Front matter

KEVIN VOST, PSY.D.

12

LIFE LESSONS

FROM

ST. THOMAS

AQUINAS

Timeless Spiritual Wisdom

for Our Turbulent Times

SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS

Manchester, New Hampshire

Cover by David Ferris Design in collaboration with Perceptions Design Studio.

On the cover: engraving of St. Thomas Aquinas, by Cornelis Boel (XJF368406) © Bridgeman Images; leather texture background (581166247) © Ivaylo Ivanov / Shutterstock.

Foyer illustration by Ted Schluenderfritz.

Except where otherwise noted, Scripture quotations have been taken from the Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV), copyright © 1965 and 1966 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops—Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Vost, Kevin, author.

for our turbulent times / Kevin Vost, Psy.D.

Other titles: Twelve life lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas

Description: Manchester : Sophia Institute Press, 2019. Includes

bibliographical references. Summary: “Twelve lessons, based on the

teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, on how to live virtuously in our

turbulent times” — Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019031538 ISBN 9781622828302 (paperback) — ePub ISBN 9781622828319

Subjects: LCSH: Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274. Christian

life — Catholic authors.

Classification: LCC B765.T54 V6135 2019 DDC 248.4/82 — dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019031538

To all who seek to know truth and do good

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,

if there is any excellence,

if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.

— Philippians 4:8

Contents

Introduction: Turbulent Times in Need of Timeless Wisdom

1. Accept Only the Best

2. Focus on Things That Matter the Most

3. No Harmony, No Peace!

4. Justice Begins at Home

5. Our Brothers (and Sisters) Ain’t Heavy

6. Be Your Own Best Friend

7. Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner

8. Be a Man (or a Woman)!

9. Go to Mass, Not to the Woods, Every Sunday