The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• MariÆ ImmaculatÆ Sedi SapientiÆ
• Encyclical Letter of Our Holy Father By Divine Providence Pope Leo XIII. On the Restoration of Christian Philosophy, According to the Mind of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor
• Prologue
• The “summa Theologica” First Part.
• Question I.: The Nature and Extent of Sacred Doctrine. ( In Ten Articles. )
• Question II.: The Existence of God. ( In Three Articles. )
• Question III.: Of the Simplicity of God. ( In Eight Articles. )
• Question IV.: The Perfection of God. ( In Three Articles. )
• Question V.: Of Goodness In General. ( In Six Articles. )
• Question VI.: The Goodness of God. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question VII.: The Infinity of God. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question VIII.: The Existence of God In Things. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question IX.: The Immutability of God. ( In Two Articles. )
• Question X.: The Eternity of God. ( In Six Articles. )
• Question XI.: The Unity of God. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question XII.: How God Is Known By Us. ( In Thirteen Articles. )
• Question XIII.: The Names of God. ( In Twelve Articles. )
• Question XIV.: Of God’s Knowledge. ( In Sixteen Articles. )
• Question XV.: Of Ideas. ( In Three Articles. )
• Question XVI.: Of Truth. ( In Eight Articles. )
• Question XVII.: Concerning Falsity. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question XVIII.: The Life of God. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question XIX.: The Will of God. ( In Twelve Articles. )
• Question XX.: God’s Love. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question XXI.: The Justice and Mercy of God. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question XXII.: The Providence of God. ( In Four Articles. )
• Question XXIII.: Of Predestination. ( In Eight Articles. )
• Question XXIV.: The Book of Life. ( In Three Articles. )
• Question XXV.: The Power of God. ( In Six Articles. )
• Question XXVI.: Of the Divine Beatitude. ( In Four Articles. )

PROLOGUE

Because the doctor of catholic truth ought not only to teach the proficient, but also to instruct beginners (according to the Apostle: As unto little ones in Christ, I gave you milk to drink, not meat—1 Cor. iii. 1, 2), we purpose in this book to treat of whatever belongs to the Christian religion, in such a way as may tend to the instruction of beginners. We have considered that students in this doctrine have not seldom been hampered by what they have found written by other authors, partly on account of the multiplication of useless questions, articles, and arguments, partly also because those things that are needful for them to know are not taught according to the order of the subject-matter, but according as the plan of the book might require, or the occasion of the argument offer, partly, too, because frequent repetition brought weariness and confusion to the minds of the readers.

Endeavouring to avoid these and other like faults, we shall try, by God’s help, to set forth whatever is included in this sacred doctrine as briefly and clearly as the matter itself may allow.