Voices and influences
Thomas Aquinas
He wrote the most careful theology of the Middle Ages, then saw something of God and called all of it straw.
Summary
This site quotes Thomas Aquinas 295 times across 17 books, and lists 0 works.
- Lived died 1274.
- Quoted here most in Isaiah: 111 of 295.
.jpg?width=640)
Thomas Aquinas
- Lived
- died 1274
- Tradition
- Patristic
5 of 295 quotations
Own words
Quoted at 50 words or fewer, because Thomas Aquinas's works are in copyright.
Next he sets forth the manner; hence he says, "Their fatness." Fatness in Scripture is sometimes taken in a good sense, sometimes in a bad sense. In a good sense, insofar as it signifies devotion of mind: Ps. 62: "Let my soul be filled as …
Psalms 17:10 They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance. BSB
"They surrounded me." Here the necessity of deliverance is set forth. And first he shows the magnitude of deliverance. Second, the prayer he pours forth to God in tribulation. Third, he sets forth the hearing of his prayer, "he heard." Note that these three -- …
Psalms 18:4 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. BSB
Next he applies the remedy, namely of divine help. Where first he proposes the remedy. Second he explains it. He says therefore, "Within myself." Another reading has, "From myself my soul was disturbed." The first is better; as if to say: what is the reason, …
Psalms 42:6 O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon— even from Mount Mizar. BSB
"Therefore we will not fear." Ps. 26: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" As if to say: I will fear no one. And rightly, because he himself is "our God, a refuge and strength, a helper in the tribulations …
Psalms 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas, BSB
Fourth, in the fear of their enemies, for they will tend the mountains and abandon the plains: and as for the hills: and all her cities shall be wastes (Jer 49:13), and: you endeavor to lay hold on the height of the hill (Jer 49:16).
Isaiah 7:25 For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample. BSB
Influence, on the record
This site quotes Thomas Aquinas 295 times across 17 books.
This site’s own count of what it does with the voice
The life, in order
The life told as one accountfrom this site's record
Thomas was born about 1225 at Roccasecca, between Rome and Naples, the youngest son of the count of Aquino. His family sent him at five to the great Benedictine abbey of Monte Cassino, expecting him eventually to be its abbot — a rich and respectable position for a younger son. He studied at Naples instead, met the Dominicans, and joined them. The Dominicans were beggars. His family reacted by having him kidnapped on the road and held in the family castle for about a year. His brothers, according to the early accounts, put a prostitute in his room to break his resolve; he drove her out with a burning stick. His mother finally let him go. He went north to Cologne and Paris and studied under Albert the Great. He was large and silent, and the other students called him the dumb ox. Albert told them that the bellowing of this ox would be heard around the world. He taught at Paris, at the papal court, at Naples. He wrote at enormous speed, sometimes dictating to several secretaries at once on different subjects. The project of his life was to show that reason and revelation do not contradict each other. The works of Aristotle had recently come back into Europe through Arabic and Greek translations, and they looked dangerous — a complete, powerful account of the world built without Scripture. Some churchmen wanted them banned. Thomas took them up instead and argued that truth found by reason and truth given by revelation come from the same God, and cannot finally conflict. Grace, he wrote, does not destroy nature but perfects it. The Summa Theologiae is the result: thousands of questions, each stated, each answered first by the strongest objections against his own position, then decided, then the objections answered one by one. He wrote it, he said, for beginners. He also wrote the Summa Contra Gentiles, and commentaries on most of Aristotle and on much of Scripture — Job, the Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Matthew, John, and all of Paul. The Eucharistic hymns Pange Lingua and Adoro Te Devote are his. On 6 December 1273, while saying Mass at Naples, something happened to him. He stopped writing. His secretary Reginald pressed him to finish the Summa, and Thomas answered: I cannot, because everything I have written seems like straw to me compared to what I have seen. He never wrote another line. The Summa is unfinished. He died on 7 March 1274 at the abbey of Fossanova, on the road to a church council, about forty-nine years old. Sources: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae and Summa Contra Gentiles; William of Tocco, Vita Sancti Thomae Aquinatis; G. K. Chesterton, St. Thomas Aquinas; Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. V.
295 quotations across 17 books
Where this voice is quoted
You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor.
“But there follows concerning man in comparison to the angels, to whom man is found to be close. "You have diminished him."”
all sheep and oxen, and even the beasts of the field,
“Third, when he says "the sheep and the oxen," etc., he enumerates the subjects: and he lists animals so that plants may be understood as well.”
I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
“"I will be glad." Here he gives thanks as regards the heart. Some narrate their goods to others and rejoice in themselves, like sinners. Lk. 18, of the Pharisee who said: "I thank you that I am not," etc.”
But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment.
“"And the Lord endures forever." Here he sets forth the authority of the doer; and he touches upon six conditions regarding the judgment of God. First, that it is not momentary but eternal.”
The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.
“"Therefore the wicked walk round about," so that they never reach the end of the journey they intend, namely to afflict others as they wish. Is. 59: "Their paths are crooked." And why?”
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!
“All the ancients expected this. Gen. 49: "The scepter shall not be taken from Judah," etc. But this was expected from Zion, that is, from the Jews: Jn. 4: "Salvation is from the Jews." But when?”
May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.
“"From your countenance." A judge does not pronounce a sentence unless the petition has been heard and the case examined. And therefore here he sets forth the petition and asks three things. First, the sentence. Second, the examination of the case, at "You have tested."”
I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.
“"I." Above, the Psalmist asked to be established in good; here he asks to be delivered from evil. And concerning this he does three things. First, he asks to be heard in his petition. Second, he sets it forth, at "Make your mercies wonderful."”
They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
“Next he sets forth the manner; hence he says, "Their fatness." Fatness in Scripture is sometimes taken in a good sense, sometimes in a bad sense. In a good sense, insofar as it signifies devotion of mind: Ps.”
like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
“The likeness is purposefully set forth with respect to violence: "Like a lion ready for prey, they received me" -- either from God, or the soldiers from Pilate. With respect to deceit: "like a young lion dwelling in hiding places."”
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
“"They surrounded me." Here the necessity of deliverance is set forth. And first he shows the magnitude of deliverance. Second, the prayer he pours forth to God in tribulation. Third, he sets forth the hearing of his prayer, "he heard."”
The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help.
“"The sorrows." Here he pursues the second progression; and therefore he says, "the sorrows of hell," that is, sorrows similar to those of hell: Gen. 37: "I shall go down mourning into hell." Or the sorrows that are conceived from fear of hell.”
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes.
“And yet subsequently some human merit cooperates there: 1 Cor. 15: "The grace of God in me was not in vain." And therefore he adds, "The Lord will reward me," etc. Where he does three things. First he proposes the merit.”
May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.
“The second cause: "May he send you help from the sanctuary," that is, from the assembly of the saints. And there is a twofold assembly of the saints.”
O LORD, save the king. Answer us on the day we call.
“"O Lord." The conclusion of this entire Psalm is set forth: which indeed seems to tend to two things. For it petitions either for the true Christ or for Christ figuratively. As to the first he says, "O Lord, save the king," that is, Christ.”
Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins.
“The punishment assumed interiorly, however, is the humility of spirit before God; hence he says, "See," that is, consider, "my humility": Lk. 1: "He has regarded the humility of his handmaid."”
May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You.
“Another reason is that your friends lean upon me. Sometimes God frees someone not because of his own merits, but lest friends of God perish together with him upon whom they lean.”
I will exalt You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up and have not allowed my foes to rejoice over me.
“In the preceding Psalm the prophet exhorted others to give thanks; here he himself gives thanks. The title is "A Psalm of a canticle, at the dedication of the house of David."”
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.
“Second, when he says "Many," he predicts. And first, what is prepared for the wicked: because "many are the scourges" -- from God: Ps. 49: "I will rebuke you and set the matter before your face." From one's own conscience: Prov.”
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
“"Rejoice." Now it is the custom in the Penitential Psalms that they begin in weeping and end in joy, because this is what penance does.”
From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth.
“Then when he says, "From his prepared dwelling place," he removes the doubt. For some believed that God dwells in the heavens as though in remote parts he would not know human affairs: Job 22: "He walks about the poles of heaven and does not…”
Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
“The third is the drawing of the sword; and therefore he says, "Pour out the spear." Jerome has, "Unsheathe the sword." A spear is the same as a sword. Nevertheless, "pour out" here designates the abundance of divine vengeance.”
I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.
“"As a neighbor." Affection toward one's neighbor is shown in two things: namely, in delight at the good of another, and in displeasure at evil. Rom. 12: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."”
They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”
“Jerome has, "in the plunder of the earth, mocking words." He who mocks someone does two things: because such words distress the one mocked and gladden the mocker; and therefore he says, "they opened wide their mouth against me," as if boldly and gladly speaking…”
Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.
“As to the third, he says, "Judge me." One text has, "according to your justice"; another text has, "Judge me according to my justice."”