Excerpt from The "Summa Theologica" Of St. Thomas Aquinas, Vol. 1: Second Number (Qq. XXVII-LXXIV)
I am desired to inform you that the Holy Father has been pleased to express his gratitude on receiving from you the first volume of the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas, which, with the assistance Of your beloved brethren of the English Province, you have most wisely determined to translate into your mother-tongue. I say most wisely because to translate into the language Of one's country the immortal works of St. Thomas is to give to its people a great treasure of human and Divine knowledge and to afford those who are desirous of Obtaining it, not only the best method of reasoning in unfolding and elucidating sacred truths, but also the most efficacious means of combating heresies. Therefore, without doubt, you have undertaken a task worthy of religious men - worthy Of the sons of St. Dominic.
The Venerable Pontiff, in graciously accepting your gift, returns you most cordial thanks, and earnestly prays that your task may have a successful result and produce abundant fruit. In token of his appreciation, he most lovingly imparts to you and your fellow-workers the Apostolic Benediction.
And for myself, I extend to you the right hand of fellowship, and thank you for the special volume of the translation which you presented to me.
Thomas Aquinas was an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus and Doctor Communis.
He was the foremost classical proponent of natural theology, and the father of the Thomistic school of philosophy and theology. His influence on Western thought is considerable, and much of modern philosophy was conceived as a reaction against, or as an agreement with, his ideas, particularly in the areas of ethics, natural law and political theory.
The philosophy of Aquinas has exerted enormous influence on subsequent Christian theology, especially that of the Roman Catholic Church, extending to Western philosophy in general, where he stands as a vehicle and modifier of Aristotelianism, which he fused with the thought of Augustine.
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