A Treatise on the Foundations of Thought: Contemplations on the Divine Order of the Soul and Life (Expanded)

A Treatise on the Foundations of Thought: Contemplations on the Divine Order of the Soul and Life (Expanded Redo)

As I have meticulously dissected the harmonious proportions of the human form, wherein every vein and muscle reflecteth the divine geometry of the Creator, so too doth the intellect, that noblest faculty, seek to mirror the eternal Logos who ordereth all things. True thought is the ascent of the soul from the shadows of ignorance to the light of divine wisdom, as St. Augustine (†430) confesseth in his Confessions: “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it resteth in Thee.” The Council of Arles (314 AD) and the early Fathers affirm that without grace, the mind wandereth in vain pursuits, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14, Greek: Ψυχικὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπος οὐ δέχεται τὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος τοῦ Θεοῦ – “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God”).

This treatise, though concise, is a distillation of eternal truths, drawn from Scripture and the patristic tradition, capping the revelations given to the Apostles. Equipped with this alone, the seeker could guide souls to sanctity, performing works akin to miracles in healing maladies of the spirit, as the Lord commandeth: “Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Luke 10:9, Greek: Θεραπεύετε τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ ἀσθενεῖς καὶ λέγετε αὐτοῖς· Ἤγγικεν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ – “Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you”).

Give this volume to one ensnared in torment or curiosity, to one with kin in need of virtue, and let him meditate upon it diligently. Transformation and beatitude will ensue, for “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2, Greek: Μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοὸς ὑμῶν, εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον – “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God”).

This slender codex is a compendium, albeit brief, of the wisdom of ages, from the prophets to the Fathers. Their teachings, illumined by divine grace, elevate the humanities to parity with the mechanical arts, nay superiority, for “Wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (Proverbs 8:11, Greek: Κρείσσων γὰρ σοφία λίθων πολυτελῶν, πᾶν δὲ τίμιον οὐκ ἄξιον αὐτῆς ἐστιν – “For wisdom is better than costly stones, and every precious thing is not worthy of her”).

What hath been sought by councils and synods at great cost hath been quietly fulfilled here. This is how the soul ascendeth. This is how thou guidest men, women, and children to virtue. The embrace or neglect of these truths may determine the fate of nations, as the atomic fires threaten like the judgments of old. True thought already prevaileth in this arena. In the selfsame era, two mighty forces hath arisen: the light of faith in self and kin, and the shadow of self-destruction through fission. Which triumph dependeth upon thy embrace of divine wisdom.

True thought is today in every land, upon every continent. As thou perusest this, it is rendered into manifold tongues, disseminated to peoples whose multitudes have ne’er tasted the Gospel’s light. As St. Irenaeus (†202) might say in essay: “The Church and her faithful are not revolutionaries but renewers. They seek not overthrow but the restoration of what is fallen. ’ The Church is not worldly. When ideologies’ flames threaten all, forget factions and seek truth. “Her mission is not domination but salvation. It warreth upon folly, the folly that leadeth to the Final Judgment. “To the faithful, Earth’s true barbarism is ignorance. Only in ignorance’s abyss can heresies’ conflicts sprout. “Governance, to the faithful, is a matter of truth, and all governance’s woes can be healed by truth. “In yesteryear one might exploit ignorance for gain. In yesteryear the quest for wisdom was a leisure. In yesteryear one might indulge irresponsibility and hatred. “ But that was yesteryear. Today, exploited ignorance, casual regard for knowledge, refusal to bear man’s burden may be chastised in the thunder of bombs unleashed by rulers whose wisdom and rule were insufficient for better. Ignorant folk choose ignorant leaders. Only ignorant leaders lead to strife—and this time to strife that bringeth eternal silence to Earth. “As thy kin, their dwellings, offspring, goods, and future lie in ashes radioactive, no time remaineth to regret laxity. The volumes undistributed shall lie there too. “Some claim no fear of death till dying’s eve. Then they speak otherwise. “ Those who assail this work from ideological darkness or cowardice assail man’s heart—for man hath long journeyed toward truth, and the Church can guide him thither. “ Time on Earth wanes. We must labour. “ The wicked is ignorant and foolish. Thus ignorance and folly may be called wicked. “ Cause man to set aside hatreds and hearken. Liberation from Ignorance is nigh. Perhaps that was the Kingdom of Heaven. “ Time on Earth wanes for spreading this knowledge. This solveth our barbarism, whence we lose all. The Church worketh. We must labour, all—not to rail at man for unattainable liberties, but to render man holy enough for his freedom. “ ‘Tis time man matured. That is our intent. For weeping cometh in the night where ignorance, division, hatred, and exploitation are fed by the fiercest weapon—the bomb. “ Alter no man’s faith, no man’s governance, infringe no nation’s sovereignty. Instead teach man to wield what he hath and knoweth for the actual creation, in any polity, of a holy society on Earth for the first time. “And so we labour.” We trust thou shalt find this volume of use in thy domestic and vocational life. We hope that by placing it in thy hands, thou and many may lead holier lives. THE GUARDIANS OF THE FAITH Note.—This text hath been ordered so that a complete rendering of all therein shall deliver without disruption or harmful alteration the foundations of true thought into divers tongues.

Contents Page
Chapter The Vital Statistics of True Thought 9
Chapter 2 Basic Principles … 12
Chapter 3 The Conditions of Existence 16
Chapter 4 The Eight Dynamics 21
Chapter 5 The A.R.C. Triangle 24
Chapter 6 The Reason Why 26
Chapter 7 The Parts of Man 32
Chapter 8 Causation of Knowledge 42
Chapter 9 Know and Not-Know 49
Chapter 10 The Goal of True Thought 50
Chapter 11 Guidance in True Thought 51
Chapter 12 Exact Practices … 54

Chapter One: The Vital Measures of True Thought

What is true thought? ‘Tis the knowledge of God and creatures, ordered to beatitude. St. Thomas Aquinas, echoing the Fathers, defineth it as the intellect’s conformity to divine reality. ’Tis no invention but discovery, rooted in the Word who is Christ (John 1:1).

True thought improveth the soul’s health, elevateth understanding, refineth conduct, and adorneth the whole man with virtue. Employed by a confessor upon penitents, it commandeth exercises that heal, as the Council of Orange (529) prescribed disciplines for the lapsed.

Through such, one attaineth serenity, as the Psalmist singeth: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

Say “next” for Part 2 (Chapters Two to Four).