John of St. Thomas (aka John Poinsot), Introduction to the Summa Theologiae of Thomas Aquinas, trans. Ralph McInerny (South Bend, IN: St. Augustine's Press 2014).
From one perspective this little gem is nothing special. From another, it is quite special. St. Thomas's famous Summa theologiae is known for many, many things. However, few pay attention to his masterful grasp of the ordering of topics that must be treated if one wants to speak in a systematic way about theological matters. His great follower, John of St. Thomas takes the reader for a trip through this careful order. Let us always remember too—it is the office of the wise person to order things. St. Thomas is indeed wise.
Some Quotes and Thoughts
"That is why the chief and most efficacious way of entering into and grasping the mind of the Angelic Doctor in this wonderful edifice of theology is first diligently seeking the order he followed in the disposition and treatment of his Summa, proceeding from one question to the next, from one matter to another, as if joined by golden links."
(How many people take truly seriously the fact that this is a work of theological science? Do we pray enough when we enter into this and other works that speak of God?)