Saint Thomas Aquinas. Volume 2. Spiritual Master

Description

Translated by Robert Royal. Originally published as 'Saint Thomas d'Aquin, Maître Spirituel' by Editions Universitaires, Fribourg, Suisse, and Editions du Cerf, Paris. This work lays out the theoretical background to Saint Thomas Aquinas' spirituality. It shows that his theology is clearly oriented towards contemplation and is as deeply spiritual as it is doctrinal. The text quotes often from Thomas' own texts and presents a clear understanding of Aquinas' views on nature, the person, human society, politics, and our ultimate end in communion with God and one another. It makes apparent why the Catholic Church thinks of Aquinas not only as a great Christian intellectual, but also as a saint. Preface Abbreviations 1. Theology and Spirituality Sacra doctrina A School of Theologal Life Theology and the Vision of God The 'Subject' of Theology A Certain Stamp of the Divine Science A 'Pious' Science Three Meanings of the Word 'Spirituality' Part I. A Trinitarian Spirituality 2. He Who Is Beyond All Things Knowledge and Non-knowledge of God The Negative Path God Known as Unknown A Threefold Path to God He Who Is The Name Above Every Name The God No One Has Ever Seen 3. God and the World Tha Alpha and the Omega Trinity and Creation The Divine Artist The Presence of the Trinity in the World God Who Loves the World 4. Image and Beatitude The Beginning and the End The Image of the Trinity Image and Indwelling The Experience of God The Image in Glory 5. The Way, the Truth, and the Life The Way That Leads to God A New Way Imitating God by Imitating Christ 'I Have Given You the Example...' The Way and Our Home 6. The Image of the First-Born Son Only God Deifies Agent and Instrument The Mysteries of Christ’s Life Memory or Presence? Like an Invisible Star Conformity to Christ The First-Born of All Creatures A Priestly, Royal, and Prophetic Body 7. To Speak of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit in Thomas Aquinas’s Works Common Nouns and Proper Names: The Trinitarian Appropriation The Creator Spirit Life in the Spirit Come to the Father Preaching the Holy Spirit 8. The Heart of the Church Loved with the Love with Which God Is Loved The Grace of the Holy Spirit The Bond of Love The Link of Charity Heart of the Church 9. The Master of the Interior Life Where There Is the Spirit of the Lord, There Is Freedom The Instinct of the Holy Spirit The Gifts of the Holy Spirit The Fruits of the Spirit The Interior Master Part II. Man in the World and Before God 10. A Certain Idea of the Creation A Certain Relation 'And God Saw That It Was Good' A Theology of Intermediary Realities Contempt for the World? Religious Life and Secular Activities 11. A Certain Idea of Man Man under Discussion The Soul and Its Passions Nature and Culture: The Virtues The Joy of Being Saved Perfect Virtue The Virtue of Risk Prudence and Charity 12. Without Friends, Who Would Want to Live? A “Political” Animal The Natural Law and Its Main Inclinations The Church, the People of God Spiritual and Temporal The Best Form of Government? 13. The Most Noble Thing in the World The Most Noble Thing in the Universe Following Conscience Conscience and Truth Eternal Life Already Begun Like an Anchor Fixed on High The Interpreter of Desire It Would Have to Be That Man Is God 14. Ways to God Man and His Desire Capable of God What Does Not Constitute Happiness The Royal Road Without Love I Am Nothing The Degrees of Charity The Hymn to Charity The Model of All Perfections 15. Conclusion: Major Ideas and Sources Major Ideas A Trinitarian Spirituality A Spirituality of Deification An 'Objective' Spirituality A 'Realist' Spirituality A Spirituality of Human Flourishing A Spirituality of Communion Sources Ancient Wisdom Sacred Scripture The Liturgy The Fathers, and Especially Saint Augustine The Dominican Heritage Bibliography Index of Scripture Index of the Works of Saint Thomas Aquinas Index of Names Index of Subjects