AQUINAS, THOMAS, SAINT


Meaning of AQUINAS, THOMAS, SAINT in English

born 1224/25, Roccasecca, near Aquino, Terra di Lavoro, Kingdom of Sicily died March 7, 1274, Fossanova, near Terracina, Latium, Papal States; canonized July 18, 1323; feast day January 28, formerly March 7 also called Aquinas, Italian San Tommaso d'Aquino, byname Doctor Angelicus (Latin: Angelic Doctor) Italian Dominican theologian, the foremost medieval Scholasticist. He developed his own conclusions from Aristotelian premises, notably in the metaphysics of personality, creation, and Providence. As a theologian he was responsible in his two masterpieces, the Summa theologiae and the Summa contra gentiles, for the classical systematization of Latin theology; and as a poet he wrote some of the most gravely beautiful eucharistic hymns in the church's liturgy. His doctrinal system and the explanations and developments made by his followers are known as Thomism. Although many modern Roman Catholic theologians do not find St. Thomas altogether congenial, he is nevertheless recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as its foremost Western philosopher and theologian. Additional reading Useful Latin editions of the Opera omnia include one published in Rome, 18 vol. in 16 (157071), called Piana because they were published under Pius V; and a critical edition (1882 ), called Leonina because it was requested by Leo XIII. Of all his works, the Summa theologiae has been the most frequently reedited; an excellent edition was published by the Institute of Medieval Studies in Montreal, 5 vol. (194145).English editions of various works include The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, 22 vol. (191225), trans. by the Fathers of the English Dominican province; Thomas Gilby, Philosophical Texts (1951, reprinted 1982), and St. Thomas Aquinas: Theological Texts (1955, reprinted 1982); and Anton C. Pegis (ed.), Basic Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, 2 vol. (1945).A list of books and articles by and about St. Thomas in European languages can be found in P. Mandonnet and J. Destrez, Bibliographie Thomiste, 2nd ed., rev. by M.D. Chenu (1960), covering items up to 1920; Vernon J. Bourke, Thomistic Bibliography, 19201940 (1945); Terry L. Miethe and Vernon J. Bourke (compilers), Thomistic Bibliography, 19401978 (1980); and Richard Ingardia (compiler), Thomas Aquinas: International Bibliography, 19771990 (1993), excluding theology.The first biography of St. Thomas was that of his disciple, William of Tocco; it appears with other biographies in D. Prmmer (ed.), Fontes vitae S. Thomae Aquinatis, 2 vol. (191237). Angelus Walz, Saint Thomas Aquinas: A Biographical Study (1951; originally published in Italian, 1945), is also useful.Works on St. Thomas' historical and doctrinal contexts include Pierre Mandonnet, Siger de Brabant et l'averrosme latin au XIIIme sicle (1899, reprinted 1976); tienne Gilson, The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy (1936, reprinted 1991; originally published in French, 1932), The Spirit of Thomism (1964), and History of Christian Philosophy in the Middle Ages (1955); M.D. Chenu, Nature, Man, and Society in the Twelfth Century (1968; originally published in French, 1957); and Fernand van Steenberghen, La Philosophie au XIIIe sicle, 2nd ed. (1991). Major Works: Theological treatises Scriptum super IV libros Sententiarum (125456); De veritate (125659); Summa contra gentiles (c. 125864; On the Truth of the Catholic Faith, 1955); Summa theologiae (1265 or 126673; incomplete); De potentia Dei (125968; On the Power of God, 193234); De malo (undated; On Free Choice); De spiritualibus creaturis (undated; On Spiritual Creatures, 1949); De anima (undated; The Soul, 1949); De unione Verbi incarnati (undated); De virtutibus (126972; On the Virtues in General, 1951). Biblical commentaries Expositio in Evangelium S. Matthaei (126972); Expositio in Job ad litteram (126164); Expositio in Evangelium Joannis (126972); Exposition in S. Pauli Apostoli epistolas (undated; incomplete); In psalmos Davidis expositio (127273). Commentaries on Aristotle In octo libros Physicorum expositio (126871; Commentary on Aristotle's Physics, 1963); In tres libros De anima (undated; The Commentary of St. Thomas Aquinas on Aristotle's Treatise on the Soul, 1946); In librum De sensu et sensato expositio (127071); In decem libros Ethicorum expositio (127172; Commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics, 1964); In duodecim libros Metaphysicorum expositio (c. 1272; Commentary on the Metaphysics of Aristotle, 1961); In libros De caelo et mundo expositio (127273); In libros Posteriorum analyticorum expositio (undated; probably late). Other works Philosophical treatises De ente et essentia (before 1256; On Being and Essence, 1949); Contra impugnantes Dei cultum et religionem (1256; An Apology for the Religious Orders, 1902); De regno (De regimine principum) ad regem Cypri (1266; On Kingship, 1949); De perfectione vitae spiritualis (126970); De unitate intellectus contra Averroistas (1270; The Unicity of the Intellect, 1946); De aeternitate mundi contra murmurantes (127072); De substantiis separatis, seu de angelorum natura (undated; Treatise on Separate Substances, 1959). Hymns and liturgical compositions Pange, lingua, gloriosi (1264); Verbum supernum prodiens (1264; The Word of God Proceeding Forth); office for the Feast of Corpus Christi (c. 1264), including the sequence Lauda Sion Salvatorem (Praise, O Zion, thy Salvation).

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