Summa Contra Gentiles

TheĀ Summa Contra GentilesĀ comes to us in a manuscript penned and revised by St. Thomas. It is thought that St. Thomas began writing this work around the year 1259 when he had returned to Italy for a stay of several years.

This work is written for those who need to understand their faith in order to explain it to others. For this reason, as well as the depth of St. Thomas’s thought contained in this work, theĀ Summa Contra GentilesĀ is a relevant work for the modern age. Reading theĀ Summa Contra GentilesĀ we are guided by the clarity of St. Thomas’s thought as he explores providence, creation other relevant topics. In particular, the portion of this work which St. Thomas devotes to considering the sacraments is particularly helpful, as theĀ Summa TheologiaeĀ is incomplete, leaving off before St. Thomas treated of all of the sacraments.

Of theĀ Summa Contra Gentiles, Rene-Antoine Gauthier affirms, ā€œTheĀ Summa Contra GentilesĀ is an essay in personal reflection.ā€ This is St. Thomas at his best.

Did you know?

Aquinas completed the Summa Contra Gentiles while in Italy from 1260-1265