Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Liber IV
Francesco Silvestri (1474–1528)
Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles
First published 1918
In Book IV of the Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Francesco Silvestri of Ferrara (Ferrariensis) examines Aquinas's treatment of revealed mysteries: the Trinity, the Incarnation, the sacraments, and the resurrection. The commentary accompanies the Leonine text in volume XV (1930). The present digital edition includes the Latin text and an English translation.
Prooemium
Caput I: Quod sit generatio, paternitas et filiatio in divinis
Caput II: Quod filius Dei sit Deus
Caput III: Quid opinatus sit Photinus de filio Dei, et eius improbatio
Caput IV: Opinio Sabellii de filio Dei, et eius improbatio
Caput V: De opinione Arii circa filium Dei
Caput VI: Improbatio opinionis Arii de filio Dei
Caput VII: Solutio ad auctoritates quas Arius pro se inducebat
Caput VIII: Solutio ad auctoritates Photini et Sabellii
Caput IX: Rationes contra generationem et processionem divinam
Caput X: Quomodo accipienda sit generatio in divinis, et quae de filio Dei dicuntur in Scripturis
Caput XI: Quomodo filius Dei dicatur Dei sapientia
Caput XII: Quod non est nisi unus filius in divinis
Caput XIII: Solutio ad rationes supra inductas contra generationem divinam
Caput XIV: De spiritu sancto, quod sit in divinis
Caput XV: Rationes ex quibus aliqui spiritum sanctum existimaverunt esse creaturam
Caput XVI: Quod spiritus sanctus sit verus Deus
Caput XVII: Quod spiritus sanctus sit subsistens persona
Caput XVIII: Quomodo intelligenda sunt quae de spiritu sancto dicuntur
Caput XIX: De effectibus attributis spiritui sancto in Scripturis respectu totius creaturae
Caput XX: De effectibus attributis spiritui sancto in sacra Scriptura respectu rationalis creaturae, quantum ad ea quae Deus nobis largitur
Caput XXI: De effectibus attributis spiritui sancto secundum quod movet creaturam in Deum
Caput XXII: Solutio rationum supra inductarum contra divinitatem spiritus sancti
Caput XXIII: Quod spiritus sanctus procedat a filio
Caput XXIV: Rationes ostendere volentium quod spiritus sanctus non procedat a filio, et solutio ipsarum
Caput XXV: Quod non sunt nisi tres personae in divinis pater, filius et spiritus sanctus
Caput XXVI: De incarnatione verbi secundum traditionem sacrae Scripturae
Caput XXVII: De errore Photini circa incarnationem
Caput XXVIII: De errore Manichaeorum circa incarnationem
Caput XXIX: De errore Valentini circa incarnationem
Caput XXX: De errore Apollinaris circa corpus Christi
Caput XXXI: De errore Arii et Apollinaris circa animam Christi
Caput XXXII: De errore Apollinaris dicentis animam rationalem non fuisse in Christo, et de errore Origenis dicentis animam Christi ante mundum fuisse creatam
Caput XXXIII: De errore Theodori Mopsuesteni et Nestorii circa unionem verbi ad hominem
Caput XXXIV: Contra errorem Eutychetis
Caput XXXV: De errore Macarii Antiocheni ponentis unam tantum voluntatem in Christo
Caput XXXVI: Contra eos qui dixerunt ex anima et corpore non esse aliquid unum constitutum in Christo
Caput XXXVII: Contra eos qui ponunt duo supposita vel duas hypostases in una persona Christi
Caput XXXVIII: Quid Catholica fides sentiat de incarnatione Christi
Caput XXXIX: Obiectiones contra fidem incarnationis
Caput XL: Quomodo oporteat intelligere incarnationem filii Dei
Caput XLI: Quod assumptio humanae naturae maxime competebat verbo Dei
Caput XLII: Quod humana natura assumpta a verbo non praeextitit assumptioni, sed in ipsa conceptione fuit assumpta
Caput XLIII: Quod natura assumpta a verbo in ipsa conceptione fuit perfecta quantum ad animam et corpus
Caput XLIV: Quod Christum decuit nasci ex virgine
Caput XLV: Quod Christus natus est de spiritu sancto
Caput XLVI: Quod Christus non fuit filius spiritus sancti secundum carnem
Caput XLVII: Quod non sit dicendum Christum esse creaturam
Caput XLVIII: Solutio rationum contra incarnationem superius positarum
Caput XLIX: Quod peccatum originale traducatur a primo parente in posteros
Caput L: Obiectiones contra peccatum originale
Caput LI: Solutio obiectionum positarum
Caput LII: Rationes quibus videtur probari quod non fuit conveniens Deum incarnari
Caput LIII: Quod conveniens fuit Deum incarnari
Caput LIV: Solutio rationum supra positarum contra convenientiam incarnationis
Caput LV: De necessitate sacramentorum
Caput LVI: De distinctione sacramentorum veteris et novae legis
Caput LVII: De numero sacramentorum novae legis
Caput LVIII: De Baptismo
Caput LIX: De confirmatione
Caput LX: De Eucharistia
After St. Thomas determined concerning the sacrament of Confirmation, he begins to treat of the sacrament of the Eucharist1. Concerning this he does two things: first, he shows what is the necessity of this sacrament, and what is its matter; second, what sort that matter ought to be, cap. LXIX.
Concerning the first, he does two things: first, he determines the truth concerning this sacrament; second, he answers the objections which are brought to the contrary, in the following chapter.
As to the first, he sets down four conclusions.
The first is: It was necessary that in the spiritual life there be spiritual food, by which those who are regenerated may be preserved and grow in virtues. — It is proved. Because corporeal life also needs material food, not only for the increase of quantity, but also for sustaining the nature of the body, lest it be dissolved by continual dissipations and its strength perish.
The second conclusion is: This sacrament is fittingly handed to us under the species of bread and wine. — It is proved. Because spiritual food of this kind is fittingly handed to us under the species of those things which men more commonly use for bodily food: since spiritual effects are fittingly handed to us under the likeness of visible things. But such are bread and wine.
The third conclusion is: In the sacrament of the Eucharist the incarnate Word Himself is contained according to substance. — It is proved. Because spiritual food must be united to us according to substance: just as in Baptism it is united only through power. This is made clear from the different union of the begetter with the begotten, and of nourishment with the nourished: because, namely, the begetter need not be united to the begotten according to substance, namely complete substance, but only according to likeness and power; but food must be united according to substance.
The fourth conclusion is: The sacrament of Christ's body is fittingly handed to us separately under the species of bread, and the blood2 under the species of wine. — It is proved. Both because there is had a memorial and representation of the Lord's passion, by which His blood was separated from His flesh. — And because in this way what the Lord said is fulfilled, Ioan. VI, My flesh etc.
It should be noted that the reception of this sacrament is not absolutely necessary for salvation, but is only of the Church's institution that it be taken once a year.