Brief Notices

BRIEF NOTICES Opuscula Theologica. By ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. Vol. I. Edited by RAYMOND VERARDo, 0. P. Pp. 531. Vol. II. Edited by RAYMOND SPIAZZI, 0. P. Pp. 441. Turin: Marietti, 1954. Opuscula Philosophica, By ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. Edited by RAYMOND SPIAZZI, 0. P. Turin: Marietti, 1954. Pp. 379. With the publication of these three volumes, Marietti substantially augments its series of manual editions of the works of St. Thomas. The Opuscula are among the more important minor works of St. Thomas, written by him on the occasion of various disputes and consultations, and of great value insofar as they deal integrally with a theological or philosophical subject. These new editions, similar in format to the other manuals in the series, are well arranged typographically both for systematic study and for ready reference. While no attempt has been made to provide throughout a definitive critical text, the editors havtl emended the old Parma text, drawing on the Piana and Veneta editions and recent scholarship for some variant readings, and thus provide a sound doctrinal text suitable for manual use. For practical reasons, the theologic&l Opuscula have been divided into two volumes, the first entitled De Re Dogmatica et Morali and the second De Re Spirituali. Admittedly this is not a perfect division, insofar as much of the matter of each volume could easily pertain to the other. Especially notable among the contents of the first volume are the Compendium Theologiae and Contra Errores Graecorum. To the latter opusculum has been appended, for the first time, the anonymous Libellus on which St. Thomas·based his refutations. Another innovation is the presentation of a second text of the Responsio al Lectorem Venetum, complete with critical apparatus . The second volume contains, among other items, the various opuscula written by St. Thomas against contemporary opponents of the religious life, the exposition of the Creed, the" Our Father" and the" Hail Mary," and the Office of Corpus Christi. An appendix has also been added containing the complete commentaries on Boethius' De Trinitate and De Hebdomadibus, edited by M. Calcaterra, 0. P. In the case of De Trinitate, variant readings for the fifth and sixth questions taken from the new Wyser edition have been indicated in the footnotes. The philosophical Opuscula have been rearranged in order of subject matter, rather than chronologically or according to the numeration of the old Romana edition. As in the theological volumes, all works that are now unanimously regarded as.. apocryphal have been excluded, although the 800 BRIEF NOTICES 301 editors have retained the opuscula rejected as spurious by Mandonnet but regarded as authentic by Grabmann. Some of the more important works in this volume are De Ente et Essentia, De Principiis Naturae, and De Regimine Principum. Where possible, a synoptic table of the argument contained in each work has been indicated. The editors have prefaced each volume with a general introduction, and in addition have supplied special introductions for each opusculum. The latter deal with historico-critical problems and take into account all major difficulties, not so much to solve them as to present the state of the question accurately. Bibliographies have been supplied for those who wish to delve further into the matter. Paragraph numbering in each volume is separate, and clear textual divisions have been indicated throughout, preserving St. Thomas' divisions in italics. Scriptural citations have been furnished from the Vulgate, except that the psalms are cited from the new version of the Pontifical Biblical Institute. As in the previous volumes of the series, parallel places have been noted, and the indices are complete, including biblical references, authorities cited, subject matter, and general tables of contents. These new editions will be a boon to serious students of St. Thomas, as well as to libraries attempting to amplify their Thomistic source material. Until the Leonine Commission completes its voluminous work, they will assure Thomists of reliable working texts with which to grasp an integrated knowledge of important features of the Angelic Doctor's philosophical and theological doctrine. Nature and Grace. By MATTHIAS J. ScHEEBEN. Translated by CYRIL VoLLERT, S. J. St. Louis: Herder, 1954. Pp. 385 with Index. $4.95. Not the least advantage of this book is the foreword by...