Aquinas the Augustinian

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments This book had its origins in a conference sponsored by the Aquinas Center for Theological Renewal at Ave Maria University in February 2005. We wish to thank first all those people who were involved with the conference, especially Mercedes Cox, who so superbly assisted us in organizing it. The first class of graduate students in theology at Ave Maria University provided the backbone of labor during the conference, and we are particularly appreciative of their help. Louise Mitchell, currently completing her doctoral studies in moral theology, deserves special thanks for her editorial labors over the manuscript . The provost of Ave Maria University, Joseph Fessio, S.J., has given enthusiastic support to our efforts, and his presence has proven a great source of encouragement. Our colleagues at Ave Maria University also deserve thanks, in particular those in the theology, philosophy, and classics departments. For their encouragement of our work, we owe deepest gratitude to our families, above all our wonderful wives, Nancy Dauphinais, Christiane David, and Joy Levering. Our debt to the book’s contributors is an enormous one, since their labors have made the book what it is. It is fitting to observe that one of those contributors played a unique role. Fr. Matthew Lamb not only founded the graduate program in theology at Ave Maria University in fall 2004, but also suggested the original idea for the conference and made it possible through his seemingly limitless generosity. His friendship and wisdom have sustained and enriched our lives in exceptional ways. We are thus privileged to dedicate this book, which testifies to his sapiential theological vision, to Matthew L. Lamb in celebration of his seventieth birthday. It represents our admiration and love for him as a magnificent theologian, teacher, counselor, and friend. ix ...