“Mystical Theology” in Aquinas
Petr Dvořák
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion December 16, 2022 DOI: 10.24204/ejpr.2022.3542 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Aquinas, following Pseudo-Dionysius, describes two avenues of union with God: an intellectual union in faith through the gift of understanding, which grasps revealed truths without apprehending essences but discerns erroneous interpretations, and a quasi-experiential union in charity, based on connaturality with God through the infused virtue of charity and linked to the gift of wisdom. Both are open to any believer in sanctifying grace. |
Abstract
The paper explores two avenues to the union of the believer with God in Thomas Aquinas inspired by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite; namely, the intellectual union in faith through the gift of understanding and the union in charity as the basis for the knowledge associated with the gift of wisdom. The former amounts to an intellectual grasp of revealed truths without full understanding of the terms used (without the apprehension of the essences), yet with a clear understanding of what would be erroneous interpretations and meanings. The latter is an (quasi-)experimental knowledge of God based on connaturality with him due to the infused virtue of charity. Both kinds of knowledge or “mystical theology” are open to any believer in the state of sanctifying grace and are its effects.