Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master (Crossroad Spiritual Legacy Series)

If one has a deep desire to read and understand Saint Thomas Aquinas’ theology on a fundamental level, but lacks the academic background, Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Father Robert Barron would be an exceptional place to start. Fr. Barron is a priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago who was appointed Rector of Mundelein Seminary in 2012. Along with the books he’s authored, he also runs a non-profit organization called Word on Fire Catholic Ministries that supports his evangelistic endeavors. Most recently the organization has released the popular Catholicism DVD series to critical acclaim.Fr. Barron makes use of Thomas’ magnum opus, the Summa Theologiae, along with some of his other works. Beyond just a biographical work, Fr. Barron means to portray Aquinas not only as a cerebral giant, but also that through his vast works, he can be recognized for the spiritual master that he is. The Introduction section states a fact that is often overlooked because of the scholarly substance of Aquinas’ work; that “Aquinas was a saint deeply in love with Jesus Christ.” This is something that becomes obvious to the reader in the brief description of his life. From a young age we see his love of the Scriptures and his chasing after the question “What is God”?Many themes are broached throughout the book which shows Aquinas to be a spiritual master and guide; themes such as creation, evil, sin, revelation and Christology. Emphasized throughout is the event of the Incarnation and the non-competitive relationship between God and the world. It is in the condescension of the Incarnation, God’s kenosis, that human beings are completely transformed and given a new ultimate purpose. As Fr. Barron eloquently states, it is the “God who is powerful enough to become powerless, great enough to become small.” Yet there is no competition between God and His creation. God acts in us and through us without controlling us. This is in stark contrast to the atheistic belief that assumes a competitive relationship between God and the world. A competitive relationship cannot exist because God is not a supreme being but is being itself. For Fr. Baron, affirming the noncompetitive relationship between God and the world is the best response to atheists.Aquinas’ doctrine on God can be summed up in one short sentence; “God is uncanny”. Fr. Barron elaborates further about this uncanny God who is good, immanent, unchangeable and eternal. It is not in temporal realities that we must surrender our lives, but rather to this strange God; the God who moves but is not itself moved. God is the sheer act of existence that we cannot try to understand on a finite level and transform into something infinite. Doing so displays a desire to control God and in effect place oneself above God. God is not some transcendent force, but someone with whom we have a close relationship. Aquinas, citing Isaiah (“Lord,… you have accomplished all we have done” (26:12)), shows that God acts in us and is the agent cause of all creation. He is physically present to us always in the most intimate way. Creation is God’s ongoing continual gift to us, and He is in the things that He continually makes.For Aquinas, sin is an abuse of what God has given us. But no matter how much the sinner, through his wickedness, tries to avoid God, He is still with us in our sin. In the big picture, Thomas is conveying that the sinner has no place to run. This does not mean though that God allows evil. God rather accepts evil’s inevitability by permitting free will to exist. Evil is the result of the abuse of that free will by His creation.Everything Fr. Barron discusses about Thomas’ theology is supported by references to the vast work of his Summa along with a few allusions to some of his other works (i.e. Compendium Theologiae, Sermon on the Apostles Creed, etc..). As Fr. Barron points out, there is good reason why so many questions, articles, objections and responses exist in the Summa; “because there are so many ways that the sinful soul can evade the call to Christ-like obedience and openness of heart.” As well, Fr. Barron effectively injects the wisdom from past and present figures of Christian thinking to good effect thus bolstering his goal of portraying Aquinas as a spiritual master (i.e. Anselm, Augustine, Meister Eckhart, Tillich, Teillard de Chardin).As previously mentioned, reading the Summa can be a cumbersome task for those with little background in philosophy or theology. Fortunately, Fr. Barron seems to have a knack for softening the seemingly cold intellectualism of Aquinas and bringing focus to his spirituality. As Aquinas’ goal was to bring us closer to Christ, so Fr. Barron’s goal, through helping us understand Aquinas, seems to be the same. Much like the Ethiopian eunuch who received assistance from the apostle Philip in Acts 8, we too can gain assistance in a similar way from Fr. Barron in creating a solid foundation to understanding Aquinas.This book is not a simplified introduction to Thomistic thought or a biography. These can be found in Aquinas for Armchair Theologians by Timothy M. Renick and G.K. Chesterdon’s Saint Thomas Aquinas – ‘The Dumb Ox respectively. By looking to Aquinas’ works and providing commentary as needed though, Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master successfully reaches the goal of portraying Aquinas as a spiritual master guiding us on the path where God and humans meet; Jesus Christ. With any luck it will also spur the reader to confidently delve deeper into the Summa and Aquinas’ writings overall with renewed confidence and fervor.

Father Barron did a credible job explaining the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). Father Barron explained Aquinas' work without getting into complex details which readers may find boring and too obtuse to follow. Fr. Barron's book invited readers to have an appreciation for Aquinas' work and to enhance the Catholic Faith.Fr. Barron's book titled THOMAS AQUINAS:SPIRTUAL MASTER showed that Aquinas was passionate about the Catholic Faith and ultimately God. Aquinas' work influenced later Saints such as Meister Eckhart (c. 1260-1327) and St.John of the Cross (1542-1591). Fr. Barron made an interesting comment about Origen (184-254) and St. Augustine (354-430)who were more interested in focus and truth rather than popularity and academic tenure. In fact, St. Thomas Aquinas was focused on truth and reason and did not care about tenure. During the High Middle Ages, university teachers were assigned to teach for a limited time until they were transferred to other universities or assignments.Father Barron made a good case that Aquinas thought that men could have an understanding of God via the Creation and physical universe since devout Catholics thought that God's Creation was evident. Aquinas extended this concept to include the Incarnation (Christ) whose appearance can be described as a joke or "The Divine Comedy." The question may be asked how God could lower Himself. Aquinas' answer is that The Incarnation was God's attempt to raise men to Divine Love. In other words, men are united with God/Christ to become better than what they are. Men are part of God's Creation, and Aquinas thought that the Incarnation made a divine connection between God and those created in His Image.While Fr. Barron mentioned The Incarnation, he was clear that Aquinas' work was not bland and "inoffensive." Yet, as Fr Barron noted, Aquinas could defend the Catholic Faith without rancor or ad hominem attacks. In fact, Aquinas included arguements from Moslem scholars such as Averroes (1128-1198)whom Aquinas called The Commentator (The Commentator on Aristole). Anyone who has read excerpts of THE SUMMA THEOLOGICA or THE SUMMA CONTRA GENTILES knows that Aquinas dealt with many complex objections and responses. As Father Barron commented, such long complex arguements were made because Aquinas knew that several subtle concepts could undermine the Faith and truth.Aquinas was obviously a devout Catholic. He wanted men to think and reflect on the Catholic Faith, but Aquinas also wanted mento act as though the Catholic Faith meant something. In other words, "actions speak louder than words." While the Divine Will could not be eliminated, Fr. Barron was clear that Aquinas argued in favor of men's freedom to make choices-good or evil. Otherwise, men are not rational. God was motion Whose motion was an invitation for men to become better than what they are.Was God a mystery? Father Barron claimed He was. Aquinas was clear that "holier-than-thou" arrogant men tried to substitute their phony self rightousness for God. Aquinas would have none of that. Aquinas condemend both "passive idolotry and practicle atheism whereby men acted as though God did not exist while these same men claimed to be "true believers."One of the debates among the Medieval Scholastics was over Ex Nihilio or whether God created out of nothing. For Aquinas, God was beyond time and space. Yet, The Incarnation brought God close to man. Fr. Barron stated Creation is not profane, and ordinary existence is touched by the Divine Presence.Fr. Barron also dealt with Aquinas' explantion of evil. No one has ever been able to explain evil. Yet, Aquinas made a valiant effort. Aquinas stated that men cannot understand love without the concept of hatred. Men cannot define good without the reality of evil. As Aquinas knew, heroism, acts of kindness, etc. often occure during times of tragedy and evil. The early martyrs are a good example to demonstrate the difference between good and evil.Fr. Barron showed that Aguinas not a "dualist" in the sense that St. Augusitne and others were. While Aquinas was aware of the "life hereafter," he included physical reality as part of Creation that had to be examined since men can know something of God via the senses and thinking. After all, people are created Imago Dei or in the Image of God. Yet,wisdom is beyond crass materialism. For Aquinas, God is Ipsum Esse or the Sheer Act of Existing. This concept was obviously important to Aquinas.Father Barron finished this book with comments on the challenge presented by Marx (1818-1883) and Freud (1855-1939). Both Marx and Freud thought religion was a fraud that inhibited men from freedom. Father Barron countered that the Faith made men better. The Faith inspired great peotry, Sacred Music, commpassion, charity, etc. which went well beyond the views of Marx or Freud. Another way of defining these differences is that men are more than their material environment and greed which can lead to despair and unnecessary worry.Father Barron's book brings clarity to Aqunias' work. Fr. Barron should have mentioned Aquinas' peotry and mysticism. Also more mention re Aquinas work titled SUMMA CONTRA GENTILES would have been useful. Father Gils thought the SUMMA CONTRA GENTILES was a work of pure reason which helped enshrine the Faith. Fr. Barron's bibliography should have been more comprehensive. However, Father Barron wrote a clear concise book with should attract readers' attention if only because the book was so clear and concise.James E. EgolfFebruary 1,2012

The book was in great shape. It was listed as "Very Good," which was accurate. The wear was very light. It was more expensive ($35.80) than the price printed on the book itself ($19.95), but I believe that is because it is probably out of print. I am satisfied with the quality.

Somehow, Fr. Barron left the straight path and proposed a link between Aquinas' theology of creation and the Infamous Creation Spirituality of the 1980's. He even references Matthew Fox in support of his comments. Important to note that the dominicans de-frocked Fox because his theology was way the heck out there - he was also traveling the touring circuit with a woman Starhawk who identified herself as a witch. I was leading my Adult Ed group using this book and told them at that point we had 2 choices: we could stop the book and throw our hands up in the air OR we could use it as a tool to sort through some fascinating apologetics as we cut Aquinas away from the tangle. The latter is what we chose. Aquinas is tough enough to learn without it getting bogged down with accidental heresy. I am not sure if I am academically MAD at Fr. Barron for putting contamination in his work OR giving him historical benefit of the doubt - if when he wrote it, maybe it was a thesis of some sort that he published before the Church itself realized where Fox & Starhawk were leading the chickens!

Fr. Robert Barron is always inspiring. My favorite line about Jesus's human nature is: " Christ is the human being who drinks deeply from the fountain of love that is God and who then overflows in love, pouring out what he has received on the rest of humanity". This is a great illustration of how God's Grace, His Giving Love is given to all through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Bishop Barron beautifully articulates the ideas and dogmas of the spiritual master Thomas Aquinas. The Dominican friar is a saint who first and foremost had a great love for Jesus. Thomas had an understanding of Jesus between Father and Son that really struck me and Bishop Barron does an amazing job constructing and piecing together Thomas' message.

Excelente libro que va explicando cuestiones fundamentales de la summa y la visión de Tomás de Aquino.También explica un poco de su historia: su persona y su contexto.

Bishop Barron helps us understand St. Thomas Aquinas and guide us to read St. Thomas Aquinas's spiritual books.Highly recommended for those who want to understand St. Thomas Aquinas's books

Bishop Barron does an excellent job in expanding on some of Aquinas greatest writings

Illuminating book about this great writer and saint.