Freedom (Aquinas 101)

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How is it possible that God's grace can move us freely to make saving acts of faith, hope, and love? Isn't this simply a contradiction?

The highest good of the human person is to dwell in eternal life with God. This is something that is infinitely above our natural capacity, but God, by the gift of his grace that comes to us from Christ, can freely move us to desire and to choose to love God above all things: to believe the words of Christ, to entrust ourselves to the power of his sacraments, and to profess the faith of the church. When we do these things, we are in fact experiencing what our freedom was made for in its full amplitude to know, and thus, to love the Supreme good for its own sake.

Freedom (Aquinas 101) - Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P.

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Aquinas 101 is a project of the Thomistic Institute that seeks to promote Catholic truth through short, engaging video lessons. You can browse earlier videos at your own pace or enroll in one of our Aquinas 101 email courses on St. Thomas Aquinas and his masterwork, the Summa Theologiae. In these courses, you'll learn from expert scientists, philosophers, and theologians—including Dominican friars from the Province of St. Joseph.

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[danpeterson]

I am not catholic, however i truly believe St. Thomas is the answer for the modern world. His reason and intellect can lead mankind back to God and to sanity.

[margitrujillo]

What a marvelous understanding about why a generation that speaks so much about ‘freedom’, finds itself in such bondage!!

[danielpoot]

Just like a prisoner who is set free from imprisonment. He is free yet he is not free to commit injustice.

[davidconnor]

Why would the nouvelle théologie reject such a simple and elegant teaching as presented here? Every high schooler should learn this material. I wish I had learned this in high school.

[brockjones]

Fr. Dominic Legge is off the charts smart, we are so fortunate to have him and the rest of the TI doing such good work

[pessimistprime]

So glad there is a YouTube channel explaining teachings about God from St.Thomas Aquinas!

Thank you for their videos, looking forward to learning more!

[fernandolh]

Thank you, brothers! I really, and freely!, enjoyed it. God bless.
0:00 Is there a contradiction between human freedom and God moving us to saving acts of faith, hope and love?
0:39 Modern understanding of freedom: to choose between contraires without costraint. For Aquinas, it's not only a partial understanding, but also a misleading description of human action.
1:33 Aquinas understanding of will, choice and freedom: In every choice we make, we're aiming to something we regard as good. (Choice is only one of the acts of the will).
1:55 The more fundamental feature of the will: will is a rational apetite for good. Will is engaged in large projects (students, athletes...), focusing in some end we regard as good.
3:55 Aquinas distinction on the many ends or goals: consisting in human flourishing, or frustrating... in order to hapinness or unhapiness.
4:37 The more we hide away from what is truly good for us, the more limited our lives become (for example: heroine...), not worthy of the image of God.
5:05 What will make us truly happy? ONLY GOD! only God can be our final end: here's the true reason for human freedom.
5:35 Understanding and will are ordered to get to know and love God by faith and supernatural charity.
5:55 Less than God would enchain our powers (understanding and will) to what is not good for us (and to sin, at the end: pleasure, money, honor...)
6:20 Natural goods lead to natural hapiness (friendship, family, virtue...) thorugh natural capacity.
6:45 the highest good, eternal life with God: infinitely above natural capacity.
6:55 God can move us towards Himself (Christ, faith, Sacraments, the Church...) through GRACE.
7:15 The sense of our human freedom: to know and love the supreme good, GOD, for its own sake.

[whoami]

All I can say is that I am so happy you guys are sharing this. More people would become free from sin if this was taught everywhere.

[riley.b.o]

I watched John Doyle's "How We Let America Die" today. In it, he talks about the "discipline, freedom, and liberty" confusion. Now I got your video suggested, good timing God!
(John Doyle is a Catholic American)

[ailicha]

This is one of the most beautiful series online. God bless these wonderful priests!

[filhodehenoc]

I'd resume the modern "freedom" as this: freedom to choose slaverism, despair, addiction.

[tgrt]

This is excellent. The modern notion of freedom is a huge source of problem in Western culture nowadays.

[bebetonguga]

I'm a teacher of Religous Sciences and Philosophy. My formation was thomistic and I can't thank enpugh for these wonderful series of videos!!! It's the new aeropagous and we must seize it!! It's a pity they've no subtitles, for I'd love to show them to my studente here, in Argentina!!! Keep up the excellent job and may Saint Thomas intercede for you and your ministry! Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare nunc et in saecula!

[pepearias]

Thanks to relevant radio and Mr Madrid I was able to know of you! Wow! Exactly what I was looking for- this is food I want more of! Ive been wanting to learn more about Saint Thomas Aquinas and you guys are awesome teachers🙏!

[byron]

Yes thank you Father for explaining very well and simple the essence of true Freedom that the present generation failed to grasp. In exercising Freedom one must decide using his rational desire means using his intellectual mind and his rational desire in his heart towards one’s Goodness! K

[byron]

For Evilness and Badness to proliferate and increase in our present time is when Good people become lukewarm and failed to actively pursue the good! Evil is defined as the absence of Good

[gsnowakowski]

That is so amazing. The clearest explanation of the freedom I have heard in my life. I have to process it and learn in order to be able to be useful for others should they desired to know what the freedom is. Thank you!

[kristindreko]

Thank you for this video!
May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you!

[maryjohnstone]

A great video and so instructive! Thank you so much n to all Priest who invest your time n energy, to enlighten us in our Faith n practice.

[maryjohnstone]

Beautifully explained and inspiring! Pointing out the right perametors by which we are helped to make informed choices for our happiness, is essential guidance for Christians.Thanks Father!