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Also known as: Doctor
Angelicus; Doctor Communis; Great Synthesizer; The Dumb Ox; The Universal
Teacher
Profile
Son of the Count of Aquino, born in the family castle in Lombardy near
Naples. Educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the
University of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in
1244. His noble family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to keep him
out of sight, and deprogram him, but he rejoined his order in 1245.
He studied in Paris from 1245-1248 under Saint Albert the Great, then
accompanied Albertus to Cologne. Ordained in 1250, then returned to Paris
to teach. Taught theology at University of Paris. He wrote defenses of the
mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle and Lombard's Sentences, and
some bible-related works, usually by dictating to secretaries. He won his
doctorate, and taught in several Italian cities. Recalled by king and
university to Paris in 1269, then recalled to Naples in 1272 where he was
appointed regent of studies while working on the Summa Theologica.
On 6 December 1273 he experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured
him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it and his other writing were
so much straw in the wind compared to the reality of the divine glory. He
died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons, overweight
and with his health broken by overwork.
His works have been seminal to the thinking of the Church ever since. They
systematized her great thoughts and teaching, and combined Greek wisdom
and scholarship methods with the truth of Christianity. Pope Leo VIII
commanded that his teachings be studied by all theology students. He was
proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1567.
Born: c.1225 at Roccasecca, Aquino, Naples, Italy
Died: 7 March 1274 at Fossanuova near Terracina of apparent natural
causes; relics at Saint-Servin, Toulouse, France
Canonized: 1323
Patronage: academics, against storms, against lightning, apologists,
book sellers, Catholic academies, Catholic schools, Catholic universities,
chastity, colleges, learning, lightning, pencil makers, philosophers,
publishers, scholars, schools, storms, students, theologians, universities
Representation: chalice; monstrance; ox; star; sun; teacher with
pagan philosophers at his feet; teaching
Readings
Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom
to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for
you, and a hope of finally embracing you.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
Charity is the form, mover, mother and root of all the virtues.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
We are like children, who stand in need of masters to enlighten us and
direct us; and God has provided for this, by appointing his angels to be
our teachers and guides.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
If you seek the example of love: "Greater love than this no man has, than
to lay down his life for his friends." Such a man was Christ on the cross.
And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear
whatever hardships arise for his sake.
If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross.
Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because "when he
suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and
he did not open his mouth."
If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the
Father even unto death. "For just as by the disobedience of one man,"
namely, Adam, "many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man,
many were made righteous."
If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is "the
King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge." Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat
upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to
drink.
Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because "they
divided my garments among themselves." Nor to honors, for he experienced
harsh words and scourging. Nor to greatness of rank, for "weaving a crown
of thorns they placed it on my head." Nor to anything delightful, for "in
my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
from the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas
The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity,
assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by
command of the will moved by God through grace.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Most loving Lord, grant me a steadfast heart which no unworthy desire may
drag downwards; an unconquered hear which no hardship may wear out; an
upright heart which no worthless purpose may ensnare. Impart to me also, O
God, the understanding to know you, the diligence to seek you, a way of
life to please you, and a faithfulness that may embrace you, through Jesus
Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, from Something Of A Saint
Hence we must say that for the knowledge of any truth whatsoever man needs
divine help, that the intellect may be moved by God to its act. But he
does not need a new light added to his natural light, in order to know the
truth in all things, but only in some that surpasses his natural
knowledge.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintt03.htm |
