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St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor of the Church Greatest and Most influential Theologian of all Time

1226: Birth of St. Thomas  Towards the end of the year 1226 in Roccasecca, Aquino County, Sicily.  Aquino, an area where his family held land until 1137.  Noble Parents: Count Landulf of Aquino and Countess Theodora of Theate (Teano).  Like St. Hyacinth, Thomas parents were from a noble family.  Descendants of Emperor Frederick I and Henry VI.  Siblings of 8.  Thomas Aquinas being the youngest.

Aquino County, Naples

Feast Day: January 28th  His memory is honored On January 28.  On January 28, 1369, his body was transferred to Toulouse, .  In the Church of the Jacobins.  Between 1789 and 1974, they were held in Saint Sernin Basilica of Toulouse.  In 1974, they were returned to the Church of the Jacobins.

The Tomb of St Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225 – 7 March 1274) Le couvent des Jacobins Toulouse,

 Holy translation, which was crowded with a great multitude of men  Over 150,000 were said to have accompanied it.

Titles:  Aquinas is not his surname. A Latin demonyn.  “Dumb Ox”

Doctor of the Church: declared by Pope Pius V in 1323. “Most brilliant light of the Church”

Titles:  “Patron of all Universities and Students”(1880)  Angelic Doctor Pius X

Pope Leo XIII

“Angelic Doctor” restored due to his perseverance in his vocation. His fidelity and perfect chastity.

Titles:  Not only Angelic but Common or Universal Doctor of the Church by Pius XI

 The Master and Patron of Catholic Schools declared by Pope Benedict XV.

Significant Events in the Life of St. Thomas  1230: He was sent to the Abbey of Monte Cassino with the Benedictine Monks at the age of 5 until he was 13 years old.  He secretly ed the Dominican Order in Naples.  He was held captive for two (2) years by his brothers.  1239: Attended the University of Naples.  1243: He was particularly drawn with more to the life of spiritual service than in sheltered life.  A friar at the age of 17.

Abbey of Monte Cassino

University of Naples

The jailers transferring St. Thomas from the castle, sent him down the window in a basket and immediately to Naples,

Significant Events in the Life of St. Thomas  1245 to 1252: Continued his studies in Naples, Paris and Cologne.  1250: Ordained to the Dominican Order in Cologne, .  1261: Pope Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach.  Clement IV offered him Archbishopric of Naples.

Significant Events in the Life of St. Thomas  1274: In January, summoned by Gregory X, St. Thomas embarked on a trip to Lyon, , on foot to serve on the Second Council of Lyon.

Significant Events in the Life of St. Thomas

 1274: Died at the Monastery of Fossanova with Cistercian Monks on March 7.

Fossanova Abbey  Italian Cistercian Monastery;  Place of death of St. Thomas Aquinas  On March 7, 1274,after lingering in illness for seven weeks.

Significant Events in the Life of St. Thomas 1323: “His life was Canonization of saintly and his St. Thomas on the doctrine could only July 18 by Pope be miraculous … John XXII. because he enlightened the church more than all the other doctors…”

Exceptional Qualities as a Student/Priest  At five (5) years old was described as a “witty child” who “had received a good soul”.  Excel in learning more than other students.  Studied in Cologne, at the age of 22 he was appointed to teach here.  At 31 years he received his doctorate.  He was invited by to teach (Pope Urban) but declined to accept any ecclesiastical dignity or honor.  Clement IV offered him Archbishopric of Naples which he also refused.

Trials of Saint Thomas:  At the time of his death in 1274, he was under suspicion by some Church officials  Condemnation by Bishop of Paris Etienne Tempier (Stephen Tempier) was lifted when he was canonized and received the title of Common Doctor of the Church.

Person/s Close to St. Thomas:  St. Albert, the Great – whose interest in Aristotle strengthened Thomas’ own interest.  Thomas embraced several ideas put forward by Aristotle – whom he referred to as “the Philosopher”  Thomas used Aristotelian reason and logic to prove the existence of God but not necessarily his divine actions.  Divine knowledge can be philosophically approached and analyzed.

Two Important Works of St. Thomas Aquinas  Summa Contra Gentiles, 1259-1264  Summa Theologica (Summary of Theology), 1265-1274, – “Magnum Opus” – Contains his proofs for the existence of God through faith and reason. – He left a great part of the “Summa Theologica” unfinished

Thomas 5 ways of St. Thomas Aquinas Proofs of the existence of God  Immovable Mover  Cause of everything  Necessary Being  Perfect being  Intelligent Being

Three (3) Kinds of Laws:  Natural: prompts man to act according to his being  Positive : law of the state/government  Eternal/Divine: reason put into action through free will

Today:  Thomist Theology stands at the center of the Roman Catholic tradition.  Thomas is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church.  Model teacher for those studying for the priesthood.

Sources: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2530 http://www.biography.com/people/st-thomasaquinas91897231#education http://www.biography.com/people/st-thomas-aquinas9187231#synopsis http://www.biography.com/peoples/st-tghomas-aquinas9187231#later-life-and-death http://www.egs.edu/ibrary/thomas-aquinas/biography/ http://www.aquinas.emory.edu/resources_thomas.html http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas http://www.btcatholic.org/House-AquinasFactsAboutStThomasAquinas http://www.dspt.edu/site/general/vita-d.thomaeaquinatis-otto-van-veen-1610 Christian Prayer: the Liturgy of The Hours. Paulines Publishing House: Pasay City, Philippines, 1997.

Happy Feast Day

St. Thomas Aquinas !!