Although the nounagnitiois still preferred overrecognitio,^85 both are
theologically significant for Aquinas. Let us start with an exemplary
text taken from Thomas’sCommentary on the Gospel of St Matthew.
In the parable of talents, the master—we continue to employ the
term lord—praises the good servant with the words:‘Well done, good
and faithful servant’(Matt. 25:42). Thomasfirst compares this verse
with Isa. 62:5:‘Behold, the bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride,
and thy God shall rejoice over thee.’The scene is thus associated with
both Bernard’s bridal mysticism and the feudal relationship between
lord and servant. Thomas goes on to expound the text:
‘Well done’is an expression of jubilation. The commendation (com-
mendatio) follows. Firstly, the master commends the servant for his
humility when he says,‘Servant’, because he had acknowledged (recog-
noscebat) that he was a servant.‘When you shall have done all these
things well, say: we are unprofitable servants’(Luke 17:10).^86Interestingly, we have in this quote a use ofrecognoscothat does not
mean mere recollection but a normative acknowledgement.
Thomas goes on to enumerate various commendations that
express the relationship between the lord and the servant. The servant
is‘good’and‘faithful’. Thomas then quotes 2 Cor. 10:18, saying that
he whom God commends is approved, not the one commending
himself. The act of commendation is one aspect of the larger event
of‘remuneration’that also consists of congratulation (‘well done’),
fairness or judgement, and greatness of reward. In commendation,
the merits of the servant are accounted for; in reward, the lord says
‘enter into the joy of thy lord’(Matt. 25:23). When describing the
reward, Thomas also refers to Song of Songs 1:3:‘The king has
brought me into his storerooms.’The second servant of the parable
receives a similar commendation and benefit, whereas the third
receives vituperation and punishment.^87
We see here a refinement of Bernard’s feudal commendation at
work. The servant performs an act of acknowledgement that
expresses his humility. The lord performs the commendation leading
to a reward. The commendation is not only praise of the servant’s
merits, but also a receptive act because of which the lord enters a
(^85) 36 recognit, 152 agnit from theLLTdatabase.
(^86) Thomas,In Matt.25:14–30. Trans. Kimball, 817.
(^87) In Matt.25:14–30. Kimball, 818–19.
70 Recognition and Religion