The present work, the Compendium of Theology, was the last St. Thomas Aquinas undertook before his death. Thus the Compendium contains the central elements of St. Thomas's far-reaching theological vision after a lifetime of study and teaching. Here, in a seemingly effortless display, Thomas demonstrates one final time his marvelous clarity of mind, no matter the subject on which it is trained.

The brevity of the work has the advantage of giving at a glance and in summary form the mature theological conclusions of the Angelic Doctor. A new introduction by Rev. Richard A. Munkelt provides in brief compass a lucid and wide-ranging presentation of the fundamentals of Thomas's thought. For someone approaching Thomas for the first time, the Compendium of Theology is an ideal place to begin; for one long acquainted with his works, here is friendly and familiar sustenance.

In praise of Augustine, Herbert A. Deane writes, "Genius he had in full measure ... he is the master of the phrase or the sentence that embodies a penetrating insight, a flash of lightning that illuminates the entire sky." To provide the student with a glimpse of that genius and a synthesis of Augustine's views on man and society, the author presents the most important passages from Augustine's entire body of work in which human nature, the social order, and the nature and function of the state are discussed. Marshaling this primary material, he masterfully weaves the connections between Augustine's social and political ideas and the general framework of his thought. A new foreword by Richard A. Munkelt makes a substantial contribution in critiquing Deane's assimilation of certain aspects of Augustine's thought to modern-day liberalism. The new foreword also contains extensive additional bibliography on the subject of Augustine's political thought.

"Will undoubtedly remain the basic work on this subject."--Library Journal

"Professor Deane significantly contributes both to historical understanding of Augustine's political thinking and to appreciation of its permanent relevance to the moral dilemmas of politics. No other study of Augustine's political thought gives nearly so much so well."--Political Science Quarterly

"This book would be salutary, possibly purgatorial, reading for all politicians, psychologists, and educationalists."--Times Literary Supplement