On this Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, who is the greatest theologian in the history of the Church, we might think that his insights are beyond our reach. After all, he was a tremendously smart writer, who wrote the Summa Theologiae, which has around 4,000 articles in which he answers objections to his theology, and gives a reasoned explanation of the Faith. We might think that the Summa is too deep for us, or too thick….
Professor Peter Kreeft has given us a gift in his work Practical Theology in which he takes insights from St. Thomas, and helps us to apply them into our daily lives — how to pray, to grow in virtue, to better appreciate the sacraments in our lives, etc. Each chapter (most are only one page!) contains a quotation (or several) from St. Thomas — easy to see because they are in bold print — and commentary by Professor Kreeft to help flesh it out for us today.
I would highly recommend this book, because it puts the spiritual insights of the Angelic Doctor at our fingertips, and might even inspire us to delve more deeply into St. Thomas Aquinas.
Maria McManus says
Hello Fr. Ben – I have read this book by Dr. Peter Kreeft and lent it to others to read also. One day I hope to read the Summa as well. May the Lord astonish you with His Generosity and Grace.