Author Description
The Gifts of the Spirit is a profound theological exploration by Saint Thomas Aquinas, extracted from his monumental work, the Summa Theologiae. In this treatise, Aquinas examines the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord—and explains how they perfect the human virtues to enable the soul to be guided by divine inspiration. This work remains a cornerstone of Catholic moral and spiritual theology, offering rigorous intellectual clarity on the relationship between human action and divine grace.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the nature, function, and necessity of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Saint Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century Dominican friar and Doctor of the Church, utilizes the Aristotelian-Thomistic framework to reconcile faith and reason. He argues that these gifts are supernatural habits that perfect the virtues, allowing the human soul to be moved directly by the Holy Spirit rather than solely by human reason.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Systematic analysis of the seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
- Theological distinction between the gifts and the infused virtues.
- Scriptural and patristic citations supporting the necessity of divine grace for moral perfection.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a modern psychological or secular interpretation of spiritual experience.
- It focuses exclusively on the scholastic tradition of Western Catholic theology.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and theologians regard this text as a foundational component of the Summa Theologiae, noting its high level of academic density and precise logical structure. It is frequently studied by students of medieval philosophy and systematic theology as a primary source for understanding the mechanics of grace.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1975-01-01
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill
ISBN-10:
0070019991
ISBN-13:
9780070019997
Spirituality
Philosophy
Scholasticism
Christian Theology
Catholic Theology
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