St. Thomas Aquinas
The Reverend Father M. C. D'ARCY , S.J.
It may seem a paradox that the first name to receive particular consideration in this important new series of talks should be that of one who Jived his saintly life as long ago as the thirteenth century. But medieval culture is the main background and source of our modern world, and the whole of medieval culture is based upon the lucid presentation of pure thought that is found in the works of this same Thomas of Aquino—' Doctor Angelicus ' as he was called. His great book, Summa contra Gentiles, principal theological work of the middle ages, made the first clear attempt to reconcile the two spheres of faith and natural reason. His other important work, Summa Theologiea , in which he planned to summarise and clarify all preceding philosophical thought, was interrupted by his death in 1274 while on his way to the General Council of Lyons, which was to have healed the split between Eastern and Western Churches. No summary of the modern outlook could afford to overlook him.