Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange

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Reginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (February 21, 1877, Auch, France – February 15, 1964, Rome) was a Catholic theologian and, among Thomists of the manualist tradition, is generally thought to be the greatest Catholic thomist of the 20th century. He taught at the Angelicum in Rome from 1909 to 1960.

Father Garrigou-Lagrange initially attracted attention when he wrote against Modernism. He is best known for his spiritual theology. He propounded the thesis that infused contemplation and the resulting mystical life are in the normal way of holiness of Christian perfection. His classical work in the field is The Three Ages of the Interior Life. He taught many eminent Catholic theologians during his academic career, the most illustrious being the future Pope John Paul II.

He produced 28 books and hundreds of articles. Among the most famous works are:

• God, His Existence and Nature: A Thomistic Solution of Certain Agnostic Antinomies (1914)
• Christian Perfection and Contemplation according to St Thomas Aquinas and St John of the Cross (1923)
• The Love of God and the Cross of Jesus (1929)
• Providence (1932)
• Predestination (1936)
• The Three Ways of the Spiritual Life (1938)
• The Three Ages of the Interior Life: Prelude of Eternal Life (1938), synthesis of Christian Perfection and Contemplation and Love of God and the Cross of Jesus
• Christ the Saviour (1945), commentary on Summa Theologica III.1-26, 31-59
• Life Everlasting and Immensity of the Soul (1947)
• Grace (1947), commentary on Summa Theologica I-II.109-114.
• The Mother of the Saviour and our Interior Life (1948)
• The Priest in Union with Christ (1948)
• The Theological Virtues - Vol. 1: Faith (1948), commentary on Summa Theologica II-II.1-16
• Beatitude (1951), commentary on Summa Theologica I-II.1-54
• The One God, commentary on Summa Theologica I.1-26
• The Trinity and God the Creator, commentary on Summa Theologica I.27-119
• Reality: A Synthesis of Thomistic Thought
• Life Everlasting

[edit] Quotes

• Comment on an early draft of Karol Wojtyla's (later Pope John Paul II) thesis, of which Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange was the director:

"Writes much; says little."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] External links and references

• The Sacred Monster of Thomism: An Introduction to the Life and Legacy of Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. by Richard Peddicord published in 2004 by St. Augustine's Press
• Reason with Piety, Garrigou-Lagrange in the Service of Catholic Thought by Aidan Nichols Sapientia Press of Ave Maria University (2008)
• Reality: A Synthesis of Thomistic Thought published in 2007 by Ex Fontibus Co. Softcover. Hardcover.
• Life and Work