Catechism of the Summa (14)

 XIX. OF THE CONSERVATION OF THINGS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT 

What is meant by saying that God is the sovereign lord of all things?

By this is understood that in the world created by God all things are subjected to the exclusive, supreme, and absolute dominion of God Himself 

What is meant by this?

By this is meant that there is nothing in the spirit world, or in the material world, or in man, which can evade the action of God maintaining and leading all things to the end for which He created them 

What is this end towards which God by His dominion maintains and guides all created things?

This end towards which God by His sway leads and maintains all created things is Himself or His glory 

What is meant by saying that God and His glory are the end of the entire universe thus maintained and ruled by Him?

By this is meant that God and His glory are the end of the whole universe because God directs all things therein that He might make known in the very order of the universe the designs of His holy will 

It is then in the very order of the universe that the glory of God shines forth and is manifested outwardly?

Yes.

Could there be anything greater and more perfect outside God than this order of the universe which is created, maintained, and ruled by Him?

No, in the present dispensation of things there could be nothing greater or more perfect

Why in the present dispensation of things?

Because, since God is infinite and almighty, no created order however perfect could ever exhaust His infinite power 

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XX. OF GOD'S ACTION IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNIVERSE; AND OF MIRACLES

(A)

How does God govern this universe which was created by Him?

By maintaining it and directing it to its end 

Does God maintain all created things Himself?

Yes, God Himself maintains all created things; although He uses certain of His creatures to maintain others in existence according to the order of dependence which He established among things when He created them

What is meant by saying that He Himself maintains all created things?

By this is meant that that which is at the basis of all beings in the universe and which makes existence the common connecting link of all is communicated to them by the direct action of God Himself 

Is the act of maintaining all things in existence also proper to God as is the creation of things?

Yes, because the direct and immediate result of both phenomena is the inflow of being which is an effect proper to God

(B)

Could God effect that all things that are should cease to be?

Yes.

What action on God's part would be necessary to effect that all things that are should cease to be?

It would be sufficient for Him to cease willing to give them the being they have, and which they continue to receive from Him every instant 

Without ceasing, therefore, the being of all things that are in the world depends absolutely upon God?

Yes, without ceasing things depend absolutely on God; much in the same way as the light of the day depends absolutely upon the presence of the action of the sun; except that the action of the sun is a necessary action, whereas the action of God is wholly free 

Has God ever annihilated anything He has made?

No 

Will God ever annihilate anything?

No 

Why has God never annihilated and will never annihilate anything He has created?   

Because God acts for His glory only; and His glory demands not that He annihilate, but rather that He preserve things in existence