God, Human Happiness, and the Mystery of It All Anonymous College

In his Summa Theologica, Thomas Aquinas argues that true human fulfillment stems from one’s closeness to God. Worldly pursuits, like fame or glory, fall short in comparison to the happiness that comes from arriving at a vision of the divine essence. This beautido, or perfect happiness, comes from a God who is deeply mysterious. His ways are often unknown, and His nature is difficult to comprehend. What is the destiny of human happiness, and what is the nature of the mystery that encompasses it?

The nature of God’s mystery unfolds as humans try to understand Him. In the unassisted human mind, the effects of God are better known than God himself (S. Th. I. Q.1, A.2). Human understanding is cloudy and indirect, as they see an incomplete representation of their creator. When humans try to define this creator, there is “no name or word that can express the divine essence” (S. Th. I, Q.13, A.1). The capabilities of the human mind are inadequate. God is ever present as the “unmovable mover” that exists “in all things”, yet he remains “not comprehended” (S. Th. I, Q.8, A.1). This paradox reflects incomplete human knowledge. Thus, God is not mysterious because of his nature; he is mysterious due to limited human intellect. Humanity’s...