Catechism of the "Summa Theologica" of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Catechism of the

"Summa Theologica"

of

Saint Thomas Aquinas

For the Use of the Faithful

Master in Theology

Member of the Roman Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas

Formerly Professor of St. Thomas at the Collegio Angelico, Rome

Now Regent of Studies at St. Maximin, France

Adapted from the French and

Done into English by Aelred Whitacre, O.P.

"Deriventur fontes ti foras;

et in plateis aquas tuas divide."

-- Prov. V. 16.

Edited by

Paul A. Böer, Sr.

Veritatis Splendor Publications

et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos (Jn 8:32)

This is a re-publication of a work originally published by Benziger Brothers, New York, in 1922. The contents of Catechism of the “Summa Theologica” of St. Thomas Aquinas For the Use of the Faithful by R.P. Thomas Pegues, O.P. is in the public domain.

However, this version is copyrighted.

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM

Catechism of the

"Summa Theologica"

of

Saint Thomas Aquinas

For the Use of the Faithful

By

R. P. Thomas Pègues, O.P.

Master in Theology

Member of the Roman Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas

Formerly Professor of St. Thomas at the Collegio Angelico, Rome

Now Regent of Studies at St. Maximin, France

Adapted from the French and

Done into English by Aelred Whitacre, O.P.

"Deriventur fontes ti foras;

et in plateis aquas tuas divide."

-- Prov. V. 16.

New York, Cincinnati, Chicago

Benziger Brothers

Printers to the Holy Apostolic See

Publishers of Benziger's Magazine

1922

NIHIL OBSTAT:

F. Thomas Bergh, O.S.B.,

Censor Deputatus

IMPRIMATUR: Edm. Can. Surmont,

Vicar Generalis

WESTMONASTERII,

Die 8 Junii, 1922

CONTENTS

BRIEF OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XV.

FOREWORD

The First Part of God (The Sovereign Being; the Source and Master of All Things)

I. OF GOD'S EXISTENCE

II. OF GOD'S NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES

III. OF THE DIVINE OPERATIONS

IV. OF THE DIVINE PERSONS

V. OF THE CREATION

VI. OF THE WORLD

VII. OF THE ANGELS: THEIR NATURE

VIII. THE INNER LIFE OF THE ANGELS

IX. OF THE CREATION OF THE ANGELS

X. OF THE PROBATION OF THE ANGELS

XI. OF THE FALL OF THE BAD ANGELS

XII. OF THE CREATION OF MATERIAL SUBSTANCES, AND THE WORK OF THE SIX DAYS

XIII. OF MAN: HIS NATURE; HIS SPIRITUAL AND IMMORTAL SOUL

XIV. OF THE VEGETATIVE AND SENSITIVE POWERS

XV. OF THE MIND AND ITS ACT OF UNDERSTANDING

XVI. OF MAN'S POWERS OF LOVING: FREE WILL

XVII. OF MAN'S ORIGIN OR HIS CREATION BY GOD

XVIII. OF THE STATE OF HAPPINESS IN WHICH MAN WAS CREATED

XIX. OF THE CONSERVATION OF THINGS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT

XX. OF GOD'S ACTION IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNIVERSE; AND OF MIRACLES

XXI. OF THE ACTION THIS GOVERNMENT; OF THE UNIVERSE OF CREATURES IN AND OF THE ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE

XXII. OF THE ANGELS: THE HIERARCHIES AND THE ORDERS

XXIII. OF THE ACTION OF THE GOOD ANGELS ON THE CORPOREAL WORLD.

XXIV. OF THE ACTION OF THE GOOD ANGELS UPON MAN; THE GUARDIAN ANGELS

XXV. OF THE ACTION OF THE BAD ANGELS OR OF THE DEMONS

XXVI. OF THE ACTION OF THE MATERIAL WORLD OR OF THE WHOLE OF THE COSMOS

XVII. OF THE ACTION OF MAN HIMSELF

XXVIII. OF THE POINT UPON WHICH THE WHOLE COURSE OF DIVINE GOVERNMENT IS CENTRED

The Second Part Of Man (Who Came from God and Who Must Return to God)

FIRST SECTION GENERAL OUTLINE OF MAN'S RETURN TO GOD

I. OF MAN'S RESEMBLANCE TO GOD IN THE FREE ADMINISTRATION OF ALL THAT CONCERNS HIM

II. OF THE LAST END OR HAPPINESS OF MAN VIEWED IN ALL HIS ACTIONS

III. OF THE OBJECT OF THIS HAPPINESS

IV. OF THE POSSESSION OF THIS HAPPINESS

V. OF THE MEANS OF REALIZING THIS POSSESSION, OR OF THE GOOD ACTS WHICH ARE DESERVING OF IT, AND OF EVIL ACTS WHICH BRING ABOUT ITS LOSS

VI. OF WHAT IS IMPLIED IN A HUMAN ACT FOR IT TO BE A GOOD MERITORIOUS ACT, OR A BAD DEMERITORIOUS ACT; AND OF MERIT AND DEMERIT IN GENERAL

VII. OF THE AFFECTIVE MOVEMENTS IN MAN WHICH ARE CALLED THE PASSIONS

VIII. OF THE VIRTUES WHICH CAN AND OUGHT TO BE THE PRINCIPLE OF MAN'S GOOD ACTS

IX. OF THE GIFTS WHICH CROWN AND PERFECT THE VIRTUES

X. OF THE BEATITUDES AND OF THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH ARE EFFECTS OF THE VIRTUES AND THE GIFTS

XI. OF VICES WHICH ARE THE PRINCIPLE OF MAN'S BAD ACTIONS

XII. OF ORIGINAL SIN, AND OF ITS CONSEQUENCES, OR OF THE WOUNDING OF HUMAN NATURE

XIII. OF THE DIVERSE GRAVITY OF SINS, AND OF THE PUNISHMENT DUE TO THEM

XIV. OF MORTAL SINS AND VENIAL SINS

XV. OF THE EXTERIOR PRINCIPLE WHICH DIRECTS MAN'S ACTIONS; OR OF LAW

XVI. OF DIVERS LAWS; AND FIRST, OF THE ETERNAL LAW

XVII. OF THE NATURAL LAW

XVIII. OF HUMAN LAW

XIX. OF THE DIVINE LAW -- THE DECALOGUE

XX. OF THE EXTERNAL PRINCIPLE WHICH HELPS MAN TO PRACTISE GOOD ACTS; OR OF GRACE

SECOND SECTION A DETAILED SURVEY OF MAN'S RETURN TO GOD

I. OF THE SPECIES OF GOOD AND BAD ACTS CONSIDERED IN DETAIL AND ACCORDING TO THE CONDITIONS HABITUALLY FOUND AMONG MEN; AND OF THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

II. OF FAITH AND ITS NATURE: OF THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR AN ACT OF FAITH; OF THE "I BELIEVE" AND THE FORMULA OF AN ACT OF FAITH; OF THE SINS OPPOSED TO FAITH: VIZ., INFIDELITY, HERESY. APOSTASY, AND BLASPHEMY

III. OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST THAT CORRESPOND TO FAITH: OF UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE: OF THE SINS OPPOSED TO THEM, NAMELY, OF IGNORANCE, OF BLINDNESS OF MIND, AND OF HEBETUDE OF THE SENSES

IV. OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO FAITH -- OF THE CATECHISM, AND OF THE SUMMA OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

V. OF HOPE AND ITS NATURE -- OF THE VICES OPPOSED THERETO, NAMELY, OF PRESUMPTION AND OF DESPAIR -- OF THE FORMULA OF AN ACT OF HOPE, AND OF THOSE ABLE TO MAKE THIS ACT

VI. OF THE GIFT OF FEAR WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE VIRTUE OF HOPE OF SERVILE FEAR, AND OF FILIAL

VII. OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO HOPE

VIII. OF CHARITY AND ITS NATURE; OF ITS PRINCIPAL ACT AND THE FORMULA OF THIS ACT

IX. OF THE SECONDARY ACTS, OR THE EFFECTS OF CHARITY; OF JOY, PEACE, MERCY, KINDLINESS, ALMSDEEDS AND FRATERNAL CORRECTION

X. OF THE VICES OPPOSED TO CHARITY AND THEIR ACTS: OF HATRED; DISTASTE FOR SPIRITUAL THINGS AND LAZINESS; ENVY; DISCORD; STRIFE; SCHISM; WAR; QUARRELLING (THE DUEL); SEDITION; SCANDAL

XI. OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO CHARITY

XII. OF THE GIFT OF WISDOM WHICH CORRESPONDS TO CHARITY; AND OF THE SIN TO WHICH IT IS OPPOSED

XIII. OF THE MORAL VIRTUES: OF PRUDENCE, ITS NATURE AND ELEMENTS, AND OF ITS ATTENDANT VIRTUES; OF THE SPECIES OF PRUDENCE, NAMELY, INDIVIDUAL, DOMESTIC, POLITICAL, AND MILITARY

XIV. OF THE GIFT OF COUNSEL WHICH CORRESPONDS TO PRUDENCE

XV. OF THE SINS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO PRUDENCE, VIZ., OF IMPRUDENCE; HASTINESS; LACK OF THOUGHT; INCONSTANCY; NEGLIGENCE; FALSE PRUDENCE; PRUDENCE OF THE FLESH; SLYNESS; DECEIT; FRAUD; FALSE SOLICITUDE

XVI. OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO PRUDENCE

XVII. OF JUSTICE AND ITS NATURE; OF LAW; OF NATURAL LAW; OF POSITIVE, PRIVATE, PUBLIC, NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL, CIVIL, AND ECCLESIASTICAL LAW -- OF LEGAL JUSTICE AND OF PARTICULAR -- OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO

XVIII. OF THE ACT OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE, VIZ.,JUDGMENT

XIX. OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE, AND OF ITS SPECIES: OF DISTRIBUTIVE AND OF COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE

XX. OF THE ACT OF COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE, VIZ., OF RESTITUTION

XXI. OF THE SINS OPPOSED TO DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE: OF THE RESPECT OF PERSONS; OF THE SINS OPPOSED TO COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE; OF HOMICIDE; OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT; OF MUTILATION; OF FLOGGING; AND OF IMPRISONMENT

XXII. OF THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY, AND OF THE DUTIES IT ENTAILS -- OF THE VIOLATION OF THIS RIGHT, VIZ., OF THEFT AND ROBBERY

XXIII. OF THE SINS AGAINST JUSTICE BY WORDS; OF THE JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED BY A JUDGE; OF THE SINS ON THE PART OF THE ACCUSED AND OF THE ACCUSER; AND ON THE PART OF THE WITNESS AND OF THE ADVOCATE

XXIV. OF THE SINS OF SPEECH COMMITTED IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF LIFE, VIZ., OF INVECTIVE, OF DETRACTION (AND CALUMNY), OF WHISPERINGS, OF MOCKERY, OF THE CURSE

XXV. OF THE SINS THAT DECEIVE OUR NEIGHBOUR, AND OF THOSE THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIM, VIZ., OF FRAUD AND OF USURY

XXVI. OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE VIRTUE OF JUSTICE: OF DOING GOOD AND AVOIDING EVIL -- OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO: OF OMISSION, AND OF TRANSGRESSION

XXVII. OF THE VIRTUES ATTACHING TO JUSTICE: OF RELIGION; OF FILIAL RESPECT; OF REVERENCE; OF GRATITUDE; OF RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE; OF TRUTHFULNESS; OF FRIENDSHIP; OF LIBERALITY; OF NATURAL EQUITY

XXVIII. OF RELIGION AND ITS NATURE

XXIX. OF RELIGION AND ITS INTERIOR ACTS: OF DEVOTION; OF PRAYER, ITS NATURE AND NECESSITY; OF THE "OUR FATHER" OR THE LORD'S PRAYER, AND ITS EFFICACIOUSNESS

XXX. OF THE EXTERNAL ACTS OF RELIGION: OF ADORATION; OF SACRIFICE; OF OBLATION; OF TITHES; OF VOWS; OF OATHS; OF CALLING ON THE NAME OF GOD

XXXI. OF THE SINS OPPOSED TO RELIGION: OF SUPERSTITION, AND OF DIVINATION; OF IRRELIGION: OF TEMPTING GOD, OF PERJURY, AND OF SACRILEGE

XXXII. OF FILIAL RESPECT TOWARDS ONE'S PARENTS, AND TOWARDS ONE'S COUNTRY

XXXIII. OF REVERENCE TOWARDS SUPERIORS

XXXIV. OF GRATITUDE

XXXV. OF REVENGE OR OF RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE

XXXVI. OF TRUTHFULNESS -- AND OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO: OF LYING; OF PRETENCE; AND OF HYPOCRISY

XXXVII. OF FRIENDSHIP; AND OF THE OPPOSITE SINS, NAMELY, OF DISPUTE AND FLATTERY

XXXVIII. OF LIBERALITY; AND OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO, VIZ., OF AVARICE, AND OF PRODIGALITY

XXXIX. OF NATURAL EQUITY (OR EPIKEIA)

XL. OF THE GIFT OF PIETY WHICH CORRESPONDS TO JUSTICE AND ITS PARTS

XLI. OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO JUSTICE WHICH ARE THOSE OF THE DECALOGUE: OF THE THREE FIRST; AND OF THE LAST FOUR

XLII. OF THE VIRTUE OF FORTITUDE AND ITS ACT; OF MARTYRDOM; OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO: OF FEAR; OF INSENSIBILITY TO FEAR; OF RASHNESS

XLIII. OF THE VIRTUES ANNEXED TO FORTITUDE; OF MAGNANIMITY; OF THE SINS OPPOSED TO MAGNANIMITY; VIZ., OF PRESUMPTION; OF AMBITION; OF VAINGLORY; AND OF PUSILLANIMITY

XLIV. OF MAGNIFICENCE; AND OF THE SINS THERETO OPPOSED, VIZ., OF STINGINESS AND OF EXTRAVAGANCE

XLV. OF PATIENCE -- OF LONGANIMITY AND OF CONSTANCY

XLVI. OF PERSEVERANCE; AND OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO, VIZ., OF EFFEMINACY AND OF OBSTINACY

XLVII. OF THE GIFT OF FORTITUDE WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE VIRTUE OF FORTITUDE

XLVIII. OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO FORTITUDE

XLIX. OF TEMPERANCE; OF ABSTINENCE, AND OF FASTING: AND OF THE SIN OPPOSED THERETO, VIZ., OF GLUTTONY

L. OF SOBRIETY AND OF THE SIN OPPOSED TO IT, VIZ., DRUNKENNESS

LI. OF CHASTITY AND OF VIRGINITY; AND OF THE SIN OPPOSED THERETO, VIZ., OF VOLUPTUOUSNESS

LII. OF THE VIRTUES ANNEXED TO TEMPERANCE, VIZ., OF CONTINENCE, AND OF INCONTINENCE WHICH IS THE SIN OPPOSED THERETO

LIII. OF CLEMENCY AND OF MEEKNESS; AND OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO, VIZ., OF ANGER, AND OF CRUELTY OR SAVAGENESS

LIV. OF MODESTY: OF HUMILITY AND OF ITS OPPOSITE SIN PRIDE; OF THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE; OF SECULARISM

LV. OF THE VIRTUE OF THE STUDIOUS; AND OF ITS OPPOSITE SIN, VIZ., OF CURIOSITY

LVI. OF EXTERNAL MODESTY

LVII. OF THE GIFT THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE VIRTUE OF TEMPERANCE

LVIII. OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO TEMPERANCE AND ITS PARTS

LIX. OF THE TWO KINDS OF LIFE, VIZ., OF THE ACTIVE AND THE CONTEMPLATIVE; OF THE STATE OF PERFECTION-OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE; AND OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE CHURCH

The Third Part Of Jesus Christ (The Way Whereby Man Returns to God)

I. OF THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION OR OF THE WORD MADE FLESH

II. OF THE FITTINGNESS AND NECESSITY OF THE INCARNATION

III. CONCERNING THAT WHICH THE SON OF GOD TOOK OF US AND WHICH HE UNITED TO HIMSELF IN HIS INCARNATION

IV. OF THE PRIVILEGES OR PREROGATIVES OF THE HUMAN NATURE UNITED TO GOD THE SON, VIZ., OF HABITUAL OR SANCTIFYING GRACE; OF THE VIRTUES AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST; AND OF THE GRACES GRATUITOUSLY GIVEN

V. OF THE FULNESS OF GRACE IN THE HUMAN NATURE OF THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD

VI. OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST IN SO FAR AS HE IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH

VII. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST: OF HIS BEATIFIC KNOWLEDGE; OF HIS INFUSED KNOWLEDGE; AND OF HIS ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

VIII. OF THE POWER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AS MAN

IX. OF THE DEFECTS OF CHRIST'S HUMAN NATURE; OF THOSE OF THE BODY; AND OF THOSE OF THE SOUL

X. OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD; AND OF THE MANNER OF EXPRESSING IN WORDS THE TRUTHS THEREOF

XI. OF THE UNITY AND MULTIPLICITY IN JESUS CHRIST: AS REGARDS HIS BEING; AS REGARDS HIS WILL; AND AS REGARDS HIS OPERATIONS

XII. OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE INCARNATION OF GOD THE SON IN RELATION TO HIS FATHER; OF HIS SUBJECTION TO THE FATHER; OF HIS PRAYER, AND OF HIS PRIESTHOOD

XIII. OF CHRIST'S DIVINE SONSHIP; AND OF HIS PREDESTINATION

XIV. OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE INCARNATION IN RELATION TO US, VIZ., THAT WE MUST ADORE CHRIST; OF CHRIST AS THE MEDIATOR

XV. OF THE MANNER ACCORDING TO WHICH THE INCARNATION TOOK PLACE, AND OF CHRIST'S DOINGS IN THE WORLD

XVI. OF CHRIST'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD, VIZ., OF HIS BIRTH OF THE BLESSED MARY EVER A VIRGIN

XVII. OF THE NAME JESUS CHRIST GIVEN TO GOD THE SON INCARNATE

XVIII. OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST

XIX. OF OUR BLESSED LORD'S LIFE ON EARTH: OF HIS TEMPTATION; OF HIS PREACHING; OF HIS MIRACLES; AND OF HIS TRANSFIGURATION

XX. OF OUR BLESSED LORD'S LEAVIN'G THIS WORLD: OF HIS PASSION AND HIS DEATH; OF HIS BURIAL

XXI. OF OUR LORD'S DESCENT INTO HELL

XXII. OF THE EXALTATION OF JESUS CHRIST: OF HIS RESURRECTION

XXIII. OF HIS ASCENSION; AND OF HIS AUTHORITY AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER

XXIV. OF THE SACRAMENTS OF JESUS CHRIST: OF THEIR NATURE AND NUMBER; OF THEIR NECESSITY; AND OF THEIR EFFICACY

XXV. OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: OF ITS NATURE; OF THE MINISTER OF THIS SACRAMENT

XXVI. OF THOSE WHO CAN RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM; AND OF ITS NECESSITY FOR ALL

XXVII. OF THE EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

XXVIII. OF THE DIGNITY AND OF THE DUTIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

XXIX. OF THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION; OF ITS NATURE AND NECESSITY; OF THE DUTIES IT IMPLIES; AND OF THE RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY FOR THE RECEPTION THEREOF

XXX. WHICH OF THE TWO SACRAMENTS REQUIRES THE BETTER INSTRUCTION: CONFIRMATION OR THE HOLY EUCHARIST?

XXXI. OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

XXXII. OF THE MATTER AND FORM OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST; OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION, AND OF THE REAL PRESENCE; OF THE ACCIDENTS OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

XXXIII. OF THE EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

XXXIV. OF THE RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

XXXV. OF THE MINISTER OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

XXXVI. OF THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

XXXVII. OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE: OF ITS NATURE AND VIRTUE

XXXVIII. OF THE EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

XXXIX. OF THE PART OF THE PENITENT IN THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE; OF CONTRITION, CONFESSION, AND SATISFACTION

XL. OF THE MINISTER OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, AND OF THE POWER OF THE KEYS: OF ABSOLUTION; OF INDULGENCES; OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS; AND OF EXCOMMUNICATION

XLI. OF THE SACRAMENT OF EXTREME UNCTION

XLII. OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS; OF PRIESTS, BISHOPS, AND THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF; AND OF THE CHURCH, MOTHER OF SOULS

XLIII. OF THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY; OF ITS NATURE, IMPEDIMENTS, DUTIES; OF DIVORCE; OF SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE; AND OF ESPOUSALS

XLIV. OF THE INTERMEDIARY STATE OF THOSE SOULS WHO AFTER DEATH ARE AWAITING THE DAY OF THE LAST RESURRECTION; AND OF PURGATORY

XLV. OF HEAVEN

XLVI. OF HELL

XLVII. OF THE JUDGMENT WHEREBY A SOUL IS SENT TO PURGATORY, HEAVEN, OR HELL

XLVIII. OF THE PLACE OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT JUDGED, VIZ., OF THE LIMBO OF INFANTS

XLIX. OF THE END OF THE WORLD AND THE SEQUEL THEREOF

L. OF THE RESURRECTION

LI. OF THE LAST JUDGMENT

LII. OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

LIII. OF ETERNAL HAPPINESS

EPILOGUE PRAYER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

BRIEF OF

HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XV.

To our well-beloved son Thomas Pègues of the Order of Friars Preachers.

BELOVED SON,

Greeting and Apostolic Benediction.

The manifold honours paid by the Holy See to St. Thomas Aquinas exclude for ever any doubt from the mind of Catholics with regard to his being raised up by God as the Master of Doctrine to be followed by the Church through all ages. It was therefore fitting that the singular wisdom of the Holy Doctor should be made accessible not only to the clergy but to the faithful in general, and to whomsoever desired to make a deeper study of the things of religion; for in very truth, the nearer one approaches to the light, so much the more is one enlightened.

Much praise is therefore due to you first of all because you have undertaken to write a commentary in your mother tongue [French] upon the greatest work of the Angelic Doctor, viz., the Summa Theologica (the volumes already published of this work show what success has attended your labours); and, secondly, because you have recently published the Summa Theologica in the form of a catechism. Therein you have aptly accomodated the riches of the great genius to the understanding of the less instructed as well as of the learned; briefly and succinctly you have expounded the doctrine, and in the same luminous order as that of the Angelic Doctor whose treatise is more lengthy and more detailed.

We congratulate you sincerely on this fruit of your labours which shows your masterly knowledge of St. Thomas' doctrine. We hope, therefore, through your love of Holy Church that this work will bring many souls to a sound knowledge of Christian doctrine.

As a mark of the divine largess and in testimony of our own special good will we impart in all affection to you and to your pupils the Apostolic Benediction.

Given at Rome at St. Peter's the fifth day of February, 1919, in the fifth year of our Pontificate,

POPE BENEDICT XV.

FOREWORD

The author of the original work asked me personally to translate his book into English. I have done so; but the genius of the English language did not permit a literal translation. The present book is therefore in some sense rather an adaptation than a literal translation, although the latter has been strictly adhered to wherever possible.

In the original work the answer always repeats the whole question word for word; in the cause of brevity and sometimes for clearness' sake, I have adopted the simple answer of "yes" or "no" lest the reader tire with the insistency of the ceaseless repetition.

Those readers who wish to study the doctrine more deeply will find much help in the references quoted at the end of most of the answers to the questions; they refer to the Summa Theologica itself, which has been translated literally into English [To be had of Burns, Oates and Washbourne] by the Dominican Fathers of the English Province. To take an example: On p. 9 of this book there is the question: Does the Providence of God extend also to inanimate things? And the answer: Yes, for they are a part of God's handiwork (XXII. 2, Obj. 5). The reference here quoted means that the doctrine in its every detail is to be found in the reply to the 5th Objection of the 2nd Article of the 22nd Question of the First Part of the Summa. It should be noted that the citation of "First Part" is not added to the quotation for the simple reason that the particular "part" of the Summa to which the quotation refers may easily be found by consulting the table of Contents. Moreover, whenever necessary and in order to give additional strength to the doctrines of St. Thomas, reference has been made to the new Code of Canon Law; e.g., on p. 289 (Code, Canon 1036). Thus this work is brought up to date.

AE. W.

ROME,

Feast of St. Nicholas

(December 6, 1921)

The First Part

of God

(The Sovereign Being; the Source and Master of All Things)

The Divine Nature and Attributes.

The Blessed Trinity.

The Creation; Angels, the World, Man.

The Divine Government.

CATECHISM OF THE "SUMMA THEOLOGICA"

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