"Contemplatio Sapientialis": Thomas Aquinas's Contribution to Mystical Theology

Because he says so little about himself, it is difficult to know whether or not Thomas Aquinas was a mystic, that is, someone who personally experienced union with God, but many contemporary scholars of Thomas claim that he did. There can be no question, however, that the Dominican made important co...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: McGinn, Bernard 1937- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Peeters [2019]
In: Ephemerides theologicae Lovanienses
Year: 2019, Volume: 95, Issue: 2, Pages: 317-334
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274 / Contemplation (Spirituality) / Wisdom / Mystical theology
IxTheo Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
KAE Church history 900-1300; high Middle Ages
KDB Roman Catholic Church
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Because he says so little about himself, it is difficult to know whether or not Thomas Aquinas was a mystic, that is, someone who personally experienced union with God, but many contemporary scholars of Thomas claim that he did. There can be no question, however, that the Dominican made important contributions to the doctrinal foundations of mystical theology. This is especially evident in his teaching about the three related levels of contemplation (contemplatio) and the three kinds of wisdom (sapientia) that characterize them. The highest form of contemplation, an intuitive and connatural knowing of divine things on the basis of the wisdom that is the gift of the Holy Spirit, can be aptly named contemplatio sapientialis and is among Thomas’s most important contributions to mystical theology.
ISSN:1783-1423
Contains:Enthalten in: Ephemerides theologicae Lovanienses
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2143/ETL.95.2.3286479