Predestination

In Predestination, the great Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange gives a masterful theological exposition of the classic Thomistic teaching on this, the most difficult of all theological tracts, showing the reconciliation --- as far as it can be understood this side of the Beatific Vision --- of the various elements of the Church's teaching on Predestination.

Based on Scripture and Tradition, this book gives the history of Catholic thought on this topic, showing how centuries of Catholic theologians have wrestled to reconcile the two truths of divine predilection and the damnation of souls. In the process, the author explains the teachings of St. Augustine, St. Anselm, Peter Lombard, St. Bonaventure, St. Albert the Great, Duns Scotus, St. Robert Bellarmine, Suarez, and others. He also analyzes the problems with Molinism, Congruism, Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism, Protestantism (Luther, Zwingli, Calvin), Baianism and Jansenism.

Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange sheds the great light of St. Thomas Aquinas on all the questions surrounding Predestination, emphasizing the gratuity of Predestination and the absolutely fundamental principle of the divine predilection, i.e., God's loving in advance from all eternity. He also covers efficacious and sufficient grace, free will, God's antecedent and consequent will, His Justice, His Mercy, and the question of whether His foreknowledge of merits is the cause of Predestination. In every respect, Predestination is a magnificent exposition of this difficult subject for serious students and for all who are seeking a profound, theological, Catholic understanding of the mystery of election and reprobation.

Filosofia / Religião e Espiritualidade