Chapter Twelve. Thomas Aquinas On Christs Prayer

Thomas Aquinas believed that Jesus Christ provided a model ( exemplum ) for prayer. Examining Thomas Aquinas on Christ?s prayer clarifies Thomas? understanding of prayer in general. Thomas? understanding of prayer in general likewise clarifies his presentation of Christ?s prayer. This chapter investigates prayer in Aquinas, focusing on Christ?s prayer. Thomas? spirituality is deeply rooted in his theology. Prayer serves a specific function as a secondary cause within the plan of divine providence and cannot be appreciated apart from God?s providential ordering of creation. Prayer finds its highest expression in Jesus Christ, and understanding that expression demands basic understanding of Thomas? Christology. The chapter draws material from the Super Mattheum and the Summa theologiae , late works expressing Thomas? mature views. Next, the lessons gleaned from the summary of the Lord?s Prayer is applied to the specific case of Christ?s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane as treated in ST 3.21. Keywords: Christ?s prayer; divine providence; garden of Gethsemane; Lord's Prayer (LP); Summa theologiae ; Super Mattheum ; Thomas Aquinas; Thomas? Christology