Course of Theology - Volume Six I - João Poinsot

This sixth volume (Part I) of John of St. Thomas’s Course of Theology continues his systematic Thomistic synthesis of theology after the treatment of rational creatures, turning toward the moral and supernatural elevation of the human person in the order of salvation, following the framework of Thomas Aquinas.

The work begins with the doctrine of grace in general, explaining it as a supernatural gift freely bestowed by God that elevates human nature beyond its natural capacities. John of St. Thomas carefully distinguishes between sanctifying grace and actual grace, and analyzes their respective roles in the interior life of the soul.

A central portion is devoted to justification, describing the movement from a state of sin to a state of grace. He explains the interplay between divine causality and human cooperation, emphasizing that justification is initiated by God but involves real interior transformation in the human subject.

The volume also introduces questions concerning merit, the supernatural order, and the beginning of moral renewal in the soul. Throughout, Poinsot maintains his characteristic precision, using scholastic distinctions to clarify how grace perfects rather than destroys nature.

Overall, this volume presents the foundational structure of the supernatural life, showing how human beings are elevated from their natural condition into participation in divine life through grace.