Today is the feast day of St Thomas Aquinas, born in Aquino, Sicily (hence the surname) in 1225. St Thomas is best known for for the works Summa Theologica - download audio here and pdf here, and Contra Gentiles pdf here
My favourite work of his, is is the Bible Commentary Catena Aurea download pdf here.
My favourite work of his, is is the Bible Commentary Catena Aurea download pdf here.
There is a great biography of St Thomas on the Catholic Encyclopedia , read it here.
Some Quotes
A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.
All that is true, by whomsoever it has been said has its origin in the Spirit.
All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.
As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in the active power.
Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them.
Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher is bound in his way to be a lover of myths and poetic fables. Poets and philosophers are alike in being big with wonder.
Because we cannot know what God is, but only what He is not, we cannot consider how He is but only how He is not.
Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.
Beware of the person of one book.
By nature all men are equal in liberty, but not in other endowments.
Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches.
Distinctions drawn by the mind are not necessarily equivalent to distinctions in reality.
Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins.
Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.
Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.
God should not be called an individual substance, since the principal of individuation is matter.
Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will.
Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.
How can we live in harmony? First we need to know we are all madly in love with the same God.
All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.
As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in the active power.
Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them.
Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher is bound in his way to be a lover of myths and poetic fables. Poets and philosophers are alike in being big with wonder.
Because we cannot know what God is, but only what He is not, we cannot consider how He is but only how He is not.
Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.
Beware of the person of one book.
By nature all men are equal in liberty, but not in other endowments.
Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches.
Distinctions drawn by the mind are not necessarily equivalent to distinctions in reality.
Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins.
Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.
Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.
God should not be called an individual substance, since the principal of individuation is matter.
Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will.
Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.
How can we live in harmony? First we need to know we are all madly in love with the same God.
