🧵The four grades of life according to Thomas Aquinas.

This thread will cover Thomas Aquinas’ theory that life is made up of four stages which are accompanied by four virtues. Aquinas discusses this theory in his “sermon on the division of sacred scripture.” pic.twitter.com/MgYtdfrIAF

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) January 29, 2024

1. “In the first grade are political virtues, whereby a man moderately used the things of this world and lives among men, and this in the Proverbs.”

– In the first part of life we discover how the world truly works. This is often in relation to politics but it goes beyond that.

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) January 29, 2024

2. “In the seconded grade are the purgative virtues, whereby a man regards the world with contempt, and this in Ecclesiastes.”

– After one discovers how the world truly works, they are often filled with despair and wonder if there is any good in the world at all.

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) January 29, 2024

3. “In the third grade are the virtues of the purged soul, whereby a man, wholly cleansed of worldly cares, delights in the contemplation of wisdom alone, and this is found Song of Songs.”

-Next you’ll realize the futility of living a worldly life and instead try to become wise.

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) January 29, 2024

4. “In the fourth grade are the exemplar virtues existing in God, concerning which precepts of wisdom are not given but are rather derived from them.”

– After learning wisdom, you will look to the source of wisdom which is God our Creator. You will worship God forever and ever.

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) January 29, 2024