SHEER JOY, CONVERSATIONS WITH THOMAS AQUINAS ON CREATION SPIRITUALITY
Matthew Fox
Foreword by Rupert Sheldrake, Afterword by Bede Griffiths
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"There is no existing thing that does not have some virtue….The effects of the unfailing virtue of God proceed both to human beings and to animals, and to plants and to all natural things." Thomas Aquinas, 'Commentary on Dionysius's Divine Names', n. 751, 755
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"In fact, the desire for joy is inherently stronger than the fear of sadness." Thomas Aquinas, 'Summa Theologica', q. 35, a. 6
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"The principal inclination of each part is toward common action conducive to the good of the whole." Thomas Aquinas, 'Summa Theologica', q. 26, a. 3
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"These (morphic) fields, according to the hypothesis of formative causation, contain an inherent memory, a kind of pooled or collective memory of the species. They organize not only bodily development but also instinctive behavior and mental activity….Tthere is no doubt that much of the medieval conception of the soul as an invisible animating principle has been carried over into the field concept. This is particularly clear in the case of magnets, which were believed from ancient times until the seventeenth century to have magnetic souls within and around them. Today we would say that the properties of magnets depend on the magnetic fields within and around them. In the context of electro-magnetic fields, and particularly the properties of such fields expressed in holograms, I find (Thomas) Aquinas opens up an amazing vista of thought by inviting us to compare the pervasive nature of the soul with that of God: 'The whole human soul is in the whole body and also in every part of the body, just as God is present to the entire universe." See Rupert Sheldrake's 'A New Science of Life, Los Angeles: Tarcher, 1982, and 'The Presence of the Past', New York: Vintage, 1989
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"Fear makes people slaves. Love sets them free." Thomas Aquinas, Sermo, p. 97
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"The entire universe is one dominion and realm, governed by one ruler." Thomas Aquinas, In Meta XII, L. 12, p. 925
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"The only person who truly has joy is one who lives in love." Thomas Aquinas, DC, 35
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"God deliberately brings about multitude and distinction in order that the divine goodness may be brought forth and shared in many measures. There is beauty in the very diversity." Thomas Aquinas, CT 1, 102
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"It should be noted that there is a certain hand of divine guidance, as in Wisdom 7: 'We are indeed in God's hand, we ourselves and our words, with all our understanding too, and technical knowledge.'" Thomas Aquinas, In Jer 16, p. 619
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"Virtue increases by being exercised. If it is not exercised it grows weak." Thomas Aquinas, In Mt 25, p. 232
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"Virtue is a kind of spiritual path that assures a life of quality and purpose."
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"Our capacity to birth – including the birthing of virtue – derives from the very Creator and artist of all things, including the human being." Matthew Fox
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"Human virtue is a participation in the divine power." Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II, q. 129, a. 1
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"There is a kind of wealth or treasure hidden inside each one of us that must not be buried." Matthew Fox
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"The Son of God assumed flesh and came into the world to illumine all human beings with grace and truth." Thomas Aquinas, In Jn 1. 5, n. 104
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"God is one and wise." Thomas Aquinas, In 2 Cor, ch. 2, p. 310
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"Justice, truth, and compassion are the same in essence, and they have to do with whatever God makes in us. Thus truth and justice lie at the heart of the inner person." Matthew Fox
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"Love…has no limit to its increase, since it is a participation in the infinite love that is the Holy Spirit." Thomas Aquinas, ST II-II, q. 24, a. 7
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"Love, according to its very nature, causes peace." Thomas Aquinas, ST II-II, q. 29, a. 3, ad 3
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"In God's hand is the life of every living thing, and not only of the animals, but also the breath of all humanity." Thomas Aquinas, In Job 12, pp. 52-53
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"Justice preserves the whole universe." Matthew Fox
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"Humanity returns by a sort of circulatory movement to its first beginning, being united by the work of the Incarnation to the very origin of all things." Thomas Aquinas, 'A Compendium of Theology', I, 201
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"God acts in all things from within….God works at the heart of all activity." Thomas Aquinas, ST I, q. 105, a. 5
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"Every single creature leads to the knowledge of the first and highest One, which is infinite in every perfection." Thomas Aquinas, 'Commentary on Peter Lombard's Book of Sentences', III Sent. 1.3, ad 3
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"While pleasure can be entire and perfect, sadness is always partial." Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica I-II, q. 35, a. 6
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