St. Thomas Aquinas begins his explanation by taking into account eight questions that are based on how he perceives the divine providence. These questions include; Is predestination attributed to God? Does predestination place anything in the predestined? Whether the probation of certain men belongs to God? When comparing predestination to an election, are the predestined the chosen? Are merits the leading cause or motive of predestination, reprobation or election? If predestination is inevitable, will the predestined be saved? Is the number of the predestined specific? Can be predestination be furthered by the saint's prayers. To answer all these questions, St. Thomas first provides his objections concerning each point – which he later refutes by responding to the main question. Aquinas' answer is the focal point of each question provided and the arguments presented for the questions.
St. Augustine Aquinas conclusion about his perspective of predestination is that God is entitled to predestine and direct both human beings and angels to either glory or condemnation. Aquinas held the belief that God's predestination and election originated from his love. According to Aquinas, predestination is inevitable – even though he failed to establish the connection of the dispensation of God's grace to the elect as the primary factor resulting in this predestination. Furthermore, he argues that the number of predestined ones to glory is specific, - though he asserted that the reprobation of human beings and angels is uncertain. As a result, he states that this must be in proportion to the number that God has predestined to the glory. Finally, he ascertains his belief that the prayers of the saints do not influence the will of God in predestination – however, the ones God has selected as His predestined should pray regardless.
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References
Aquinas, Thomas. (1952). The Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinas . 2 vols. Translated byFathers of the English Dominican Province. 2nd ed. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
