Lecture 18 - Aquinas Flashcards
Who was Thomas Aquinas?
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a medieval philosopher and theologian from the Kingdom of Naples in Italy.
What was Aquinas’s early life like?
He was born in a family castle and sent to Mont Casino for education, likely with the expectation of becoming an Abbott.
Where did Aquinas study after Mont Casino?
He moved to the University of Naples, where he was introduced to Aristotelianism.
What did Aquinas think of Aristotle?
He embraced Aristotle enthusiastically and referred to him as ‘The Philosopher.’
What significant life choice did Aquinas make at age 19?
He joined the Dominican Friars, attracted by their commitment to study.
What happened to Aquinas during his journey to Paris?
He was kidnapped by his family to prevent him from becoming a friar and held captive for 18 months.
What was Aquinas’s response to his family’s attempts to change his mind?
He resisted their efforts, famously chasing away a woman sent to tempt him with a hot poker.
What are some of Aquinas’s notable works?
He authored significant texts including a commentary on the gospels, a defense of Christianity, and the Summa Theologica.
What did Aquinas state about his writings in December 1273?
He quit writing, declaring that he viewed all his writings as straw.
When did Aquinas die?
He died in March 1274.
What is the Donum Superadditum in Aquinas’s theology?
It refers to the gift of grace that God adds to man at creation, enabling righteousness and enjoyment of God.
What happens to the Donum Superadditum after the fall of man?
The capacity for righteousness is lost, and all descendants of Adam are born without this superadded gift.
How does Aquinas define original sin?
He states that original sin is not ignorance but a result of the human will gone bad.
What is Aquinas’s view on the will and original sin?
The will is particularly damaged by sin due to the loss of the Donum Superadditum, impairing the ability to pursue good.
What does Aquinas say about death?
He believes death is not natural but a consequence of sin.
Was sin a necessary precursor to the incarnation according to Aquinas?
He gives a soft yes, suggesting the incarnation could have happened apart from sin but is always tied to it.
Was the incarnation necessary for salvation?
Aquinas states it was a consequent necessity, as God determined salvation through the incarnation.
Why is the incarnation fitting according to Aquinas?
It reveals something about God and provides a perfect model of faith, hope, and love.
What is Aquinas’s view on satisfaction in relation to sin?
He agrees with Anselm that Christ makes satisfaction for sin, restoring the relationship between God and man.
How does grace come to us in the medieval church?
Through saints and sacraments.
What is Aquinas’s later view on grace?
He believes grace is necessary before any human action, enabling us to will and perform good.
What does justification mean in a narrow sense for Aquinas?
Justification is an instantaneous grace of God that works righteousness within a person.
What does justification mean in a broad sense?
It encompasses the full process of salvation, including faith, repentance, and the infusion of righteousness.
How does Aquinas define faith?
Faith is a disposition that seeks salvation and is shaped by charity or love.
What role does Mary play in Aquinas’s theology?
Mary is viewed as a key figure in salvation, believed to be without sin and a mediatrix for grace.
What is the significance of Marian theology in Aquinas’s work?
Marian theology emphasizes her role in salvation and her relationship with the Holy Spirit.
What is the concept of supererogation in relation to saints?
Saints perform above and beyond the demands of law, thus having abounding grace to serve as intermediaries.
How did relics play a role in the medieval church?
Relics were believed to convey grace and were often sought after for their miraculous properties.
What are the effects of baptism according to Aquinas?
Baptism cleanses original sin but does not restore the inclination to do good.
What is the understanding of sacraments in the medieval church?
Sacraments are signs that affect what they signify, leading to a change in us and are effective for salvation.
How does grace come to us?
Grace comes to us through the sacraments.
What is the effect of baptism according to Thomas?
Baptism cleanses us of original sin but does not restore our will to do good.
What is required for each mortal sin after baptism?
Justice requires more than forgiveness; it needs compensation in penance.
What is the purpose of penance?
Penance serves as a moral reform and compensation for sin, acting as a deterrent to future sin.
How was penance understood in the medieval church?
Originally, it involved sorrow for sin, confession, and satisfaction for wrongs.
What role did pilgrimages play in penance?
Pilgrimages were prescribed to escape temptation and became associated with the pursuit of the Holy Land.
What was the idea of paid indulgences?
Indulgences allowed people to pay for forgiveness of their sins or the sins of deceased relatives.
What was the relationship between the rich and poor regarding penance?
The Church developed different penances for the rich and poor, leading to the concept of peasant and petit penance.
What is the significance of one’s disposition in relationship to the Mass?
Grace is received in proportion to one’s devotion and fervor during the Mass.
What happens during the consecration in the Mass?
The elements are believed to become the actual body and blood of the Lord.
What was Radbertus’s view on the Mass?
Radbertus believed the presence of Christ in the Mass communicates grace, regardless of the partaker’s intentions.
What was Ratramnus’s position on the Mass?
Ratramnus argued that the elements are a sign of grace, not the actual body and blood of Christ.
What did Berengar of Tours argue regarding the Mass?
Berengar argued that the elements do not turn into the body and blood of the Lord, as Christ is in Heaven.
What is the concept of ex opere operato?
It means grace is received from the work having been worked, independent of the recipient’s faith.
Can one be sure of their salvation according to Aquinas?
No, Aquinas believed only a saint through divine revelation could be sure of their salvation.
What is presumption in the context of salvation?
Presumption is an immoderate hope for pardon without penance or glory without merit.
What was the outcome of the denunciation of Thomas in 1277?
The denunciation did not last, and Thomas was canonized by 1323.
What recognition did Thomas receive by 1567?
He was declared a doctor of the Church.
