Question from a New Thomist

Started by ialsop, October 27, 2017, 10:14:10 AM

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ialsop

October 27, 2017, 10:14:10 AM
Hello!

I have been doing my best to begin studying Aristotilean Thomistic philosophy. After drifting away from my spiritual life, confronting this philosophy has reinvigorated my faith.

Anyways, my question is: What is the difference between "formal cause" and "essence"? I have heard both explained as "the idea of what something actually is" and "what actually makes X, X". I have seen terms like "red-ness" and "roundness" to explain both concepts. So...what is the difference between them?

Thanks!
The devil has always attempted, by means of the heretics, to deprive
the world of the Mass, making them precursors of the Anti-Christ, who,
before
anything else, will try to abolish and will actually abolish the Holy
Sacrament of the altar, as a punishment for the sins of men, according to
the
prediction of Daniel "And strength was given him against the continual
sacrifice" (Daniel 8:12D).  --St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church

One single Mass gives more honor to God than all the penances of the
Saints, the labors of the Apostles, the sufferings of the martyrs, and even
the burning love of the Blessed Mother of God.  --St. Alphonsus Liguori
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