Bellarmine · De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis · On the Ecclesiastical Writers
Chapter 32: The Thirteenth Century: Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure
Our translation, from the Latin of the Opera Omnia (Paris: Vivès, 1870–74), vol. XII, De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, of the New Testament, thirteenth century. The Latin source text is public domain; this English rendering is released with the site. Scripture quotations follow Bellarmine's Vulgate citations, rendered in Douay-Rheims wording where he quotes exactly. Click “Show the Latin” for the original (raw OCR of the scan; scanning errors remain — the scan itself is the authority).
St. Thomas Aquinas. 1265
St. Thomas Aquinas, an Italian by nation, a Neapolitan by birth, a religious of the Order of Preachers by profession, illustrious by family but more illustrious by holiness and wisdom, was born in the year of the Lord 1224 [1225] and died in the year 1274 [“1234” printed]; in which year died also St. Bonaventure, his very close friend; but this one in the month of March, that one in the month of July. His works (as St. Jerome wrote of St. Cyprian) are clearer than the sun, so that it seems needless to weave an index of them. I shall describe their index from the Roman edition, which, made by order of Pius the fifth, supreme Pontiff, is judged the best of all. The volumes are seventeen.
The first volume contains the life of blessed Thomas and the Commentaries on the books Peri hermeneias and the Posterior analytics. The second volume contains the Commentaries on the eight books of the Physics, on the 4 books On the heavens and the world, and on the 2 books On generation. The third volume contains the commentaries on the 4 books of the Meteors, on the book On the soul, and on the Parva naturalia. The fourth volume contains the commentaries on the 12 books of the Metaphysics; the Treatise On being and essence with the commentaries of Cardinal Cajetan; and the exposition on the book On causes. The fifth volume contains the commentaries on the 10 books of the Ethics and on the 8 books of the Politics. The sixth volume contains the commentaries on the first and second of the sentences. The seventh volume contains the commentaries on the third and fourth of the sentences. The eighth volume contains the disputed questions and the quodlibets. The ninth volume contains the summa against the gentiles with the commentaries of Francis of Ferrara. The tenth volume contains the first part of the summa of Theology with the Commentaries of Cardinal Cajetan, and the exposition of St. Dionysius On the divine names. The eleventh volume contains the first of the second and the second of the second with the commentaries of Cardinal Cajetan. The twelfth volume contains the third part with the Commentaries of Cardinal Cajetan. The thirteenth volume contains the commentary on Job; on the first fifty Psalms; on the Canticle of Canticles; on Isaias; on Jeremias and the Threnes. The fourteenth volume contains the commentaries on Matthew and on John. The fifteenth volume contains the golden chain woven from the Fathers on the four Gospels. The sixteenth volume contains the Commentaries on all the letters of St. Paul, and sermons on the season and on the saints. The seventeenth volume contains seventy-three little works, and the second writing on the four books of the sentences, to Cardinal Annibaldi.
First note on the works of St. Thomas. Besides the books numbered in the Roman edition, there are carried under the name of St. Thomas commentaries on Genesis, on the books of the Machabees, and on the seven canonical letters. But the commentary on Genesis is rejected as spurious by St. Antoninus, part 3 of the historical summa, title 18, chapter 10. Antonio of Siena writes indeed, in the library of the Order of Preachers, that St. Antoninus rejects the commentary on Genesis which was then extant, not the one lately found and published. But since I have seen neither commentary, I cannot give judgement on this. Of the commentary on the books of the Machabees printed at Paris I have nothing to say, because I have not seen that commentary. But the Commentaries on the canonical letters seem to me learned and worthy of St. Thomas's mind, especially since in them are seen the style and manner of proceeding of St. Thomas; nor is it against it that this work is not listed in the Roman edition. For at that time this work was nowhere found, and it first came to light at Antwerp in the year 1592.
Second note. Of the little works that are attributed to St. Thomas, there are some which it is not certain are his genuine works; which, because in the Roman edition they are marked by a difference of type, I shall say nothing of. Among the others there is one which is entitled On the rule of Princes, to the king of Cyprus, which has always been suspect to me for many causes. First, because in book 3, chapter 20, the author of this work writes that it happened in his time that Adolf succeeded Rudolf as emperor and Albert succeeded Adolf. And St. Thomas died in the year 1274, while Adolf succeeded Rudolf in the year 1292 and Albert succeeded Adolf in the year 1299 [1298]. It could indeed be that these words, noted in the margin by someone later, crept into the text; but the continuous discourse does not seem to admit this answer. Then in book 3, chapter 10, this author more than once calls the supreme Pontiff the successor of Christ; which everyone knows is improperly said who knows that Christ is the eternal Pontiff, whom no one succeeds, but all serve; and St. Thomas is not wont to speak so improperly. Further, this author has a style very different from St. Thomas's style; for this one writes closely and briefly, and takes in much in few words; that one on the contrary abounds in words and explains little in many. Add that this author brings out not a few light things about the names of magistrates, book 3, chapter 22, and book 4, chapter 26, which would never have fallen from St. Thomas. Which causes were perhaps why in the Louvain edition of the year 1302 [as printed] these books On the rule of princes are not found written among the little works of St. Thomas. Add lastly that since St. Thomas wrote seven books On the instruction of princes, plainly most useful, which are found among the little works published at Rome, it did not seem necessary that he should write also On the rule of princes.
Third note. It is very strange that a great part of the first of the second and of the second of the second is found in the same words in the first and third book of the moral mirror of Vincent of Beauvais. And indeed it does not seem that Vincent could have made his moral mirror from the teaching and words of St. Thomas, since he himself died in the year of the Lord 1236 [as printed; above, 1256], as Antonio of Siena testifies from Vaseus in the library of the Fathers Preachers; and St. Thomas died in the year of the Lord 1274, and composed the summa of theology in his last age. But neither is it in any way credible that St. Thomas drew the second part of his summa, and that the noblest, from another writer. In these straits nothing occurs to me, except that that moral mirror is perhaps not Vincent of Beauvais's, but of some later author, who perhaps was also called Vincent, and who wished to bring the second part of St. Thomas into a compendium. This seems able to be confirmed from the fact that the moral mirror seems much weightier than the doctrinal, natural and historical mirrors, which three are without any doubt Vincent of Beauvais's.
St. Bonaventure. 1265
St. Bonaventure, an Italian by nation, of Bagnoregio by birth, Minister General of the Order of St. Francis, and afterwards Bishop of Albano, was created Cardinal by Gregory the tenth, not on the days of Pentecost and in the Council of Lyons, as many write, but before the Council, and perhaps in the Ember days of December of the year 1273. For in the Council of Lyons itself, which was lately published at Rome, St. Bonaventure the Cardinal is found sitting with the others in the first session; and the first session was held in the year 1274, on the 7th of May, three days before the feast of the Ascension. He was a most holy and most learned man, and wrote much, which was published at Rome by order of the Pontiff Sixtus V, divided into eight volumes.
In the first volume are contained: the beginning of sacred Scripture; the exposition on the Hexameron, that is, twenty-three sermons on various places of the Hexameron, taken down by his hearers from his mouth as he spoke; the exposition likewise on the Psalter, on Ecclesiastes, on Wisdom, on the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremias. In the second volume: the exposition on the sixth chapter of Matthew; the exposition on the Gospel of St. Luke; the postil on the Gospel of St. John, and conferences on the same. In the third volume: sermons on the season and on the saints. In the fourth volume: the commentaries on the first and second book of the Master of the Sentences. In the fifth volume: the commentaries on the third and fourth book of the sentences.
In the sixth volume are contained the first and second part of the little works; namely the first part, which is: On the reduction of the arts to theology; the Breviloquium; the Centiloquium; the Quiver; the Declaration of the terms of theology; a short Beginning on the books of the Sentences; the four books of the Sentences arranged in verse; On the four cardinal virtues; On the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; On the three triads of sins; On the rising from sin to grace; the Diet of salvation; On the Church hierarchy. The second part: the Soliloquy; On the meditation of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ; a little book of meditations; On the seven degrees of contemplation; On the five feasts of the child Jesus; the Office of the Lord's Passion; the Praise of the Holy Cross; the Tree of life; the Mirror of the praises of blessed Mary; On the crown of blessed Mary; On her compassion; the Nightingale, fitted to the Lord's passion through the seven hours; On the seven words of the Lord on the cross; the greater Psalter of blessed Mary; the lesser Psalter of the same; on the Angelic salutation; on the Salve Regina.
In the seventh volume is contained the third part of the little works, which is: On the ordering of the Christian life; On the rule of the soul; the Mirror of the mind; On the ten commandments; On the degrees of the virtues; the Journey of the mind into God; On the seven roads of eternity; the Goad of divine love; the Little good, or the fire of love; the Amatorium; a little book of spiritual exercises; the Fasciculus; twenty-five reminders; the Confessional; On the manner of confessing; On purity of conscience; On the preparation of the Priest for Mass; the Exposition of the Mass; On the six wings of the Cherubim; On the six wings of the Seraphim.
In the eighth volume is contained the fourth part of the little works, which is: On the threefold state of religious; the Mirror of discipline for novices; the twenty steps of novices; on the rule of novices; On the progress of religion; On contempt of the world; On the reform of the mind; the little Alphabet of the good Monk; On the perfection of life, to the sisters; the Declaration of the rule of the Minors; Questions about the same rule; Why the Friars Minor preach, and so on; On the poverty of Christ; That Christ and the Apostles went barefoot; the Apology for Gospel poverty; Against the slanderer of the Franciscan rule; the Apologetic against those who oppose the order of Minors; On not frequenting questions; a little book of conferences to the brethren; On reforming the brethren, to the Provincial ministers. The appendix contains the compendium of theology; On the essence, invisibility and immensity of God; On mystical theology.
This holy man, very lovable to God and men, died in the year of the Lord 1274, in the month of July, on the fifteenth day, which was a Sunday, toward dawn, in the Council of Lyons, as is read in the Council itself.
Show the Latin (Vives edition, OCR)
De S. Thoma Aquinate. 1265, Sanctus Thomas Aquinas, natione Italus, patria Neapolitanus, professione religiosus, ordinis Praedicatorum, illustris genere, sed illustrior sanctitate et sapientia : natus est anno Domini 1224. et obiit anno 1234. quo anno obiit etiam sanctus Bonaventura, ejus amicissimus , sed hic mense Martio , ille mense Julio. Ejus opera (ut sanctus Hieronymus de sancto Cypriano scripsit) sole sunt clariora, ut supervacaneum videatur eorum indicem texere. Describam eorum indicem ex Ro¬ mana editione, quae jussu Pii quinti Pon¬ tificis maximi confecta censetur omnium optima. Tomi sunt septemdecim. Primus tomus continet vitam B. ThomEe et Commentaria in libros Perihermenias, et Posteriorum analyticorum. Secundus tomus continet Commentaria in libros octo Physicorum, in lib. iv, de coelo, et mundo, et in lib. n de generatione. Tertius tomus continet commentaria in lib. iv. Meteororum, in lib. de anima, et in parva naturalia. Quartus tomus continet commentaria in lib. xii. Metaphysicorum. Tractatum de ente, et essentia, cum commentariis Card* Cajetani : et, expositionem in librum de causis. Quintus tomus continet commentaria in libros x. Ethicorum, et in libros vm. Poly- ticorum. Sextus tomus continet commentaria in primum et secundum sententiarum. Septimus tomus continet commentaria in tertium et quartum sententiarum. Octavus tomus continet quaestiones dispu¬ tatas, et quodlibeta. Nonus tomus continet summam contra gentiles cura commentariis Francisci Ferra- riensis. Decimus tomus continet primam partem summae Theologiae cum Commentariis Card. Cajetani, et expositionem S. Dionysii de di¬ vinis hominibus. Undecimus tomus continet primam secun¬ dae, et secundam secundae cum commenta¬ riis Card. Cajetani. Duodecimus tomus continet tertiam par¬ tem cum Commentariis Card. Cajetani. Tertius decimus tomus continet commen¬ tarium in Job : in primam quinquagenam Psalmorum, in Cantica canticorum, in Isai- am, in Hieremiam, et Threnos. Quartus decimus tomus continet commen¬ taria in Matthaeum, et in Joannem. Quintus decimus tomus continet auream catenam ex Patribus contextam in quatuor Evangelia. Sextus decimus tomus continet Commen¬ taria in omnes epistolas Sancti Pauli, et ser¬ mones de tempore, et de sanctis. Septimus decimus tomus continet septua¬ ginta tria opuscula, et scriptum (secundum in quatuor libros sententiarum, ad Anibal- dum Cardinalem. Observatio prima in opera Sancti Thomae. Praeter libros in editione Romana nume¬ ratos feruntur sub nomine Sancti Thomae commentaria in Genesim, et in libros Mac- chabaeorum, et in septem epistolas canoni¬ cas. Sed commentarium in Genesim a Sancto Antonino tertia parte summae historialis tit. xvm. cap. 10. rejicitur, ut spurium. Scribit quidem Antonius Senensis in bibliotheca ordinis Praedicatorum a Sancto Antonino rejici commentarium in Genesim, quod tunc exstabat : non illud, quod nuper inventum et editum est. Sed cum ego commentarium neutrum viderim , non possum de hac re ferre judicium. De commentario in libros Macchabaeorum Lutetiae excuso, non habeo quod dicam, quia commentarium illud non vidi. Commentaria vero in epistolas canoni¬ cas videntur mihi erudita, et digna ingenio Sancti Thomae, praesertim cum in iis cerna¬ tur stylus, et modus procedendi Sancti Tho¬ mae, neque obstat, quod in editione Romana hoc opus non recenseatur. Siquidem eo tempore hoc opus nusquam inveniebatur, et primum in lucem prodiit Antwerpiae anno 1592. i AB ANNO L>OM. 1200. AD 1300. 451 Observatio secunda. Ex opusculis, quae Sancto Thomae tribuun¬ tur, aliqua sunt, quae non est certum esse germana ejus opera; quae quia in editione Romana notata sunt diversitate characteris, de illis nihil dicam. In aliis unum est, quod inscribitur de regimine Principum ad regem Cypri : quod mihi multis de causis suspe¬ ctum semper fuit, piimum quia lib. m. cap. 20. scribit auctor hujus operis suo tempore accidisse, ut Adolphus imperator Rodulpho et Albertus Adolpho succederet. Et Sanctus Thomas obiit anno 1274. Adolphus autem Rodulpho successit anno 1292. et Albertus Adolpho anno 1299. Posset quidem fieri, ut ista verba ex margine annotata ab aliquo posteriore in textum irrepserint : sed oratio continuata non videtur admittere istam re¬ sponsionem. Deinde lib. m. cap. 10. non semel vocat iste auctor summum Pontificem Christi successorem, quod improprie dictum esse nemo nescit, qui Christum Pontificem aeternum esse novit, cui nemo succedit, sed omnes ministrant : at Sanctus Thomas ica improprie loqui non solet. Praeterea iste au¬ ctor stylum habet a stylo Sancti Thomae valde diversum : hic enim presse et breviter scri- bit, et multa paucis complectitur ; ille con¬ tra verbis abundat, et pauca multis explicat. Adde, quod hic auctor non pauca levia pro¬ fert, de nominibus magistratuum lib. ni. cap. 22. et lib. iv. cap. 26., quae sancto Tho¬ mae nunquam excidissent, quae causae for¬ tasse fuerunt, ut in editione Lovaniensi anni 1302. libri isti de regimine principum inter opuscula Sancti Thomae adscripta non inve¬ niantur. Adde ultimo, cum Sanctus Thomas scripserit septem libros de eruditione prin cipum, plane utilissimos, qui habentur inter opuscula Romae edita, non videbatur neces¬ sarium, ut scriberet etiam de regimine prin¬ cipum. Observatio tertia. Mirum est valde, quod magna pars pri¬ mae secundae, et secundae secundae invenian¬ tur iisdem verbis in primo, et tertio libro speculi moralis Yincentii Bellovacensis, et quidem non videtur Yincentius potuisse spe¬ culum suum morale conficere ex doctrina et verbis Sancti Thoma.1, cum ipse obierit anno Domini 1236. ut testatur Antonius Se¬ nensis ex Yasaeo , in bibliotheca Patrum Praedicatorum : et Sanctus Thomas obierit anno Domini 1274, et in extrema aetate sum¬ mam theologiae confecerit. Sed neque est ullo modo credibile Sanctum Thomam summae suae partem secundam, eamque no¬ bilissimam, ex alio scriptore hausisse. In his angustiis nihil mihi occurrit, nisi speculum illud morale fortasse non esse Vincerii Bel¬ lovacensis, sed alicujus auctoris posterioris, qui fortasse Yincentius etiam diceretur, qui¬ que secundam partem Sancti Thomae in compendium redigere voluerit. Id quod vi¬ detur posse confirmari ex eo quod speculum morale gravius multo esse videtur, quam sint speculum doctrinale, naturale, et histo¬ riale, quae tria sino ullo dubio sunt Vincentii Bellovacensis. De sancto Bonaventura. 1265. Sanctus Bonaventura natione Italus, pa¬ tria Balneoregiensis, ordinis Sancti Francisci Minister Generalis , ac postea Albanensis Episcopus, et Cardinalis a Gregorio decimo creatus, non in feriis Pentecostes, et in Lug¬ dunensi Concilio, ut multi scribunt, sed ante Concilium, et forte in quatuor temporibus Decembris anni 1273. Nam in ipso Concilio Lugdunensi, quod Romae nuper est editum, invenitur Sanctus Bonaventura Cardinalis residere cum ceeteris in prima sessione, pri¬ ma autem sessio celebrata est anno 1274., dic 7. Maii, triduo ante Ascensionis festum. Yir fuit sanctissimus, et doctissimus, et mul¬ ta scripsit, quae Rorme edita sunt jussu Sixti V. Pontificis in octo tomos distributa. Primo tomo continentur, principium sa¬ crae Scripturae, expositio in Hexameron, id est , sermones viginti tres in diversa loca Hexameron ex ore dicentis ab auditoribus excerpta. Expositio item in Psalterium, in Ecclesiastem, in Sapientiam, in Lamenta¬ tiones Hieremiae Prophetae. Secundo tomo continentur, expositio in caput sextum Matthaei, expositio in Evange- lium Sancti Lucae, postilla in Evangelium sancti Joannis, et collationes in eumdem. Tertio tomo continentur, sermones de tem¬ pore, et de sanctis. Quarto tomo continentur, commentaria in primum et secundum librum Magistri Sen¬ tentiarum. Quinto tomo continentur, commentaria in tertium, et quartum librum sententia¬ rum. 452 DE SCRIPTORIBUS ECCLESIASTICIS Sexto tomo continentur prima et secunda pars opusculorum ; videlicet prima pars quae est : De reductione artium ad theologiam, Breviloquium. Gentiloquium. Pharetra. Declaratio terminorum theologiae. Principium compendiosum in libros Sen¬ tentiarum. Quatuor libri Sententiarum carmine dige¬ sti. De quatuor virtutibus cardinalibus. De septem donis Spiritus sancti. De tribus ternariis peccatorum. De resurrectione a peccata ad gratiam. Diaeta salutis. De Ecclesiastica hierarchia. Secunda pars : Soliloquium. De meditatione vitae Domini nostri Jesu Christi. Libellus meditationum. De septem gradibus contemplationis. De quinque festivitatibus pueri Jesus. Officium de Passione Dominica. De Sancta Cruce laudatio. Lignum vitae. Speculum de laudibus B. Mariae. De corona Beatae Mariae. De compassione ejusdem. Philomela passioni Domini aptata per se¬ ptem horas. De septem verbis Domini [in cruce. Psalterium B. Mariae majus. Psalterium ejusdem minus. In salutationem Angelicam. In Salve Regina. In septimo tomo continetur pars tertia opusculorum, quae est : De institutione vitae Christianae. De regimine animae. Speculum animi. De decem praeceptis. De gradibus virtutum. Itinerarium mentis in Deum. De septem itineribus aeternitatis. Stimulus divini amoris. Parvum bonum, sive incendium amoris. Amatorium. Exercitiorum spiritualium libellus. Fascieularius. Viginti quinque memorialia. Confessionale. De ratione confitendi. De puritate ^conscientiae. De praeparatione Sacerdotis ad Missam. Expositio Missae. De sex alis Cherubim. De sex alis Seraphim. Octavo tomo continetur pars quarta opusculorum, quae est, De triplici statu religiosorum. Speculum disciplinae propter novitios. Viginti passus novitiorum. In regulam novitiorum. De processu religionis. De contemptu saeculi. De reformatione mentis. Alphabetum parvum boni Monachi. De perfectione vitae ad sorores. Declaratio regulae Minorum. Quaestiones circa eamdem regulam. Quare fratres Minores praedicent, etc. De paupertate Christi. Quod Christus et Apostoli nudis pedibus incedebant. Apologia Evangelicae paupertatis. Contra calumniatorem regulae Franci- scanae. Apologeticus in eos qui ordini Minorum adversantur. De non frequentandis quaestionibus. Collationum libellus ad fratres. De reformandis fratribus, ad ministros Provinciales. Appendix continet compendium theolo¬ giae. De essentia, invisibilitate, et immensitate Dei. De mystica theologia. Obiit vir S. Deo et hominibus amabilis valde, anno Dom. 1274. mense Julio, die quinta decima , quae erat Dominica , sub auroram, in Concilio Lugdensi, ut in ipso Concilio legitur.