26 September 2021

The Very First Thing (S.T. I, q1, a1)

A short poem on the first article of the first question, 'The Nature and Extent of Sacred Doctrine' of the Angelic Doctor's Summa Theologica.

From The Imaginative Conservative

By David Wester

The Angelic Doctor began with it.
Hundreds followed, yes; but first, this question.
For us, though? Now? Oh, it’s not even fit
To consider—at best, a digression.

He called it philosophical science.
His first videtur is our modern creed.
We shout it loud in angry defiance:
“Of further knowledge? No!—we have no need!”

And his sed contra­ (we surely confess)
Must be the weakest form of argument:
An appeal to authority no less!—
It’s a feeble crutch, an effort ill-spent.

But by his respondeo, we are awed:
He said thus: We are directed to God.

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