6 JUNE 1931, Page 34

Messrs. Sliced and Ward have just added to their English

translation of Jacques Maritain's works his essay on St. Thomas Aquinas, Angel of the Schools (7s. 6d.). It `is astonishing to find M. Maritain in the role of hagiographer,' taking an uncritical interest in " visions " and " voices ; and the lay reader will probably find it prudent to pass lightly over the first part of the chapter on. Thomas _the .Saint, perhaps glancing for a moment at the remarkable' compoulid_ of temper and piety once exhibited by him as an infant in- his bath. These pages are the more to be regretted, since they are not representative of the main part of the work. Here, in expounding the genius and system of Aquinas, the philosopher and master .of divine wisdom},, M. Maritain is at his best. Discussing the angelic doctor successively as system maker, teacher, and " apostle of our time," he really helps the reader to carry out his own prescription, and put himself " as regards St. Thomas in the position of a 'living recipient from a living donor, of one who is formed and enlightened facing one who forms and enlightens ; so that St. Thomas may teach us to think and see." Mr. Scanlan's excellent translation does full justice to the text.

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