St. Thomas Aquinas · Summa Theologica
Prologue: The Purpose of the Summa
St. Thomas explains why he wrote the Summa Theologica, whom it was intended to serve, and the clear order he sought to follow.
The Prologue
St. Thomas states the purpose, audience, and method of the Summa Theologica.
Because the doctor of Catholic truth ought not only to teach the proficient, but also to instruct beginners—according to the Apostle, “As unto little ones in Christ, I gave you milk to drink, not meat” (1 Corinthians 3:1–2)—we purpose in this book to treat of whatever belongs to the Christian religion, in such a way as may tend to the instruction of beginners.
We have considered that students in this doctrine have not seldom been hampered by what they have found written by other authors: partly on account of the multiplication of useless questions, articles, and arguments; partly because the things they need to know are not taught according to the order of the subject matter, but according as the plan of a book might require or the occasion of an argument offer; and partly because frequent repetition brought weariness and confusion to the minds of readers.
Endeavouring to avoid these and other like faults, we shall try, by God’s help, to set forth whatever is included in this sacred doctrine as briefly and clearly as the matter itself may allow.