Introduction

Abstract This chapter sketches the nature of contemplation. In the strict sense contemplation refers to the moment of insight after speculative reasoning. In the broad sense of the word, however, it refers to a receptivity to God that all Christians should cultivate. It is important to distinguish between these different meanings and the corresponding varied notions of wisdom (theoretical wisdom; as cognitive virtue; and as gift of the Holy Spirit) if we want to avoid attributing inconsistencies to Aquinas (who in ST I, q. 6, a. 6, ad 3 argues that the gifts are not necessary for contemplation but elsewhere (ST II-II, q. 45, a. 3) emphasizes their necessity for contemplation (in the broad sense)). Against the current of today’s scholarship the chapter also argues that Christian contemplation is included in Aquinas’s notion of ‘imperfect happiness’ on earth. The chapter concludes with an outline of the book.