Aquinas and the Renewal of Religious Life: An Exploration of the Five Principles of Perfectae Caritatis

Abstract: The renewal of religious life called for by the Second Vatican Council in its decree Perfectae Caritatis is meant to be a continuous, constant reality. This article explores the five principles of such renewal drawing from the thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas. It argues that (1) exemplar causality can illuminate the following of Christ; (2) the ordering of ends to charity can clarify and support the special work and characteristics of religious orders; (3) the Eucharist is the source for religious to share in the life of the Church; (4) Aquinas's understanding of the relation between nature and grace can bolster the ability of religious to judge and act wisely; (5) the virtue of penance is integral to any project of spiritual renewal. This article shows, therefore, the continued vibrance of Thomistic thought for the theology of religious life.