Assignment:
We will note throughout the course how significant St Thomas Aquinas' major Summa has been for Catholic theology in general and for sacramental theology in particular. He synthesized the tradition as he understood it (especially Peter Lombard's Sentences) while adding to it in what was then a quite novel and creative way.
This assignment is meant to introduce you to a primary theological source written during the medieval era and manifesting what is sometimes called the scholastic method in theology - namely, one of St. Thomas' major writings - the Summa Theologioe. There was also a minor or lesser summa known as the Summa contra Gentiles. The text of the ST can be accessed at:
Note Well: When you access the site scroll down past "The Incarnation" and "The Life of Christ- to "Thy Sacraments." Here you will find the six foundational questions with which St. Thomas grapples before proceeding to the each specific sacrament.
You must first skim the Third Part of St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa, questions 60-65 and spend some timu reflecting/meditating on St. Thomas Aquinas' approach as found in his general consideration of the sacraments. More particularly, you must engage three tasks.
1. Be aware of the six major questions that are posed by St. Thomas.
2. Choose one of the six questions and note the articles that St. Thomas uses to examine the question in depth.
3. Choose and read one article from one of the major questions in the section of Aquinas's Summa Theologise in which St. Thomas considers the sacraments in general. After reading and reflecting on the material as well as addressing the first two points above, write a one-page essay.
The paper should devote at least one substantial paragraph addressing the following duster of questions:
1. ONE BRIEF PARAGRAPH: What is the context of the text? When was it written? Why was it written? Who "authored" the text? What background can you provide regarding the author?
2. ONE LONGER PARAGRAPH (The HEART of the Essay): What are two/three main theological ideas contained in the text?
3. ONE BRIEF PARAGRAPH: Having read the text, what is one idea or question that remains puzzling' (What is one idea that you did not quite grasp, or that confused you? What is one idea with which you agree?
2 to 3 pages