In yesterday’s Father’s Day DM, both essay and video, we celebrated Thomas Aquinas as a spiritual father to myself, and so many other people.

In the video I recalled what a powerful spiritual father he was to Dante, Mechtild (a Beguine and member of the women’s movement of the Middle Ages), Meister Eckhart—and all the people he has influenced—and to Julian of Norwich, Nicolas of Cusa, Fr. Bede Griffiths, etc.
Let us hear Aquinas more on the role of Truth, Justice and Compassion.
In his Commentary on the Psalms he cites the psalmist:
‘The Lord loves compassion and justice.’ For God loves them in themselves, since these things are in the work. As Psalm 25 puts it, ‘all the ways of the Lord [are] compassion and truth.’ Likewise, God loves them in each person, as Micah puts it (6): ‘I will show you, O people, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you. Especially to do justice, to cherish compassion, and to walk humbly with your God.’ And so the psalmist says, ‘exult,’ for truly God ‘loves compassion’….
In his Commentary on Matthew’s Gospel, Aquinas cautions us not to sentimentalize compassion when he teaches:
Justice without compassion is cruel, and compassion without justice is the mother of weakness. And therefore it is necessary that they be joined together according to Proverbs 3:3: ’Compassion and truth will not forsake you, and Psalm 85:10 says: ‘Compassion and truth have met,’ etc.
We see here an influence on Eckhart who, in his treatise on Luke 6:36: “Be you compassionate as your Father in heaven is compassionate,” says “compassion means justice” and invokes the psalm that “compassion is where peace and justice kiss.”
How significant are Truth, Justice and Compassion in this year’s presidential campaigns? The Washington Post counted 36,000 lies one of the presidential candidates told when he was last president.
The bottom line is that, according to Aquinas, there can be no truth or justice or compassion without all three operating together. As a Trinity.
We find these two things, compassion and justice, in all the works of God….Compassion comes first, and after it follows justice. Therefore the psalmist says, ‘all the ways of the Lord [are] compassion and truth. And Tobias says, ‘all your ways [are] compassion and truth.’ And Psalm 145 says: ‘God’s compassion over all the divine works.’
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 391f.
See also Fox, “The proper objects of the heart are truth and justice,” in Fox, The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times, pp. 101-108.
And Fox, Passion For Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart, pp. 417-439.
Banner Image: “Lady Justice” by visual artist Kim Vanderheiden, removing the traditional blindfold and sword to offer a more compassionate icon. Learn more HERE:
Queries for Contemplation
Do you recognize—or hope—that truth, justice and compassion are integral to this year’s presidential race? How can you help to make that so?
Recommended Reading

Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox renders Thomas Aquinas accessible by interviewing him and thus descholasticizing him. He also translated many of his works such as Biblical commentaries never before in English (or Italian or German of French). He gives Aquinas a forum so that he can be heard in our own time. He presents Thomas Aquinas entirely in his own words, but in a form designed to allow late 20th-century minds and hearts to hear him in a fresh way.
“The teaching of Aquinas comes through will a fullness and an insight that has never been present in English before and [with] a vital message for the world today.” ~ Fr. Bede Griffiths (Afterword).
Foreword by Rupert Sheldrake

The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
A stunning spiritual handbook drawn from the substantive teachings of Aquinas’ mystical/prophetic genius, offering a sublime roadmap for spirituality and action.
Foreword by Ilia Delio.
“What a wonderful book! Only Matt Fox could bring to life the wisdom and brilliance of Aquinas with so much creativity. The Tao of Thomas Aquinas is a masterpiece.”
–Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit

Passion for Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart
Matthew Fox’s comprehensive translation of Meister Eckhart’s sermons is a meeting of true prophets across centuries, resulting in a spirituality for the new millennium. The holiness of creation, the divine life in each person and the divine power of our creativity, our call to do justice and practice compassion–these are among Eckhart’s themes, brilliantly interpreted and explained for today’s reader.
“The most important book on mysticism in 500 years.” — Madonna Kolbenschlag, author of Kissing Sleeping Beauty Goodbye.
2 thoughts on “Aquinas on Truth, Justice, and Compassion—Issues in Today’s Presidential Run?”
“Hope for the Best; Prepare for the Worst [and its Ugliness]”
It is said, ‘Hope for the best; prepare for the worst’. Well you only get what you vote for and you end up deserving who, what and why you voted the way you did. The outcome of the 2024 election results have already been written in the current and now long-standing divisiveness of a nation.
The US gained world-wide influence and power with a strong foundation and resolve. Now turning inward, fighting among themselves, the country had drifted into a protective and nationalistic mind-set. The current mind-set of the US is not the one that has led the world for many years in recent history. The US, despite military strengths is devolving as an influencer on the world stage.
There is still time for a new and better way, if a new and inspired cadre of leadership is brave and courageous enough to move to the forefront, regardless of party affiliation. The first line of ‘troops’ might not survive but the 2nd and 3rd lines will. The ‘devolution of America’ did not occur overnight, nor will it change based on the next election result in isolation and apart from new and evolving foundational repairs needed. – BB.
Yes!!! Faith~Hope~DIVINE LOVE, which includes Truth, Compassion, Justice, Peace… , are always very important on humanity’s spiritual journey and evolution both personally and communally because GOD’S SPIRIT Is Always within, through, among Us with-in All ongoing Co-Creation~Evolution in LOVING HEALING DIVERSE ONENESS in the Sacred Process~Flow of the ETERNAL PRESENT MOMENT….