Archive for the ‘aquinas’ Category

Aquinas' Summa

Monday, August 18th, 2008

We’ve just added a new translation of selected questions from the Summa Theologiae of Thomas Aquinas. These questions are selected to be the most important articles pertaining to the topic of virtue, vice, and gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Summa.

The goal of the translation is to be as easy to read as possible, while remaining entirely faithful to what St. Thomas himself says, rather than replacing it what some other teaching that seems to be simpler than his. In a few cases, when an article seems difficult to understand, or worded in an unnecessarily complicated manner, we’ve added a paraphrase after an article. For the longest articles, we’ve added outlines.

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Paths of Love on Amazon

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

The Book “Paths of Love: The Discernment of Vocation According to Aquinas, Ignatius, and Pope John Paul II” is now available at Amazon.

On our own website you can read details about this book on discernment, or read its first chapter, an Introduction to Principles of Christian life. (update: now hosted on its own website)

“The Lord has his plan for each of us, he calls each one of us by name. Our task is to be listeners, capable of perceiving his call, to be courageous and faithful, so that we may follow him, and in the end, be found as trustworthy servants who have used well the gifts entrusted to us.”

“He loves us, he makes us see and experience his love, and from God’s loving us ‘first,’ love can also arise as a response within us.”

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Aquinas on Religious Vocation

Friday, March 28th, 2008

Butler on Religious Vocation in Aquinas

Vocation in Aquinas

For many young people the idea of a religious vocation is something very mysterious. They may want to become religious, but suppose that they must find some secret “something” deep within themselves, if they are to enter a religious community. In this recently republished book, “Religious Vocation: An Unnecessary Mystery“, Fr. Richard Butler turns to that great theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas, to find the traditional view of vocation. Renowned for his clarity in general, it is the same when Thomas Aquinas speaks about religious vocation. The view of vocation according to Aquinas is quite simple: Christ himself proposed the religious life as the best way for attaining Christian perfection in love: “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” And so, if you would like to live this radical Christian life as a religious, and are willing to do what it takes, then go for it! Christ will support you by his grace!

Read quotes from the book, or go the original source, and read texts of Aquinas on religious vocation.

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Vocation Discernment: Aquinas, Ignatius, and Pope John Paul II

Friday, February 29th, 2008
Discernment of vocation cover

“At last I have found my vocation. My vocation is love!” Love is truly the heart of every vocation. This book available for the first time here looks at the Catholic understanding of the vocation to marriage, priesthood, or religious life. It has several features are nearly unique among books on vocation. First, while being addressed to all Catholics, not only to theologians, it does not oversimplify vocation, or give a mere compilation of advice, but aims to present the rich depth and wealth of the Catholic understanding of vocation in a simple and accessible manner. Secondly, this book goes right to two great saints at the heart of quite different traditions on vocation, namely St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Ignatius Loyola, and the basic difference between them, a difference which is often unappreciated, or is passed over superficially. The goal is not to decide in favor of one over the other, nor to examine in detail their historical or theological connection; this book rather aims to use these different points of view to convey all that belongs to a full Christian and human approach to vocation. Read a summary of this book on love and vocation. (Now hosted at its own website www.pathsoflove.com)

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