Shorter Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas: A Modern Translation of the Compedium of Theology (Doctors of the Church: Modern Translations)

Shorter Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas: The Compendium of Theology Aquinas in his own concise voice—faith made clear, orderly, and luminous. Thomas Aquinas composed the Compendium of Theology as a brief guide to the whole of Christian doctrine, distilling the heart of the Summa into a direct, pastorally focused synthesis. This edition offers a modern, faithful translation with a crisp introduction and unobtrusive notes—ideal for study, teaching, or spiritual reading.

What’s inside? God & the Divine Attributes — God’s existence, simplicity, goodness, wisdom, will, and providence. The Trinity — Processions, relations, and the unity of essence with distinction of Persons. Creation & Providence — Creation ex nihilo, angels, the human soul, evil as privation, and the order of the universe. Human Nature & Beatitude — Image of God, intellect and will, the ultimate end, and happiness in the vision of God. Grace & Virtue — Theological and moral virtues, gifts of the Spirit, law, and the shaping of the Christian life. Christ & Redemption — Incarnation, the unity of Christ’s person, passion and merit, and the communication of grace. Prayer, Sacraments & Last Things — The Lord’s Prayer, sacramental economy in brief, resurrection and final fulfillment.

Why this edition? Modern & Faithful — Smooth, accurate English that preserves Aquinas’s precision and warmth.
Guided Reading — A concise introduction situates the Compendium within Aquinas’s life and the wider Thomistic corpus.
Concise Commentary — Light notes clarify key terms (act & potency, form & matter, nature & grace) without interrupting the flow.
Reader-First Design — Clean headings, consistent formatting, and thoughtful spacing for classroom, parish, or prayer.

Who is it for? Students of theology and philosophy, clergy and catechists, and all readers seeking a trustworthy, readable doorway into Aquinas’s vision of God, the human person, and life in Christ.

Meet Thomas Aquinas—teacher of the Church, guide of reason and faith. Read the Shorter Summa as a living synthesis: ordered, luminous, and oriented to beatitude—the knowledge of God that heals, elevates, and perfects the human person.