The Role of Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Doctrine in the Theological Formation of Priests

Za svetog Tomu Akvinskog čovjek koji u vjeri prima božansku objavu ima udjela – na ograničen, ali stvaran način – u samom Božjem znanju. Drugi vatikanski koncil preporučuje sv. Tomu kao učitelja jer on otkriva duboku povezanost između otajstava. Ta se povezanost očituje kad sv. Toma poziva vjernika da od samoga Boga primi svjetlost za sve predmete spoznaje. Na taj način vjernik, na primjer svećenik, može naći jedinstvo ne samo između teoloških disciplina nego i između duhovnog života, teologije, službe, društvenog života itd. To utemeljenje u Bogu razlog je zašto Koncil preporučuje sv. Tomu: jedinstvo vjere i razuma može se shvatiti samo polazeći od njihova zajedničkoga božanskog podrijetla. Konačno, sv. Toma nam pomaže shvatiti jedinstvo božanskog i ljudskog djelovanja, što nas osposobljuje shvatiti službu kao takvu i narav Božje riječi.In Saint Thomas Aquinas’ view, a man who receives divine revelation by faith participate, in a limited though real way, in the knowledge of God himself. The Second Vatican Council recommends St. Thomas as a teacher of the Church because he has revealed the profound connection between the mysteries. This connection is brought to light as St. Thomas invites the faithful to receive light from God himself on all objects of knowledge. Thus the believer, for example the priest, can find unity not only among theological disciplines, but also among spiritual life, theology, ministry, social life, etc. This foundedness in God accounts for the Council’s recommendation: unity between faith and reason can only be understood from their common divine origin. Lastly, St. Thomas helps us to understand the unity between divine acts and human acts, hence enabling us to envision the ministry as such, as well as the nature of the Word of God