The Trinitarian Theology of Saint Thomas Aquinas - El Camino ...

Procession of the Holy Spirit 297
In conclusion, one can sum up St Thomas’ attitude to the medieval East
from a doctrinal and historical perspective by noting on the one hand the deep
unintelligibility which the negation of the Spirit’s procession a Filio had in his
eyes, within a lack of comprehension which derived from the fundamental
structure of Latin and Greek Trinitarian doctrine, and, on the other hand, his
conviction of the unity of faith in the Holy Spirit amongst both parties. The
historical and doctrinal understanding which we now have permits us to grasp
the internal form of the Orthodox tradition better. Thomas Aquinas’ role is to
show us the internal form of the Catholic tradition. The path to an authentic
ecumenical agreement can hardly lie in a higher synthesis of the two traditions,
but, rather in the deepening of the convergence noted by witnesses to both
traditions: using diVerent words, and within a doctrine whose theoretical
principles diVer, how can West and East articulate the same faith?