32 The world: starting from movement, becoming, contingency, and
the world’s order and beauty, one can come to a knowledge of God as
the origin and the end of the universe.
As St. Paul says of the Gentiles: For what can be known about God is
plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the
creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and
deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.7
And St. Augustine issues this challenge: Question the beauty of the
earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air
distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky. . .
question all these realities. All respond: “See, we are beautiful.” Their
beauty is a profession [confessio]. These beauties are subject to change.
Who made them if not the Beautiful One [Pulcher] who is not subject
to change?8
