On Gratitude

New York Times columnist David Brooks reflects on gratitude and its tie to 21st century American capitalism. We could certainly consider such a piece part of "all that's fit to print."

"The Structure of Gratitude," David Brooks The New York Times

As a bonus, jump to St. Thomas Aquinas's timeless take on the virtue in his Summa theologica, particularly Article 6.

"Thankfulness or Gratitude" II.II.Q106, St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica
 

Bonus Bonus: A primer to reading the vaunted Summa of St. Thomas

The Summa Theologica was written by St. Thomas as a beginners source text for those studying theology.

Take a moment. It's ok. We all are in the same boat, one labled "Dumb."

Or St. Thomas was out of touch.

Either way, he leaves us with possibly the greatest single work of the theology the Church has ever known (pending Fr. Otis' memoir publication).

The Summa was just as its Latin title seems to indicate: a summary, collecting the various teachings of the Church on life with God and each other. It follows the teaching style of St. Thomas day, disputing questions with objections and answers to objections. It makes for a very composite, extremely thorough read. As such, it should be moved through in a certain manner.

1. After reading the question, start any article with the "On the Contrary" section. This tells us St. Thomas's ultimate answer to the article's question. It usually is brief and is a quotation from scripture, the Church Tradition, or philosophy (usually Aristotle).

2. Move next to the "I answer that" section. This is where St. Thomas fleshes out his answer.

3. Read objections with their corresponding replies (hint: they have the same numbers).

4. Reread again because you probably didn't understand it all the first time.

5. Pour a glass of the feel-good potion of your choice, and ponder over whether St. Thomas was just otherworldly smart or we are evolving to a dumber species.

6. Google another Church-related topic with "summa" and "Thomas" after it. If it was around in the Middle Ages, there's a question and article and objections and replies to it. If it wasn't around, there's still a structure to reflect on it.

7. Brag to your friends about the "light" reading you recently did.

8. Google "pride summa thomas." (enjoy Article 5, Reply to Objection 3 particularly.)

9. Repeat.