Pastoral Welcome
Parish History
Our Patron
Photo Gallery
|
Saint Thomas Aquinas
| Most loving Lord, grant me a steadfast heart which no unworthy desire may drag downwards; an unconquered heart 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 the faithfulness that may embrace you,
through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen. | |
 He was teacher, philosopher, scholar and saint. Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 in Poccasecca near Aquino, Italy. He was one of many children of a wealthy, aristocratic family. He devoted his entire life to understanding God—through reason, contemplation, and prayer.
He went to school at Monte Cassino Abbey and at the University of Naples. In 1244, he entered the religious order of the Dominicans.
Thomas wanted to become a mendicant friar— not the kind of life that was expected from a person of nobility. His family was so outraged at his wishes that they kidnapped him and sheltered him for a year. But, that didn't change the mind of Thomas.
He went to University of Paris to study with the renowned Aristotelian scholar, Albert the Great. In the year 1256, he received the degree of a Master in Theology.
The rest of his life was spent teaching, preaching and above all writing. His writing included works on scripture and the sacraments. Among the most famous: the Summa contra Gentiles (1259-64),
a treatise on God and his creation, and the Summa
Theologica (1266-73), the classical systematic exposition of theology. He was involved in every major intellectual debate of his time.
In his teachings and writings, Thomas made efforts to bridge the gap between faith and reason. He took on St. Augustine and the pagan Aristotle, and sought to reconcile the secularity of the world with the radical nature of the Gospel. He sought to shed light on the greatest theological debates, including the Eucharistic controversies of the Middle Ages.
Thomas was a man of intense prayer. He always resorted to prayer when he was unable to understand something. He also was an introvert. He spent most of his time alone. His favorite recreation was to walk around the cloister on his own. Physically, Thomas was a large man, tall and obese with delicate skin, and light brown hair.
Thomas had been asked by the Pope to assist at the forthcoming Council of Lyons, due to begin in May, 1274. It was said that Thomas had been invited to the Council because he was considered to be one of the wisest and holiest men in the world, but on the journey to Naples, he became very ill. Thomas died in 1274 and was canonized in 1323.
He didn't become a saint by the number of miracles he performed. In fact, at the time of his canonization, so few miracles could be found in his life that it was raised as an objection against canonizing him. Thomas' sainthood was vested in his intellectual service of God rather than in the sort of display of supernatural power which attracted most people's attention. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Universal Church in 1567.
The feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas is January 28th.
|
|
|
