The nounrecognitiois not infrequently used by Thomas in the
sense of normative acknowledgement. InSumma theologiae, Thomas
interprets Hilary thus:‘The Son subjects Himself by His inborn
piety...that is, by His recognition (recognitio) of paternal author-
ity.’^103 In another context, Thomas speaks of‘the fact that man
offered some of his own belongings in honour of God, as though in
recognition of his having received them from God’.^104 In a theologic-
ally significant passage in theSumma, Thomas teaches that‘grace
implies something in him who receives grace:first, the gift given
gratis; secondly, the acknowledgment of the gift (recognitio doni)’.^105
Offerings and sacrifices depict obvious cases of a lord and servant
entering into a bond. InSumma theologiaeII/2 we see this dialectic at
work. Thomas teaches that‘it is a dictate of natural reason that man
should use certain sensibles, by offering them to God in a sign of the
subjection and honour due to Him, like those who make certain
offerings to their lord in recognition of his authority (in recognitio-
nem domini)’.^106 Thomas further claims that
thefirst-fruits were offered for a special reason, namely, in recognition
of the divine benefit(in recognitionem divini beneficii), as though man
acknowledged that he had received the fruits of the earth from God, and
that he ought to offer something to God in return, according to
1 Chronicles 29:14,‘We have given Thee what we received of Thy
hand.’^107In this context Thomas speaks of the‘debt of recognition’(debitum
recognitionis) arising from such favour or benefit.^108
The question of‘whether it belongs to observance to pay worship
and honour to those who are in positions of dignity (in dignitate
constituti)’^109 offers a summary of Thomas’s teaching about recogni-
tion. Thomas responds as follows:
a person in a position of dignity is an object of twofold consideration:
first, in so far as he obtains excellence of position, together with a certain
power over subjects: secondly, as regards the exercise of his govern-
ment. In respect of his excellence there is due to him honour (honor),(^103) SThI, q42 a4 ad1. Trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Hilary,
De trin.54.
(^104) SThII/1 q102 a3 resp. (^105) SThII/1 q110 a1 resp.
(^106) SThII/2 q85 a1 resp. (^107) SThII/2 q86 a4 resp.
(^108) SThII/2 q86 a4 ad1. (^109) SThII/2 q102 a2.
74 Recognition and Religion