Catechism of the
"Summa Theologica"

Of the mystery of the Incarnation
Of the fittingness and necessity of the Incarnation
Concerning that which the son of God took of us
Of the privileges or prerogatives of the human nature
Of the fulness of grace in the human nature
Of the grace of Christ in so far as he is head of the church
Of the knowledge of Christ: of his beatific knowledge
Of the power of our Lord Jesus Christ as man
Of the defects of Christ's human nature;
Of the consequences of the incarnation of the son of God
Of the unity and multiplicity in Jesus Christ
Of the consequences of the incarnation of God the son
Of Christ's divine sonship; and of his predestination
Of the consequences of the incarnation in relation to us
Of the manner according to which the incarnation took place
Of Christ's entry into the world
Of the name Jesus Christ given to God the son incarnate
Of the baptism of Jesus Christ
Of our blessed Lord's life on earth: of his temptation
Of our blessed Lord's leavin'g this world
Of our Lord's descent into hell
Of the exaltation of Jesus Christ: of his resurrection
Of his ascension; and of his authority
Of the sacraments of Jesus Christ: of their nature and
Of the sacrament of baptism: of its nature
Of those who can receive the sacrament of baptism
Of the effects of the sacrament of baptism
Of the dignity and of the duties
Of the sacrament of confirmation; of its nature and necessity
Which of the two sacraments requires the better instruction: confirmation or Holy Eucharist?
Of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Of the matter and form of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Of the effects of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Of the reception of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Of the minister of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Of the holy sacrifice of the mass
Of the sacrament of penance: of its nature and virtue
Of the effects of the sacrament of penance
Of the part of the penitent in the sacrament of penance
Of the minister of the sacrament of penance,
Of the sacrament of extreme unction
Of the sacrament of holy orders
Of the sacrament of matrimony; of its nature, impediments, duties
Of the intermediary state of souls after death and of purgatory
Of heaven
Of hell
Of the particular judgment
Of the place of those who are not judged (limbo of infants)
Of the end of the world and the sequel thereof
Of the resurrection
Of the last judgment
Of eternal punishment
Of eternal happiness

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)

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.

New York, Cincinnati, Chicago

Benziger Brothers

Contents

The First Part

Of God Sovereign Being: Cause and Lord of All Things

The Second Part

Of Man Who came from God and who must return to Him

First Section General View of Man's Return to God

Second Section Detailed View of Man's Return to God

The Third Part

Jesus Christ God made man in order to lead men to God

Catechism of the
"Summa Theologica"

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.

Of God
Sovereign Being: Cause and Lord of All Things

Of Man
Who came from God and who must return to Him

First Section
General View of Man's Return to God

Second Section
Detailed View of Man's Return to God

Jesus Christ
God made man in order to lead men to God