THE “SUMMA THEOLOGICA”
OF
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
LITERALLY TRANSLATED BY
FATHERS OF THE ENGLISH DOMINICAN PROVINCE
LONDON
BURNS OATES & WASHBOURNE LTD
PUBLISHERS TO THE HOLY SEE
Nihil Obstat.
F. INNOCENTIUS APAP, O.P., S.T.M.
Censor. Theol.
Imprimatur.
EDUS. CANONICUS SURMONT.
Vicarius Generalis.
Westmonasterly
———————
APPROBATIO ORDINIS.
Nihil Obstat.
F. RAPHAEL MOSS, O.P., S.T.L.
F. LEO. MOORE, O.P., S.T.L.
Imprimatur.
F. BEDA JARRETT, O.P., S.T.L., A.M.
Prior Provincialis Angliæ.
Die 7 Januarii, 1921
Letter From the Cardinal Secretary of State
The Vatican,
February 24th, 1912.
To the Very Reverend Father Humbert Everest, O.P., Prior Provincial of the English Dominican Province.
Reverend Father,
I am desired to inform you that the Holy Father has been pleased to express his gratitude on receiving from you the first volume of the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas, which, with the assistance of your beloved brethren of the English Province, you have most wisely determined to translate into your mother-tongue. I say ‘most wisely,’ because to translate into the language of one’s country the immortal works of St. Thomas is to give to its people a great treasure of human and Divine knowledge, and to afford those who are desirous of obtaining it, not only the best method, of reasoning in unfolding and elucidating sacred truths, but also the most efficacious means of combating heresies. Therefore, without doubt, you have undertaken a task worthy of religious men—worthy of the sons of St. Dominic.
The Venerable Pontiff, in graciously accepting your gift, returns you most cordial thanks, and earnestly prays that your task may have a successful result and produce abundant fruit. In token of his appreciation, he most lovingly imparts to you and your fellow-workers the Apostolic Benediction.
And for myself I extend to you the right hand of fellowship, and thank you for the special volume of the translation which you presented to me.
I remain, Rev. Father,
Yours devotedly,
R. Card. Merry del Val.
Letter From The Master-General of The Friar Preachers
Collegio Angelico,
Roma, May 21st, 1911.
To the English Translators of the ‘Summa Theologica’ of St. Thomas.
Very Rev. and dear Fathers,
In translating into English the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas, you undertake a work which will bring profit to the Church and honour to the Dominican Order, and which, I hope, will be acceptable even to the laity; for what was said of the great doctor by his contemporaries is true for all time—that everybody can gather fruit from his writings, which are within the grasp of all. As a matter of fact, St. Thomas appeals to the light of reason, not in order to weaken the ground of faith, which is the Divine Reason, infinitely surpassing the reason of man, but, on the contrary, in order to increase the merit of faith by making us adhere more firmly to His revelation. For we see thereby how reasonable is our submission, how salutary it is to the mind, how profitable for our guidance, how joyful ...
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About Summa Theologica (English)Thomas Aquinas stands among the most important thinkers in the history of Christianity, and his famous Summa Theologica represents the pinnacle of medieval theology and perhaps the most influential theological work in the history of Western Christianity. In the volumes of his writings we find the forerunners of every intellectual development in the eight centuries that followed, and the depth of his understanding of the nature and being of God has left a lasting mark on the enterprise of Christian theological reflection ever since. Logos is pleased to offer the English translation of the Summa Theologica by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province—a literal translation that remains a standard for Aquinas studies. This translation underlies the 22-volume edition published by Burns, Oates & Washbourne between 1912 and 1936, and has been widely reprinted throughout the twentieth century. In this massive tome, Aquinas outlines the reasons and meaning of all of Christian theology. As a theologian, Aquinas articulates the goals, purpose, and enterprise of theology, and gives theology a prominent place in scholarship, calling theology “the queen of sciences.” As a scholastic, Aquinas sought to understand Christian theology in light of the rediscovery of Aristotle’s works in the twelfth century, and redefined the relationship between revelation and reason, science and theology, and faith and philosophy for the next eight centuries. As a philosopher, Aquinas developed principles of just war and natural law, and outlined an argument for God’s existence from contingency—the intellectual forerunner to the modern Argument from Design. As an aesthetic, Aquinas articulated a vision of God’s beauty, and his aesthetic influence can be felt in the writings of literary figures as diverse as Dante Alighieri, James Joyce, and Umberto Eco. |
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