De Donis Spiritus Sancti deque Vita Mystica. In II P. Summae Theologiae Divi Thomae Expositio, Opera Omnia, Tomus VII by Jacobus M. Ramírez, and: Summa Theologiae, Volume 24(1a2ae 68–70). The Gifts of the Spirit by St. Thomas Aquinas (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 615 Jacobus M. Ramirez, De Donis Spiritus Sancti deque Vita Mystica. In II P. Summae Theologiae Divi Thomae Expositio, Opera Omnia, Tomus VII. Ed. VICTORINO RoDRIGUEZ, 0. P. Pp. 606. 550 ptas. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Volume 24(1a2ae 68-70). The Gifts of the Spirit. Commentary and translation by EDWARD D. O'CoNNOR, C.S. C. Blackfriars in conjunction with McGraw-Hill: New York, and Eyre and Spottiswoode; London, 1974) Pp. 185. $10.00. Theology does seem to be feeling the lack of an adequate Pneumatology. The experience of the spiritual dimensions of the Church brought to light by Vatican II, and the consequent recognition of a certain deficiency in Ecclesiology in regard to the place of the Holy Spirit, and the present experience of charismatic vitality in piety and practice, invite a rereading of St. Thomas's presentation of the Christian's new life in the Spirit. The usual " Thomistic synthesis " on grace rarely gets to the point of mentioning that Aquinas has any special doctrine in this area. The venerable commentaries have not given this theme prolonged consideration, and even in the era of Neo-Thomism the bibliography is remarkably small. Both the above books appeared in time for the seventh centenary celebrations of St. Thomas's death. This is a happy providence indicating the desirability of retrieving for modem reflection what is at once one of the most relevant and beautiful sides of his thought. There is something of a challenge for the reviewer in that enormous Latin text of the eminent Spanish Dominican, Santiago Ramirez. Its size, its language, its style, its frame of reference, even apart from its content, are sturdy indication that there are more things theological in the world than man, especially " modem secular man," might dream of. The editor tells us that this volume is made up of three distinct treatises. The first and largest, over three hundred and sixty pages, treats specifically the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as St. Thomas writes of them in I-II, q. 68 and II-II, qq. 8, 9, 19, 45, 5!l. This is the outcome of a course given in Fribourg some forty-five years ago. It is, indeed, a highly organized commentary on the pertinent sections of the Summa and moves in the context largely established by the medieval debate on the nature of the gifts. The editor has added some bibliography, some enumerations, and an index. We are told that Ramirez was rather unwilling to publish this disquisition on the gifts, feeling the lack of positive sources together with the inherent speculative difficulties of the question. It must be admitted that one has the impression that the author was not at his best in handling these issues. Of course, there is a well-divided and syllogistic treatment of the various questions, a certain dialectical play with ancient adversaries, all requisite attention to scholastic detail, leading to a careful restatement of general Thomistic positions. 616 BOOK REVIEWS The editor, at least, is not lacking in enthusiasm. He assures us that the "lector versatus" will readily recognize that his author's treatment of this theme is quite outstanding (" vere princeps inter omnia ") , even when compared to the classic work of John of St. Thomas in 1644. That might be, but I would be of the opinion that Gardeil, Garrigou-Lagrange, Maritain, Labourdette, and Philippe, all within the Thomist tradition, have addressed themselves to these questions with more inspiration, insight, and, most of all, with a sense of what the theology of the gifts really stands for. The second treatise is on the active and the contemplative life, essentially a commentary on II-II, qq. 179-18~. This runs to some two hundred pages and is the product of a course taught forty years ago. From then we jump to the time of the third treatise in this volume, dealing with the " recta aestimatio " of the contemplative life and of the religious institutes which profess it. This comparatively brief (about fifty pages) statement was writen during the time of the Second Vatican Council which Ramirez attended as a "peritus." It is mildly polemical, written against "iudicia minus sana minusque correcta...