Aquinas's Shorter Summa - Saint Thomas' Own Concise Version of His Summa Theologica

Two years before he died, St. Thomas Aquinas — probably the greatest teacher the Church has ever known — was asked by his assistant, Brother Reginald, to write a simple summary of the Faith of the Catholic Church for those who lacked the time or the stamina to tackle his massive Summa Theologica.

In response, the great saint quickly set down — in language that non-scholars can understand — his peerless insights into the major topics of theology: the Trinity, Divine Providence, the Incarnation of Christ, the Last Judgment, and much more.

Here, then, is not only St. Thomas’s concise statement of the key elements of his thought, but a handy reference source for the essential truths of the Catholic Faith.

St. Thomas will show you:

Why faith is reasonable, not blind
Why evil can never be as powerful as good
Solid arguments for Christ’s Resurrection
Powerful arguments for God’s existence
Why angels are necessary in creation
How Adam’s sin differed from Eve’s
Why Jesus descended into Hell
Why we must suffer for Adam’s sin
Why the truths that you can know
only through Revelation are nevertheless rational
Startling details about God’s forgiveness
Facts about the punishment of the damned:
both spiritual and bodily
How a soul’s damnation can be
compatible with God’s goodness
What Christians should think
about “fate” and “chance”
What life after resurrection will be like
Three ways in which God is in all things
Eternal life: what it is; how to understand it
How you can know God through reason
Hell-fire: whether it’s real or symbolic
Why God became man
Why God allows evil
How Jesus “grew in wisdom”
How Christ can have existed for all eternity
and yet be God’s Son
The Beatific Vision: what it really is
Why God’s knowledge of the future
doesn’t deny man’s free will
How the Holy Trinity is three
distinct Persons, yet one God
Much more that will help you know
and love God with greater understanding!