Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggar - additional

Author(s): 
Brendan Larnen, O.P.
Milton Lomask
Number of pages: 
190 pages
Copyright: 
1957
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Sewn Softcover
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
(Additional Review) "Essentials and Accidentals"

Once Saint Thomas Aquinas was in a class that Saint Albert the Great taught. One day St. Albert asked why this was silly: "I am a human being and I have a high pitched voice; therefore all human beings have high-pitched voices."

St. Thomas said that Father Albert should be pointing to an "essential" and not an "accidental". An essential is what all of what you are talking about have. An "accidental" is what only some of what you are talking about have. For example, how big a room is, what shape it is, what color it is and what it is used for are all accidentals. The essential thing about a room is that it is a space between four walls and has a ceiling and a floor.

I thought that this was very brilliant.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Reviewer age 9

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1999