Verbum mentis in Thomas Aquinas

The text analyzes the concept of the mental word in Thomas Aquinas as the final step in the process of intellectual cognition. The context of the emergence of this term in St. Augustine is given at the beginning, and the connection of the meaning of mental word with the understanding of the relationships within the Holy Trinity is emphasized. In Aquinas, the mental word is defined in relation to other essential concepts for intellectual cognition: the intelligible species, the act of the possible intellect, and the known thing. Special attention is paid to the clear distinction between the intelligible species and the spiritual word. Furthermore, the meaning of intentio intellecta is explained, and the origin of the terms ?concept of first intention? and ?concept of second intention? is indicated.