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In his motu proprio, "Doctoris Angelici", of
June 29, 1914, Pope Pius X commanded that the
universities and institutions of learning which were
empowered to grant academic degrees and the doctorate in
sacred theology should use the "Summa
theologica" of St. Thomas as their text.
On March 7, 1916, the Sacred Congregation of
Seminaries and Universities interpreted this decree as
follows: "The "Summa theologica" of St.
Thomas must be accepted as the text for the lectures
inasmuch as they treat of the scholastic part of the
questions. The method to be followed is this: the
"Summa theologica" is to be consulted frequently
and explained together with some other text which presents
the logical order of the questions and the positive
teaching" ("Acta Apost. Sedis", VIII,
157).
To meet this demand, we have already published three
treatises: "De revelatione ab Ecclesia proposita,
De Deo uno, De Eucharistia". The first part of
this present work treats of the Trinity. After
presenting the testimony of the Scriptures and the
Fathers, we explain the questions in St. Thomas'
"Summa theologica", article by article,
comparing his doctrine with the teaching of earlier and
later theologians.
We have laid great stress on St. Thomas' concept of
relation because from it flow all the other conclusions in
this treatise, and these conclusions will appear to be in
accord with the fundamental thesis of the Thomistic
treatise on the one God which establishes that God is
self-subsisting Being and that consequently there is but
one nature in Him although the real relations in God are
really distinct from one another.
In this way we shall show how St. Thomas perfected
St. Augustine's teaching on the Trinity. As St.
Augustine solved many difficulties remaining in the
doctrine of the Greek Fathers on the Trinity, so St.
Thomas explained many of St. Augustine's doubts about
the processions, relations, and persons. This will
become abundantly clear as we proceed to the different
parts of the present treatise. We shall give particular
attention to the indwelling of the Holy Trinity in the
souls of the just.
With regard to the questions on creation, the distinction
of things, their preservation, and on evil, we shall
explain each article because they are all of great
importance. In the treatises on the angels, corporeal
creatures, and man, we shall study only the more
important questions, laying special emphasis on the
principles which throw light on the whole matter. It is
well to descend from these principles to the conclusions
and then rise from the conclusions to the principles, so
that the unity of our science will become clear and that
our study may dispose to a contemplation of divine things
and to a true union with God.
We hope that in some degree at least we shall attain the
goal envisaged by the Vatican Council: "Human reason
illumined by faith, when it inquires diligently and
piously and sincerely, will with God's help attain to a
most fruitful understanding of the mysteries both from the
analogies of those things which it knows naturally and from
the interconnection between the mysteries themselves and
between the mysteries and man's ultimate end."
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