Aquinas, Bonaventure, and the Scholastic Culture of Medieval Paris
Preaching, Prologues, and Biblical Commentary

'Professor Smith's work reflects his longtime friendships with the philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre and the spiritual master Michael Sherwin. With marvelous erudition and characteristically winsome prose, Smith leads the reader into the vibrant world of medieval preaching and prologues - and thus into a range of debates about pedagogy, the nature of Scripture, spirituality and theology, social practices, mystical delight, the liberal arts, and philosophical wisdom. In his hands, Aquinas and Bonaventure come alive.' Matthew Levering, James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary

'Students and scholars interested in the principia of medieval masters of theology have been forced to hunt for obscure articles and dissertations. Randall Smith has done a wonderful service in placing much information and analysis in one place. But Smith's work goes beyond gathering resources. He capitalizes on the richness of the texts he examines and provides something of a fresh entry point into the world of medieval theology itself, through two of its greatest figures. Hopefully this engaging study will inspire further work on this most important genre.' Joshua Benson, Catholic University of America

'This remarkable volume provides an in-depth comparative analysis of Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure. On the one hand, the analysis illustrates that the sermo modernus style and principia genre are indispensable in interpreting the individual writings of both medieval masters. On the other hand, their comparison reveals how their systems and instructional intent differs. The careful research and inviting prose makes this book an invaluable resource for all who study the scholastic culture of medieval Paris.' Jay M. Hammond, Saint Louis University

'Smith escorts us into that medieval invention, the university, where we meet Aquinas, 'logician', and Bonaventure, 'poet'. Their sermo modenus style of preaching organized their inception discourses as masters of theology and prologues to their commentaries on scripture. Aquinas is no longer mere theologian, nor pure philosopher, but the premier Christian philosopher-theologian; and Bonaventure the most sophisticated Christian writer after Augustine. So much for the 'dark ages'.' R. E. Houser, 2019 recipient of the Aquinas Medal for eminence in philosophy, American Catholic Philosophical Association

'Smith has produced a heroic work … [he] pulls together a mass of scholarship and translation, together with his own careful exposition of each of them. It has clearly been a labor of love.' Lesley Smith, The Thomist