On God the Creator
Scholastic-Dogmatic Lectures
which
Father C. Mazzella, of the same Society,
delivered
in the Seminary of the Society of Jesus at Woodstock
in the year 1872-73.
From the press of the College.
Dedication
To the most sacred Heart of God and Lord Jesus,
at whose eternal love, calling,
things which did not yet exist
stood forth rejoicing,
and who, shining in them,
summons to a corresponding love:
may these lectures on God creating
be consecrated
for love’s sake.
Address to the Students
To the students of theology in the Seminary of the Society of Jesus at Woodstock, in the year 1873.
Often, Reverend Fathers and dear Brothers, while I have been occupied, by reason of my office, with the works of theologians, it has spontaneously occurred to me, I would say, that not a few in these our times, being little solicitous for the fuller refinement of Catholic truth, devote themselves wholly to refuting errors hostile to it. This has not always been done unjustly; sometimes it has even been done with the highest right. But if it is given to polemical theology to scatter errors, it will certainly not be denied to dogmatic theology, by the scholastic method yet according to the norm of revelation, to examine more accurately the understanding of dogmas and, as far as each matter permits, to place it in clear view. Indeed, if you act as a theologian, and do not separate the one from the other, as is fitting, this work must be performed by him. For when you have dispelled errors, what Catholic truth does not have has become known, not what it has. But once Catholic truth has been diligently set forth, contrary errors either collapse of themselves or will very easily be torn away.
Accordingly, it has seemed to me especially necessary to labor at opening up the understanding of dogmas. But although the understanding of dogmas must be drawn from revelation itself and from faith, nevertheless what faith and revelation contain is rightly sought, authentically indeed from the Church, but doctrinally, as they say, from the scholastic Doctors, with the Angelic Doctor as guide. For they, after interrogating all the sources of revelation, and after also calling in the aids of human wisdom, illustrated dogma itself, as far as it concerns us, in a wonderful way. Therefore, to this end the documents of the Church, where they are present, have carried the torch before our investigations, furnishing beginnings for the questions; while the works of the scholastic Doctors - with more recent authors by no means neglected - and especially the labors of St. Thomas and Suarez, have either confirmed a mind sometimes wavering, or brought it about that it went more boldly along the path once undertaken.
Perhaps I shall seem excessive in reporting the opinions of these doctors. But especially in St. Thomas’s Summa Theologiae there are certain things which one may despair could be said more briefly, more fully, or more clearly. Then, in the rules for the professor of theology, it is prescribed: “and let them put all their effort into this, that their hearers be as well disposed as possible toward him [St. Thomas].” To this end the very savor of his words is wonderfully suited. Moreover, while the minds of young men drink in wisdom, as it were by repeated draughts, from such great doctors, they gradually become accustomed to their manner of treating questions and to their adopted language, not without great usefulness, as is clear. Finally I shall mention this: everything must be completed within the space of eight months, and a portion must be assigned to each single day; therefore it must often be wished either to speak in the words of others, or to pass over many things otherwise excellent.
These things concern the matter itself, already known to you, Reverend Fathers and dear Brothers. As for what now concerns me, there is this one thing only: that in this little work, however small, I have set before myself both the fuller knowledge, for all of you, of God the Creator, and the greater glory of God himself.
C. Mazzella, S.J.