The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture WOF 487: “Ipsum Esse” & Catholic Social Teaching (Part 2)
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Apr 28, 2025 Dive into the fascinating concepts of St. Thomas Aquinas as he defines God as 'ipsum esse,' shedding light on its relevance to Catholic social teaching. Discover how Aquinas' insights on governance reveal the dangers of tyranny and the importance of moral responsibility in ownership. Explore the theological grounds of economic activity, emphasizing the need for wealth to benefit society as a whole. Lastly, connect the dots between ethics and divine understanding, highlighting our duty to share resources and promote the common good.
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Aquinas on Peace and Politics
- Thomas Aquinas sees peace as tranquility from right order, linked to justice and friendship as the love between humans.
- Political life aims at moral good like peace and virtue, not just protection or self-interest.
Kingship Mirrors Divine Governance
- Aquinas argues the best ruler is one king as unity in governance resembles God's divine rule.
- The risk is tyranny if a king rules selfishly rather than for the people's good.
Creation as Cosmic Praise
- Aquinas embraces the goodness and variety of nature as expression of God's perfection and interconnectedness.
- Creation praises God like a primal temple with humans as priests and nature as choir.