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St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Page 2 “Unlike Many Philosophers Before Or Since, He Had His Feet firmly Planted on the Ground

St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Page 2 “Unlike Many Philosophers Before Or Since, He Had His Feet firmly Planted on the Ground

BORN 1225; DIED 1274 liant intellect was so especially tuned to divine PRIEST AND OF THE things. FEAST DAY: Thomas was born to a noble and wealthy fam- �t. Thomasily, theA�u youngest of fourinas sons (there were also T. THOMAS AQUINAS has been characterized several daughters) of Count Landulf of Aquino as “the most saintly of learned men and the and Theodora, Countess of Teano, in the family Smost learned of .” He is often referred castle of Rocca Secca between Rome and Na- to as the “Angelic Doctor” because his bril- ples, . On his father’s side he was related to two Holy Roman Emperors (an elective po- sition of semi-leadership over part of Europe in the ) and to French and Spanish . While he was still an infant, his youngest sister and their nurse were killed when the cas- tle was struck by lightning, creating a lifelong fear of lightning so strong that, during thunder- storms, he would pray with his head resting on a tabernacle where the was reserved. At five, Thomas was sent to the nearby Bene- dictine of to study, with the expectation that he would eventually join the order. He entered the University of Na- ples at fourteen, where he became acquainted with the , which, to the great distress of his mother because the Dominicans supported themselves by begging, he joined at nineteen, At his mother’s behest, his brothers kidnapped him on his way to Bologna, where his superiors had sent him. His family kept him locked for over eighteen months in a castle near Rocca Secca. There he spent his studying the Scripture and theological works provided by one of his sisters, but he was subjected to a combination of sweet persuasion from his moth- er and sisters and harassment and abuse from his brothers. The most dramatic episode of his captivity was the sexual temptation forced on him by his brothers sending a harlot to his room. He chased her from the room with a burning brand, after which an appeared and gird- ed him with a cord in token of ’s gift of per- petual . His brothers eventually let their guard down and, helped by the same sister, he was lowered in a basket from his prison into the waiting hands of his Dominican brothers. Thomas was sent first to , where the renowned St. Albert the Great (a future Doc- tor of the Church) became his teacher. It was

DAVID CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY there that he acquired from his fellow students

The Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM) grants the original purchaser (parish, local parochial institution, or individual) permission to reproduce this handout. the nickname “the dumb ox” because of his hu- lay not only in the area of but in phi- mility and his habit of thinking rather than talk- losophy as well. Unlike many philosophers be- ing, a nickname that fitted well his large head fore or since, he had his feet firmly planted on and heavy body, but utterly failed to describe the ground. He taught that the human intellect his brilliant intellectual power. can truly know , and he built his dazzling Within a year, both St. Albert and Thomas edifice of and theology on a bed- were sent to Paris, at that time the intellectual rock of sound . He taught that nev- center of Europe, for additional training. There er contradicted reason, nor did he find that rea- Thomas enjoyed the son ever contradicted close friendship of faith. , he taught, the learned and holy was made by God and Franciscan St. was knowable by man. , who in His teachings were time also became a contained in over six- , ty written works, in- the “Seraphic Doctor.” cluding commentaries St. Albert and Thom- on Scripture, treatis- as remained in Par- es on the controversial is for three years and topics of his day, de- then returned to Co- fenses of for logne, where Thomas Church councils, and completed his stud- two epic works of sys- ies and was ordained tematic theology, the a priest. By this time, theologiae and he had become known the Summa contra gen- for forceful tiles. The Summa con- that were Scriptural, tra gentiles was a trea- solidly instructional, tise that presented the and full of devotion, of the faith from and throughout his the standpoint of pure life his sermons would Aristotelian reason, in- frequently fill people tended to counteract with joy or move them university professors to tears. who used to About three or four undermine Christian- years later, Thomas ity. The monumen- returned to Paris to tal Summa theologiae, teach theology at the a comprehensive, me- University of Par- thodically-arranged is. This was a peri- exposition of theol- od of great intellectu- ogy as well as a sum- al ferment, centered mary of Christian phi- primarily on the re- losophy, is one of the discovery of the pre- finest presentations of DAVID CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLES DAVID Christian Greek phi- the truths of the faith losopher Aristotle. Thomas guided the Church ever written and is still indispensable today. in the interpretation and understanding of Aris- He traveled widely in Italy and France, which totle, and helped Church scholars to develop an makes the quantity and of his written appreciation of philosophy as a foundation for work, done in a period of just over twenty years, the truths of the faith. all the more astonishing. Thomas was a gifted teacher and prolific Gentle in speech and even-tempered, Thomas writer. He was blessed with one of the great- thought in his own gifts and accomplish- est intellects in human history. His greatness ment utterly unreasonable. His learning was

St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Page 2 “Unlike many philosophers before or since, he had his feet firmly planted on the ground. Truth, he taught, was made by God and was knowable by man.” the product even more of prayer than of genius. not because of my worth, but in the A profoundly holy man, he was devoted to the of your mercy, you have fed Blessed and deeply, fervently devoted to me with the precious body and blood the Holy Eucharist. Ten years before his death, of your Son, our Lord . I at the request of the , he composed for the pray that this Holy Communion may new (called not bring me condemnation and pun- in English the Feast of the Body and Blood of ishment but forgiveness and . Christ), a liturgical office that is a remarkable May it be a helmet of faith and a shield union of doctrine and tender for Christ of . May it purify me from in the Blessed Sacrament. The Lau- ways and put an end to my evil da Sion, sung before the for this feast, is passions. May it bring me and one of the few still retained in today’s Masses. , and obedience, and The (English title, “O growth in the power to do good. May Saving Victim”), gloriosi, and Verbum it be my strong defense against all my supernum — the final verses of which are part enemies, visible and invisible, and the of every service of Benediction of the Blessed perfect calming of all my evil impuls- Sacrament — are treasures bequeathed to all es, body and spiritual. May it unite me Catholics from the heart of a lover. Finally, he more closely to you, the one true God, composed the surpassingly beautiful Eucharis- and lead me safely through death to tic Adore te devote (English title, “God with everlasting with you. And Hidden ”), including the following two I pray that you will lead me, a sinner, verses that express humble in the author to the Banquet where you, with your of truth, the truth of Jesus’ teaching and of his Son and , are true and per- divinity, and the truth of the Church’s teaching fect light, total fulfillment, everlasting about the Blessed Sacrament: joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this Godhead here in hiding, whom I do through Christ our Lord. adore In 1272, Thomas was sent to , where Masked by these bare shadows, shape his prayer life, already intense and blessed with and nothing more, ecstasies and , blossomed into even See, Lord, at thy service low here greater mystical and visions. While a heart he was writing the final sections of the Summa, Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou . he suddenly had a profound spiritual Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee de- after Mass. He said about this experience, “all ceived; that I have written appears to be as so much How say trusty hearing? That shall be straw after the things that have been revealed believed; to me.” He never wrote again, and died of an What God’s Son has told me, take for illness three months later. truth I do; On Thomas’ feast day, the Antiphon for the Truth himself speaks truly or there’s Canticle of Mary prayed in Evening Prayer is: nothing true. “The Lord God has given him in great He also wrote prayers such as the follow- abundance, and he has communicated it to oth- ing, for use after reception of the Blessed Sac- ers without pretense and without .” All rament: who are gifted by God can make no better use Lord, Father all powerful, and ever-liv- of their talents than to offer them to others for ing God, I thank you, for even though I the glorification of God. This Thomas did with am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, saintly generosity.

St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Page 3

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