by Revista Espíritu | 164-2022, Uncategorized
According to Aquinas, the appropriate way in which the free will can be induced to act is by presenting it a persuasive good. This is relevant to Christian culture, which introduces the value of argumentation as an effective tool for persuasion. Thomas Aquinas was convinced that one could not be persuaded to believe except by argument, seeing the theology as argumentative. Against later voluntarism, the intellectualist position promotes a culture of persuasion on rationale, from which the tradition of disputation and Summa Theologiae grows. While the first studies of persuasion in the context of Aquinas’s anthropology and the gift of counsel as a persuasive goal-directing gift have appeared, this article will present three ways in which persuasion is present in God, angels and humans.
by Revista Espíritu | 152-2016
In recent years a growing interest in Biblical exegesis of Aquinas has been observed. Finally, after a long period of silence on this theme, new texts have appeared which present the characteristics of the method of Aquinas’s exegesis and its content. The aim of this article is to go further and focus on the specific nature of Thomas’ “exegetic epistemology” and the status of its spiritual sense, the significance of which has been the subject of debate between Smalley and De Lubac. The characteristic aspect of this exegetic approach is to emphasize the role of contemplation in exegesis, not only as a theme, but also as a fundamental position of an exegete towards the inspired text.
by Revista Espíritu | 155-2018
The article presents different modes of participation in the divine nature (creation and salvation), as presented by Saint Thomas Aquinas, which is possible thanks to the elevation of human nature in the Incarnation of the Word, due to which the man is consors naturae divinae. In the perspective of the biblical commentaries of Aquinas the role of the virtue of faith is presented. It introduces into the divine nature making the man the adoptive son of God. This analysis allows to obtain the understanding of the Christian life from this fundamental fact of Christianity.
by Revista Espíritu | 151-2016
This article proposes an analysis of the understanding of friendship in the ecclesial context as an expression of charity that unites the members of the Church and introduces a specific project of ecclesial life. The caritatis amicitia establishes the coordinates of life ad intra of the Church. In the first part of the article will be described the elements of friendship, especially important for the ecclesial friendship as communicatio, benevolentia (benefecientia) and this form of expression of unity that Thomas calls the consensus Ecclesiae. In the second part, we will explore the expressions of ecclesial friendship that becomes visible in attitudes (such as empathy, consolation, confidence) and fraternal language (the famous question of fraternal correction). All of this factors conduces to a kind of “ecclesial perichoresis”, following the example of the Trinity.
