Aquinas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Good explanation of Thomistic Metaphysics
It would be very difficult to be critical in a review such as this since I would be being critical of the work of Aquinas. We have in this volume a good look at the basic foundation of the metaphysics of Aquinas. Difficult to understand? Yes. That shouldn't surprise us however. This is a culture far removed from ours where intellectual thought was taken far more seriously and Aquinas wrote assuming the basics were understood. The fault does not lie with Aquinas on being difficult. The fault lies with us in being simple.

I recommend this book as I would recommend getting familiar with all the great thinkers one can and sadly in our day and age, Christian thinkers are usually disregarded. Let it not be so. Truth is always relevant and that would include the arguments of Aquinas. Even if we disagree with him on some areas, we can certainly learn from his way of thinking. (And I am not necessarily asserting disagreement either.)

The One and the many, and the analogicity of Being:
Essence and existence. Aquinas develops Aristotelian metaphysics, the "transcendental" science of being (note that the term 'transcendental' as used by Thomas is quite different than the same term as used by Kant). Thomas' thought is among the densest of all philosophers', and is, for the modern student, perhaps more difficult to grasp than is the work of Kant. A reader unfamiliar with philosophy should not initiate his study with Thomas. For the student [at least] somewhat grounded in existentialist reasoning, this compilation serves as a concise introduction to Thomist metaphysics/ natural theology/ first philosophy. Translated and compiled by professor of philosophy, James F. Anderson, this volume is especially valuable in that Thomas Aquinas' work is so capacious and intimidating that one doesn't otherwise know how to approach it.
Thomas [and Averroes] reintroduced Aristotle to Western thought and Thomist scholasticism has illuminated the path from the 13th century to the 20th, he was perhaps the greatest intellect of the Middle Ages. Anderson's edition may be the best means of introducing oneself to St. Thomas Aquinas.

A deep introduction to Aquinas's metaphysical synthesis
This book harvests Aquinas's finest, clearest and most relevant metaphysical texts--particularly those that better elucidate his original philosophical synthesis--with a focus on three problems: the subject of metaphysics, the analogicity of being, and the most universal determinations of this notion: the "transcendentals."

Do not expect a comprehensive exposition of Aquinas's metaphysical thought, for this was clearly not the intent of the late James F. Anderson. In fact, the book does not introduce us to certain basic metaphysical notions such as substance, accident, prime matter and substantial form. For this reason, some knowledge of classical metaphysics is highly desirable, while not absolutely necessary, to benefit more fully from this outstanding compilation.

The selection is of tremendous educational value, especially if we consider that some of the incorporated texts are difficult to find in translation. Excellent for teachers and students alike.

In brief (in just 116 pages), this book reveals some of Aquinas's greatest contributions to classical, perennial "first philosophy." The result is a well-organized, fluent introduction to Aquinas's own thoughts in Aquinas's own words.

An excellent introduction to the metaphysics of St. Thomas
First, I will simply reiterate what the previous reviewer stated: "The author introduces the reader to the metaphysics of St. Thomas by compiling sources from disparate primary texts." Apparently, no single primary source for Thomas' metaphysics exists. The author has done us a tremendous service in bringing Aquinas' metaphysical teachings together in one volume.

This book also represents a great introduction to metaphysics in general, at least for a person who is trying to teach himself philosophy, such as myself.

I have found other compilations of Thomas' writings to be difficult to understand because they assume an understanding of the transcendentals: being, one, true, good and beautiful and their relationships to each other; and other philosophical terms such as act, potency, form and matter, substance and essence, etc.

In around 100 pages the author is able to convey the central concepts of Thomas' metaphysics very clearly, thus opening the way for further study in Thomas' writings.

I am very grateful to have discovered this book. I am sure you will be too.

Reliable introduction in Thomas's own words
The author introduces the reader to the metaphysics of St. Thomas by compiling sources from disparate primary texts.A wealth of citations in Thomas's own words results.The many works of Thomas are lengthy, oftendifficult to access and too expensive to own.The author has overcome thisbarrier, at least in terms of an adequate introduction.Citations arearranged in chapters such as "What is metaphysics, Modes of Being, TheAnalogy of Being," and the trandendentals, oneness, goodness, truth,and beauty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Summit Theologica via Summa Theologica +++
This Rosicrucian reader sees that the Summma Theologica of St. Thomas Aquina is indeed the Summmit Theologica -- and, that Etienne Gilson is, perhaps, the clearest and sharpest proponent [still available] of St. Thomas Aquinas -- and, that "The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas" by Etienne Gilson is, perhaps, the best single work [still available] on this topic. To amplify on the impact of Thomism [and most especially as demonstrated by Etienne Gilson via this work], I quote from the start, middle and ending of an earlier edition's dust-jacket +++

"St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1279) is the medieval mind at its finest, its most powerful and its most modern. Never before -- and possibly never since -- in the history of man's quest for knowledge of God and the universe has any one man produced such a profound and original synthesis of philosophies. The sweeping range and organic unity of Thomistic thought is a philosophical system created by a thinker of genius."

"Drawing from pagan, Mohammadan and Jewish sources in addition to Christian writers and the Bible, his broad vision combines in one synthesis the metaphysical principles of reality, its inward structure, the nature of man, the principle of his moral and civil conduct and the solution of his destiny. This Doctrinal statement -- written in the form of the Summa Theologica -- was fraught with incalculable philosophical, moral and religious consequences."

"A synthesis of faith and reason, of moral and political science, and of Hellenism and Christianity, the philosophy of St, Thomas Aquinas stands as one of the greatest achievements of human thought, and the brilliant culmination of the Scholastic philosophy of the Middle Ages."

"Etienne Gilson's incomparable scholarship combines the insight of a philosopher and a theologian with the sensibilities of a dedicated artist."

Being and Somethingness
As the other reviewers have said, this book is truly a classic, and like most of Gilson's opus is well worth reading by anyone interested in philosophy. Particularly strong are the early chapters on being (ontology) and on Aquinas's famous proofs of the existence of God.

Gilson wants to convince as well as explain, so the tone can be a little tendentious at times, but generally his prose is lucid, even lyrical. Also, in my opinion the final chapter somewhat blurs the distinction between Thomism and saving faith.

Ultimately, however, this book fully succeeds in getting under the skin of Thomistic philosophy. After reading it, you may never see "things" in quite the same way.

The best introduction to Aquinas available today.
Clear.Concise.Masterful.A true classic. If you want to understand Aquinas, read Gilson's book first.Then read it three more times.

An excellent introduction to the thought of Aquinas
Gilson has exceptional skill in explaining difficult philosophical concepts.He lays out the existential foundations of St. Thomas Aquinas' thought and makes a compelling case that "the metaphysical positionsof Aquinas are still far ahead of what is considered most progressive inthe philosophical thought of our own times." Gilson relates thethought of Aquinas to that of his predecessors, especially Aristotle andAugustine.Although this book can be difficult reading at times, thereader will be rewarded by the effort. ... Read more

Product Description
A historical and systematic introduction to what the medieval philospher and theologian Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) said about faith in the Trinity. Gilles Emery OP provides an explanation of the main questions in Thomas's treatise on the Trinity in his major work, the Summa Theologiae. His presentation clarifies the keyideas through which Thomas accounts for the nature of Trinitarian monotheism.Emery focuses on the personal relations of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both in their eternal communion and in their creative and saving action.By highlighting the thought of one of the greatest defenders of the doctrine of the Trinity, he enables people to grasp the classical Christian understanding of God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Superb Account of Thomistic Trinitarian Theology
Emery's masterful synthesis of Aquinas's systematic works with his scripture commentaries shows the richness of Aquinas's Trinitarian theology.This is the new gold standard for understanding St. Thomas on the Trinity, and it is written at a level that makes it accessible even for beginning students of theology.A must-read for anyone interested in classical Trinitarian theology. ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

catholic saints
Very good for anyone, other then Nancy Pelosi to understand the tenants of the Catholic Church.

The result of a life of contemplation
St. Thomas Aquinas set out to write his Shorter Summa at the request of his assistant Brother Reginald. It was intended to be a summary of Aquinas' extensive Summa Theologica, yet produced in the language of laymen. It was also, therefore, intended to be a summary of the Faith of Christianity, accessible to all who could read. While it is still, at times, loftier than what many might easily grasp, the Shorter Summa is certainly shorter as well as comprehensible.

St. Thomas conveys his plan for this work in his introduction, stating "I shall treat first of faith, then of hope, and lastly of charity. This is the Apostle's arrangement which, for that matter, right reason imposes. Love cannot be rightly ordered unless the proper goal of our hope is established; nor can there be any hope if knowledge of the truth is lacking. Therefore the first thing necessary is faith, by which you may come to a knowledge of the truth. Secondly, hope is necessary, that your intention may be fixed on the right end. Thirdly, love is necessary, that your affections may be perfectly put in order." Unfortunately, Aquinas died prior to completing this work having really only begun the second part of the Shorter Summa, Hope. It would be difficult to call this work incomplete, however, as it is insightful from cover to cover. Indeed, the few chapters that Aquinas managed to complete on his section about hope might be an example of some of the most gracefully contemplative pieces of Christian theology ever written. The fact that this work is unfinished does not detract from it as it is; but only with respect to the idea of what it could have been.

The Shorter Summa should be read by all Christians, regardless of denomination. As St. Thomas Aquinas is a scholar of St. Augustine, it might also be helpful to first read Confessions (Penguin Classics), The City of God, and any other work of Augustine's that is readily available. If you have any inkling to read this work, please do, as you will not be disappointed.

Light of Faith
"Aquinas' ShorterSumma" has been previously published as "The Compendium of Theology."You can find a complete, indexed version online, but I much prefer to settle in with a hard copy.

The Shorter Summa was authored by St. Thomas Aquinas himself in response to a request that I believe was from his secretary to provide a distillation of the Summa Theologica.St. Thomas died (at age 50) only 10 chapters into Part II, "Hope."Part I, "Faith" is therefore the main theme of this work. There was to be a third part - you guessed correctly, "Charity."The unfinished nature, however, is by no means a reason to pass this by.After finishing it, I understand why it also goes by a third publishedname, "Light of Faith."

Shortly after beginning I was tempted to stop and get some primers on Aristotle, basic philosophy, and theology.Instead, I decided to web search the concepts and terms I didn't understand as I went along, and in short order I felt up to the challenge. I'm glad I persisted because it was a delight to have St. Thomas as my instructor.

Each chapter builds on the teachings in previous chapters, so read them slowly.Re-read them, if need be, until the ideas crystallize, especially early on. Don't sell yourself short; it takes a bit of doing, but the reward is enormous.The teaching on the Trinity in chapters 37-50 was one of my favorite parts. Using the "light of reason" - a term itself you will understand better after St. Thomas - you will have new appreciation of why Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

Among the great services St. Thomas does in his writing is to show us how Christianity is truly a philosophy of Reason.Modernists, rationalists, and atheists who claim that religion in general and Christianity in particular is not reasonable are in truth the ones at odds with Reason. The Thomistic view is predicated on the fact of existence; it accepts creation, and the fact that there is a real world that we can experience through our senses.It also, of course, explains that there is much more beyond what our senses can experience.

The modern academic mind can't seem to get beyond "to be or not to be." Aquinas shouts to us the answer down through the centuries: "To be!"

This edition is sprinkled with helpful footnotes to cited bible verses, Church Fathers (St. Augustine prominent among them), and philosophers (Aristotle of course very prominent among these.) Cyril Vollert's translation is in very easy to understand English, and for a paperback, this volume is pretty sturdy.This was a wonderful choice for my first foray into Scholasticism and my first encounter with the Angelic Doctor.

Aquinas's Summa - challenging read
This book is very challenging to read at times, however it was very interesting.Very thoughtful way of bringing it down to basic faith.

Excellent Compendium!
I had never read St. Thomas and was affraid to start with any of his Summas, which I understand are lengthy and profound.However, I wanted to get a taste of some of the writings of whom has been considered the "Greatest Theologian of the Catholic Church".I came across this shorter version written by the very same St. Thomas, and alas!, I was not dissapointed.

The book was originally intended to cover the three Theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.This was no easy endeavor for the 50-year-old Dominican monk, who, at the request of his faithful helper and secretary, set out to write a concise version of his thoughts up to that moment, trying to keep it brief and down to the bones for the non-scholar public.

The result, this book, is one of the most easily-read catholic insights of all times, yet, rich and profound, with all the spiritual wisdom accumulated up to that time.Unfortunately, St. Thomas died half way through the task and managed to write only about Faith and (partially) about Hope.

His legacy remains one of the most important for any lay catholic -and christian- that wants to get to know more about his/her own faith.

Starting with the existence of God (the famous "5 ways of St. Thomas" for reason to find God in nature without the help of revelation), passing through the "great unknown" (the Holy Spirit) all the way to Jesus and the meaning of his message, St. Thomas (or "Aquinas", as it is known in the postmodern world), covers all the basic topics of the Blessed Trinity both from the points of view of plain Reason (man in the world) and Revelation (the word of God transmitted to us through the Bible and the tradition preserved by the Magisterium of the Church).

There are points in St. Thomas' discourse that have been further elucidated or clarified by the Church over the following 8 centuries, such as the belief in the special characteristics of the "Celestial Bodies" (the stars and planets) and other ideas inherited from the Greek tradition (such as the existence of only 4 basic elements, including fire and water).

However, most of what Aquinas wrote was and remains valid and has served as the basis for a multitude of Theologians, Catholics and non-catholics alike, to build upon and expand over time.

You may need some basic knowledge of the Christian Faith to understand some of the assertions made in the book.However, even if you have a very limited catequetical background, St. Thomas will guide you through and try to show you spiritual truths such as the existence of Evil, Divine Providence, Heaven and Hell, and other topics we hear so much about in church but know very little of, and help you to see them as what they are:Truths of a world we only understand with the eyes of faith, so important for us as the bowl of cereal you ate this morning, but with the capacity to trascend time and space into eternity. ... Read more

Product Description
The Dumb Ox was a perfect nickname for young Thomas Aquinas--although it was none too kind. Thomas was big, slow to speak, and a quiet and solemn youth. Even Father Albert was inclined to think him rather dull. No one knew about Thomas amazing memory, or that he knew most of the Bible by heart, or that no subject was difficult for him. One day Thomas decided to amuse himself by writing a paper on a really hard problem in Theology. Then somehow, after writing it, he lost it. A few days later the paper turned up on Father Albert s desk. Father Albert read it, then called Thomas to his cell. Brother Thomas, he asked, as the student entered the room, did you write this? This book describes what happened next, plus the other events in Thomas remarkable life. It tells how his mother fought against his vocation, how his brothers kidnapped him and put him in a tower, how his sisters helped him, and how angels brought him something from Heaven. This book shows how Thomas The Dumb Ox came to be the Patron of Catholic Schools and the greatest teacher ever in the history of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur.Recommended in Seton Home Study Grade 4, Kolbe Academy Grades 4-6, Kolbe Elementary LiteratureAuthor: Mary Fabyan WindeattGrade: 4 and up Pages: 81 pages paperback 16 illustrationsPublisher: Tan ISBN: 0-89555-420-8 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Review from the Publisher
Thomas was slow to speak, a quiet and solemn youth. Yet he went on to become the Patron Saint of Catholic Schools and the greatest teacher ever in the history of the Catholic Church. For children ages 10 and up. 8 illustrations.

Great
Saint thomas Aquinas was not really dumb he was smart! But was following the virtue of humility. ... Read more

Product Description
The holy seasons of Advent and Christmas are a time to reflect on God's infinite love for us all and how through the birth of his son, Jesus Christ, Christianity was born. Advent and Christmas Wisdom from St. Thomas of Aquinas guides readers on their spiritual journey to be closer to God and understand how to live the life of a Christian.

Offering daily selections from St. Thomas of Aquinas for meditation and prayer, this book is a wonderful way to examine your faith and feelings during Advent and Christmas. The words of this revered saint help focus the reader's reflections on the wonder of creation. These daily Scripture readings and meditations offer a better understanding of St. Thomas' passionate beliefs on the importance of our relationship with God. Through the din of advertisements and gift-buying at Christmas time, we are reminded of his thoughts on virtue and the importance of charity and how it is the essence of our Christian life. These daily affirmations also offer a simple Advent action that you can do to keep the prayers and thoughts of St. Thomas with you all day.

Advent and Christmas are a time to prepare for and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Use these reflections and meditations of St. Thomas Aquinas to slow down and remember that because of God' infinite love for us all, Jesus was born--and through him, salvation is ours. ... Read more

Product Description
Thomas Aquinas' best-known work is the Summa Theologica. As the title indicates, the Summa is a "summing up" of all that can be known about Christian theology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

The are multiple areas of missing text
I looked up one questions Part III Question 2, by the time I hit the second block of missing text I gave-up and returned.

About this edition, not the content (i.e. translation)
There is no doubt that this is one of the most important theological works in the history of western civilization, or that the Fathers of the English Dominican Province did a marvelous job in translating this work. So, I am not going to add to the praise of Thomas' brilliance, which has constituted nearly every review thus far. I would only be an echo.

Instead, I have one critique for this edition: the margins are too small. This is not to say that there is no room for taking notes (there is a little--precious little, but there is a little). Instead, this edition lets the print go too far into the center binding. There are some pages where I can barely discern the letters closest to the center. I understand that it is hard to make everything fit into 5volumes, but I think that slightly wider margins would have made reading this book much more enjoyable...The Summa is hard enough without small margins.

I am not sure that this critique is true for every copy, but it is true for mine.

Purchased as a gift
These 5 volumes were purchased as a gift. He was VERY pleased to receive them. He already was aware what these books were going to be about because he had already done extensive research on them.

So far it's about God.
Hard to understand because of the abstract terminology, but I hope to get into the swing of things as I move along.Few image words and his references are out of date.

Excellent
Everything was better than I expected. It came quickly and was very comprehensive and in perfect condition. Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
Thomas Aquinas' best-known work is the Summa Theologica. As the title indicates, the Summa is a "summing up" of all that can be known about Christian theology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great translation, Adequate binding and cover, but Deceiving description...
The buyer needs to be aware of two things that are not clear in the description. First, this is version covers only Questions 75-102 of volume 1 of the Summa. There are five volumes total, so this is but a fraction, not the whole thing. Second, this is a digitized copy (a scanned copy that is bound) and so has many flaws, such as pencil marks and few side notations. The font and type is not to modern expectations. One advantage of the copy is that it is blown up some in comparison to the original, and so is much easier to read.

This being said, the translation is generally considered of a high quality. The binding is not as high quality as I would like, but then the price is good.

Missing volumes?
According to the TOC, the book is supposed to contain QQ 1-119. But the
one I received has only QQ 50-74. According to readers reviews, the book is supposed to have 5 volumes. Was I sent the wrong book or are another 4
volumes coming please?

St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (5 volume set)
This set of books is very good for religious studies majors or anyone pursuing a higher education in theological studies.This series addresses in detail, the myriad questions pertaining to Christian theological doctrines through philosophical reasoning.

SUPREME EXCELLENCE.
St.Thomas Aquinas has always been a very solid and firm foundation for the Church.I have always loved this Saint from the very first days of becoming a Roman Catholic.I am amazed at the excellence of this work and constantly refer to this work for any of my own personal questions I may have about God.This is an awesome set to own ! I highly recommend to purchase your own set of the Summa. Thanks to God for giving us this wonderful Saint ...........the Great St. Thomas Aquinas.

By any standard, a double diamond!
I am not Roman Catholic, but a memebr of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Despite any denominational differences I may have, I am awed by this book.Considering Aquinas had no computers, no electricity, and no spell-check, he managed to write a lengthy bok that would embarress most Ph.D's with an army of research assistants, expense accounts, and unlimited acess to LEXIS-NEXUS.Indeed, I belive much criticism of Aquinas comes from ignorance, or a deep-seated admiration and jealousy.

This is a standard work of Roman Catholic dogman and philosophical brainwork.It is a sumation of Catholic theology, systematized and organized.Aquinas covers several thousand questions relating to Catholic theology and philosophy, provides sharp questions and sound answers to objections.One of the questions gives a thumb-print of his mind: "Could [God] made the past not to have been?" (ST I-I.25.4)And Gov. Jesse Ventura said that religious people are weak-minded!By the way, Aquinas says no, since that would imply a contradiction, which is outsie of God's power.

This book and translation also has the "nihil obstant" and "imprimature," whic is latin for "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval."This translation has passed the Catholic censoring board and can be considered authoriative.

The only drawback is it's bulk--and therefore it is a rather awkward book to use.The internal organization helps to overcome this deficit, but a six volume with a thorough index would help.Peter Kreeft has a streamiled version of this book called "A Summa of the Summa," and an even slimmer volume called "A Shorter Summa," which is a summa of "A Summa of the Summa."These smaller books should hep you navigat the large book.

The cover is conservative and suits the majesty of the interior contents, and the print and paper are excellent and durable.The prose is readable, which a laudable since there is a temptation to latinize the English.This keeps the translation faithful, but makes the book unreadable, and the good Brothers avided this pitfall majestically.

As I said, I am not Catholic, but admiration for Aquinas's endeavor *is* universal.I recommend this book for any hard-core scholar or library aquisitionarian, but for person use, I would recommend Kreeft's excerpts, or Penguin's "Selected Writings" for the undergrad, or ambition high-schooler. ... Read more

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St. Thomas’ commentary on the Gospel of St. John is unique among his many writings on Sacred Scripture. It is the work of a master theologian, delivered at the University of Paris, then the intellectual center in Christendom, when Thomas was at the height of his fame and apostolic zeal for souls. A fourteenth-century list of Thomas’ writings notes that this commentary is a reportatio by Reginald of Piperno and adds “better than which none can be found.”Areportatio is a verbal report of an actual lecture taken down by a scribe or student in the course of actual delivery. In this case the scribe was the faithful Friar Reginald of Piperno, who had been the “constant companion,” or socius, for the last fifteen years of Thomas’ short but busy life. The Italian Province of Dominicans wisely provided Thomas with this kind of personal secretary and general factotum after he returned from Paris as a Master in Sacred Theology in 1260.
A reportatio is not exactly a dictation in our sense of the term; it is more like a student’s notebook in shorthand containing basically the gist of what is being said, but usually with varying numbers of verbal omissions and inaccuracies. But this commentary is more than a mere scribal report. It was in fact “corrected” by Thomas himself—if we are to believe Tolomeo of Lucca, one of Thomas’ early biographers and confreres—before the commentary went into circulation through copies made by hand, the customary mode of publication before the era of the printing press. More than that: according to Bernard Gui, another confrere and early biographer, Thomas himself wrote out in full the commentary on the first five chapters of John (and hence this section ought to be considered an authentic expositio, or authoritative version), while the rest of it survived in the hand of Reginald, corrected by Thomas.
This commentary was very popular in the Middle Ages, and it ranks among the best of Thomas’ work as a master theologian and saintly man of faith. It was read not only by theologians searching for the truth, but also by preachers and pious men and women desiring solid food for meditation and fervent prayer. Scattered throughout the world there still exist thirty-three complete and thirteen incomplete manuscript copies of this work, attesting to its considerable popularity before the age of printing. Innumerable copies of this work have no doubt been lost or destroyed in the tumult of centuries following the Middle Ages.
This detailed commentary is St. Thomas’ personal response to the Word of God Incarnate as described in the sublime words of John “the Divine.” For St. Thomas, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob spoke to his chosen people through the mouth of prophets in the long course of salvation history, “But when the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). This Incarnate Son, Jesus Christ, is the total manifestation of the Father, the Eternal Word made flesh. There is nothing left unsaid in the Word; the Father’s love is complete in the love the Son bears for the Father and for us. Christ’s whole life, his passion, death, and resurrection, are the praise and glory of the Father “through the working of the Holy Spirit.” “You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (Jn 14:11). “Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn 14:13). Christ’s “food” was to do the will of his Father in all things, thus glorifying the Father in Jesus. ... Read more

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How can an all-loving God choose some people for eternal salvation while permitting others to fall away?Doesn't God offer the same amount of saving grace to everyone?Isn't predestination a Protestant doctrine?In The Mystery of Predestination , author and apologist John Salza, seeks to answer these questions, and others, about that most ineffable and confounding of Christian beliefs: that God chooses to infallibly direct certain people to salvation but not others.Drawing deeply upon Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Salza says that a proper Catholic understanding of the doctrine of predestination is interconnected with two other central mysteries: the ability of mankind to choose freely to accept or reject God's saving grace, and the inability of mankind to accept God's grace without first being moved by His grace from within. By holding these truths always before us we can see how God may predestine His elect to heaven but never desire that anyone go to hell. We can also achieve a new clarity and depth of insight into a profound Christian truth: God is the primary mover in salvation. It is He who chooses, seeks, and saves us.Meticulously researched and written in a scholarly yet accessible style, The Mystery of Predestination is perfect for the serious Catholic who is confused by Bible verses or Magisterial statements in favor of predestination (and never hears about it in Sunday sermons), or who wants to defend Catholic truth against Calvinist error, and is seeking clear, traditional, and Thomistic answers. Or, indeed, for any thoughtful Christian who wants to come to terms with what the Bible teaches about the fundamental truths of our salvation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A gem!
I have never gotten so much more than I expected out of a book than I did from this book.I am absolutely stymied at how clear and down-to-our-level Salza has made the Thomistic doctrine of predestination.This is a doctrine that I had studied when I read Fr Garrigou-Lagrange's "Predestination" (a book which Salza quotes heavily and approvingly from), but many nuances, details, and even definitions remained unclear.All those questions, however, have been made clear with Salza's book.I now think I am prepared to tackle Fr Garrigou-Lagrange's book again.

Basically, the Thomistic doctrine attempts to reconcile the following points:God desires all men to be saved, some men go to hell, God as pure action reigns supremely sovereign and hence can not be determined or passive in any sense, and man's free will.As the book title states, Salza draws on scripture, tradition, Church teaching, and of course Aquinas himself.Salza, however, is quick to point out that the Church has not in any official capacity deemed that a Catholic must hold to Thomism (though there are certain aspects of it which Catholics must) and so he does say that he does not condemn any thoughtful Catholic who may disagree with his opinions, as they can still be a Catholic in good standing.Nevertheless, I believe the case Salza makes is EXTREMELY difficult to argue with.I would like to give Molinism a fair chance (probably read something of Thomas Flint or William Lane Craig) but if I find their arguments unconvincing, I will most definitely hold to Thomism, even though I almost never take opinions about non-definitive Church teachings.The reason I mention this seemingly superfluous information is to emphasize how impressed I am at Salza's case.

Salza starts at the beginning, discussing what the problems are and carefully defining terms and making distinctions.In addition, he provides many analogies and examples to bring light to teh reader.One thing that Salza does early on is to discuss the similarities and differences amongst the Thomistic doctrine of Predestination, Molinism, Calvanism, and Arminianism.In particular, he made VERY clear the differences between Thomism and Calvinism.This was something that I had such a difficult time distinguishing until reading this book.The differences are in defining terms like "efficacious grace", "irresistible grace" and "sufficient grace."

The book is saturated with scripture and goes into great exigetical detail to extract the Thomistic understanding while showing the shortcomings of Calvinism.For example, Salza spends several pages exigeting Romans 8 and 9, showing how they support Thomism and not Calvinism.He really makes sense of these chapters in its full context, avoiding the dreaded eisegesis and prooftexting a single verse.Salza also critiques some of the most popular defenders of non-Thomistic views including Norm Geisler, James White, and the late Fr William Most.While Fr. Most was Catholic, he held a view of predestination which he discusses in his monstrous work "Grace, Predestination, and the Salvific Will" which Salza critiques.Though I love everything else I have read by Fr Most, Salza seems to blow Fr Most's arguments out of the water.

Every Catholic needs to understand the Thomistic doctrine of predestination, whether you agree with it or not.If you do not understand the doctrine, there is no other book that will make it clearer or present a more down to earth case than this one. ... Read more

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Translated by Rev. Hugh Pope O.p. S.t.m. ... Read more

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Great Introduction to a Great Saint
It looks like this book will soon be relegated to the used book market only, but for a great introduction to the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, in all its breadth, it is surely in the top 10.If you are looking for a leg up to tackling the saint yourself, this is the book for you.McInerny breaks the Saint's thought into topics, many of which are connected as the chapters progress.Each chapter is short and digestible--3 to 5 pages.Then a short selection in St. Thomas' own words: you are reading the man himself and understanding what he is talking about. It isn't a large, indepth study, but a great first step for neophyte thomists. ... Read more

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Two years before his death in 1274, the revered philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas was asked by his assistant, Brother Reginald, to write a simple summary of theology for those who found his massive Summa Theologica intimidating. Aquinas quickly wrote The Compendium of Theology, retitled Light of Faith in this edition, in which he distilled the major topics of theology for the layman and explored - in writing that is concise, readable, and profound - subjects ranging from the Holy Trinity to Creation, Angels, and the Final Judgement. Light of Faith is a highly accessible exposition of theology that provides an excellent foundation for anyone seeking spiritual growth through a philosophical examination of Christian doctrine. ... Read more

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To bring within the compass of a Modern Library volume of more than 650 pages the essential thought of the "Prince of Scholastics and Doctor of the Church" is a notable contribution to philosophy, religion and education. Designed to meet the needs of students and general readers alike, this book offers St. Thomas's teachings on God, Creation, Man, Law, Grace, Habit, Virtue and kindred subjects derived from the Summa Theologica and the Summa Contra Gentiles. The selections and the illuminating Introduction are by Anton C. Pegis, President of The Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. ... Read more

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Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a treasure trove of wisdom
Pieper did us all a great service by collecting these incisive sayings of the great philosopher saint.St Thomas has this way of almost stunning the reader by his pernetrating wisdom.Meditate on the sayings contained in this little book!

Pithy Wisdom
Professor of Philosophy Edward T. Oakes S.J. writes of this compendium of quotes of St. Thomas Aquinas:

[In response to someone telling him St. Thomas Aquinas was a great aphorist, a coiner of one line wise sayings] I rejoined that a medieval scribe who became the most famous practitioner of that notoriously hairsplitting method called Scholasticism--and who produced something like eight million words, in the pre-Gutenberg era to boot--could hardly be called an aphorist. But this faithful correspondent then pointed me to Josef Pieper's marvelous collection of Thomistic one-liners called The Human Wisdom of St. Thomas: A Breviary of Philosophy, which taught me otherwise. Until I had read this powerful (but also exhausting!) book, I had not realized how concise, pithy, indeed almost aphoristic, the medievals were forced to be.

Remarkably, Pieper resolutely refused to provide so much as a single line of commentary in his "breviary." All he furnished, arranged in vague topical categories, were the one-line conclusions to Thomas' positions, not the arguments for them. But even standing alone, they have a way of, well, standing on their own. I'll cite a few just to give you an idea:

* Everything eternal is necessary.
* Every creature participates in goodness in the same degree as it participates in being.
* In the universe, only the intellectual nature is sought on its own account, all others on account of it.
* Desire of the knowledge of truth is peculiar to human nature.
* Evil is not caused except by good.
* Everything evil is rooted in some good, and everything false in some truth.
* Evil produces no effect except in virtue of some good.
* However much evil is multiplied, it is never able completely to swallow good.
* Stronger than the evil in wickedness is the good in goodness.
* Good can be realized in purer form than evil. For there is some good in which no evil is mixed, but there is nothing so very evil that no good is mixed in it.

Pieper's collection deals only, as the title says, with Thomas' "human" wisdom, meaning his purely philosophical aphorisms, although it would be hard to think of such allegedly pure "philosophical" clarity coming to Thomas except in the light of his faith.
... Read more