Thomas Aquinas on the beatitudes
Subtitle: reading Matthew, disputing grace and virtue, preaching happiness
By: Anton ten Klooster
Contributors: Thomas Instituut te Utrecht
Series: Publications of the Thomas Instituut te Utrecht -- new series, v. 18; Publications of the Thomas Instituut te Utrecht -- new ser., v. 18.
Publisher: Peeters
Published: 2018
Place of publication: Leuven; Paris; Bristol, CT
Language: eng
Number of pages: 314
ISBN-13: 9789042936430
Subjects: Bible; Seligpreisung; Bibel; Charisma; Beatitudes; Commentaries; Happiness
Description: Back cover: What is happiness and how do we attain it? Saint Thomas Aquinas (ca. 1226-1274) devoted much time to these questions. In studying them he always returned to the beatitudes as they are found in Matthew 5:1-10. They function as the framework for his theology of human happiness. This study presents that theology as it comes to the fore in Aquinas' performance of his three tasks as a magister at the Parisian university: to read Scripture, to dispute theological topics, and to preach. This study shows that Aquinas believes that the beatitudes describe a number of virtuous actions, the exercise of which is made possible by grace, specified in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. To all those observing the new law constituted by the beatitudes, a reward is promised in the form of eternal happiness. Any happiness that can be had in this life is at best an inchoate form of the reward of eternal happiness, which is described in the second part of each individual beatitude.
Notes: Degree supervisors: Prof. dr. H.J.M. Schoot, Prof. dr. M. Sarot.

Ph.D. Tilburg University 2018

Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-271) and indexes.

Includes summary in English.
Table of contents: title: Chapter I. Legere, Disputare, Praedicare and the Hermeneutics of Scripture. Thomas Aquinas as a Master of the Sacred Page ; Aquinas' Perception of Scripture ; Searching for the Meaning of Scripture ; Conclusion: Aquinas' Interpretation of Scripture; title: Chapter II. Background and Structure of the Commentary on Matthew. The Text of the Commentary on Matthew ; Thomas Aquinas' Perception of the Gospel of Matthew ; Central Themes of the Commentary on Matthew ; The Senses of Scripture ; Conclusion: The Commentary as a Source; title: Chapter III. Legere: The Way of the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount ; Beatitudo and the Beatitudes ; The Way of the Beatitudes ; The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Human Person ; Conclusion: A Structure of Moral Perfection; title: Chapter IV. Disputare: The Beatitudes in the Summa Theologiae. The Disputatio and the Summa Theologiae ; Aquinas' Earlier Interpretations of the Beatitudes ; The Beatitudes in the Structure of the Summa Theologiae ; Virtues, Gifts, Beatitudes, and Fruits in the Prima Secundae ; The Beatitudes in the Secunda Secundae ; Conclusion: The Beatitudes as Way in the Secunda Pars; title: Chapter V. Praedicare: The Beatitudes in Aquinas' Sermons. Thomas Aquinas the Preacher ; The Beatitudes in the Sermons for All Saints ; The Beatitudes in the Collationes on the Our Father ; Conclusion: Prayer and Action on the Way to Happiness; title: Conclusion. The Way of the Christian Life; title: Appendices: A. Text of the Basel manuscript on Mt. 5:1-10 ; B. The Structure of the Old Testament in Hic est liber ; C. The Compilation of an Editon of the Commentary ; D. The Advance of Christ through the World ; E. Alignments of Gifts and Beatitudes in Secunda Secundae ; F. The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.