Blogging about a guy blogging about a guy named Thomas

To restore man, who had been laid low by sin, to the heights of divine glory, the Word of the eternal Father, though containing all things within His immensity, willed to become small. This He did, not by putting aside His greatness, but by taking to Himself our littleness. No one can say that he is unable to grasp the teaching of heavenly wisdom; what the Word taught at great length, although clearly, throughout the various volumes of Sacred Scripture for those who have leisure to study, He has reduced to brief compass for the sake of those whose time is taken up with the cares of daily life. Man’s salvation consists in knowing the truth, so that the human mind may not be confused by divers errors; in making for the right goal, so that man may not fall away from true happiness by pursuing wrong ends; and in carrying out the law of justice, so that he may not besmirch himself with a multitude of vices.
- St. Thomas Aquinas - from Compendium Theologiae  (Borrowed from CT1: Thomas' Plan of Attack by Will Duquette)

What impresses me about the above statement is that Thomas intended for all kinds of Christians to read and understand this compendium. It was not written solely for theologians or the clergy. It was written for us.

I love the phrase referring to the Incarnation,

"The Word of the eternal Father, though containing all things within His immensity, willed to become small. This He did, not by putting aside His greatness, but by taking to Himself our littleness." 

Beautiful!  Simple! Clear! How small did He become? A single cell embryo to begin with. All human life was hallowed in the beginning by being created in God's image. (Genesis 1)  It is further hallowed by the Son of God being formed in Mary's womb where God the Son took on human flesh in its smallest possible form.

He willed it to be so.

Note, too, that the intention of this work is not to give smart people something to talk about to impress their smart friends. It is intended to be a sanctifying influence on the life of the true believer who reads it.