Aquinas at Prayer: The Bible, Mysticism and Poetry

by Paul Murray

Aquinas at Prayer draws attention to important aspects of Aquinas's life and work which have been all too often overlooked or forgotten. Today Aquinas is almost exclusively regarded as an outstanding scholastic philosopher and theologian. But what is little known is that Aquinas was, first and last, a teacher of the Bible - a Master of the Sacred Page. Moreover there is a distinctly mystical character to his theology. And, as a writer, he was not only a poet but, arguably, the greatest Latin poet of the Middle Ages.

The primary focus of this most engaging new book is to explore the question of Aquinas's own practice of prayer and his teaching on prayer in his commentaries on the Psalms and St. Paul. The book is strengthened by quotations from Aquinas in fresh translations.

Genres: Theology, Poetry, Catholic, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christianity, Audiobook

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Paul Brendan Murray, O.P. (born 26 November 1947) is an Irish Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, poet, writer, and professor.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Gregory Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows a different side of St. Thomas Aquinas. His keen intellect eclipses his passionate love for God in the perception of most people, but this book shows us that he was a humble mystic as well as a great scholar. Evidence is given through prayers he has written, his scripture commentaries, and his poetry. I've loved St. Thomas since I read Chesterton's book on him, but this book has made me appreciate him all the more.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's incredibly refreshing to learn that one of the most respected Christian intellectuals isn't simply a dry egghead but a man of deep piety and considerable poetic skill.

A good chunk of the book is about arguing for Thomistic authorship of a number of beautiful prayers. But you can skip that and jump straight into the prayers themselves and the author's commentary. (Provided you didn't get the audio version like I did. I'm now going to buy the print copy and memorize these prayers).

[Samuel Parkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid piece of work, and one that rounds out the often one-sided portrait of Aquinas in a helpful way, showing the warmth and fervour of his love for God.

It is somewhat limited by the sources, though not as badly as a similar study of most medieval figures would be. Firstly there are a number of splendid prayers, whose provenance has long been doubted. Murray brings together the case for their being genuinely by Aquinas, and shows how they fit with his theology, as well as demonstrating the depth of piety in them.

Secondly his writings on prayer in the commentaries are of considerable interest (especially those still untranslated) though there are less original and more typical of medieval comment generally.

Finally, a large portion of the book is devoted to Aquinas' prayers related to the Mass, especially his liturgy for Corpus Christi. In some ways this feels more distanced from Aquinas the man (these are official liturgies, after all) and at the same time perhaps more in line with what a stereotyped view of Aquinas would suggest.

Nonetheless they do demonstrate that he was a very accomplished poet capable of expressing profound feeling. Along with the rest of the book, that's a helpful corrective to the one-sided picture of Aquinas the speculative theologian that people often get from their first dip into the Summa.

[Jan Michael Sta. Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is revelation in a sense that it broadened my views and understanding on the person of St. Thomas Aquinas. Like many others, I restricted the Angelic Doctor as simply a scholar because of his masterpiece the Summa Theologiae. However, as I progressed in this book, it dawned on me that he was ultimately a saint with profound humility that he even admits that all of what he knows are owed to Divine assistance and grace. Most importantly, he is a lover of the Eucharist. In fact, out of this intense love for the sacrament he wrote the "Adoro te Devote" originally as a meditative prayer whenever he offers the mass.

All in all, this book is recommended for those who wish to both have an understanding of who St. Thomas really is and at the same time for those who wish to deepen their spirituality with a touch of Thomism.

[Peggy Haslar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely book thoroughly dispels the trope that Aquinas, one of the greatest thinkers in the history of philosophy, was a man only of the head and not the heart. The chapter on Aquinas' scripture scholarship is insightful and deeply inspiring. And that's before we get to his Eucharistic poetry. Murray, a wonderful poet in his own right, has given us a beautiful glimpse into the Angelic Doctor's soul.

[Argene Clasara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treats Aquinas not only as a man of study but as a man of prayer who has a child-like faith. His profound theological works are truly not the fruits of his study but the fruits of his contemplation of the Word and his profound love for the Eucharist. Paul Murray portrays the poetic prowess of Aquinas which are evident in his prayers, hymn compositions, and the Mass of Corpus Christi.

[Damien Rappuhn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like an academic thesis--very well structured, with textual analysis on the poems and hymns attributed to Aquinas. A good read, but narrow in scope.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, so this started out as my book to read during Advent and wound up turning into the book I read through Advent and the Christmas season.

I few things bugged. Near the beginning of the book, Murray goes at great length to argue against another scholar and her view that Aquinas did not write a certain prayer. It ended with the point that there has since been more historical evidence that said scholar would not have had access to. Seriously?

The book is meaty, and probably not written for me! I am just an Aquinas junky and by no means a scholar.

Points I loved. St. Thomas Aquinas as Mystic. Swoon! And of course, the treatment of his prayers/music/poetry at the end.

Not a book to plow through. One to savor.