Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church, patron of all universities and of students. His feast day is January 28th. He was born in the year 1226. He was the son of Landulph, Count of Aquino, who, when St. Thomas was five years old, placed him under the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino. His teachers were surprised at the progress he made, for he surpassed all his fellow pupils in learning as well as in the practice of virtue.

When he became of age to choose his state of life, St. Thomas renounced the things of this world and resolved to enter the Order of St. Dominic in spite of the opposition of his family. In 1243, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Dominicans of Naples. Some members of his family resorted to all manner of means over a two year period to break his constancy. They even went so far as to send an impure woman to tempt him. But all their efforts were in vain and St. Thomas persevered in his vocation. As a reward for his fidelity, God conferred upon him the gift of perfect chastity, which has merited for him the title of the “Angelic Doctor”.

After making his profession at Naples, he studied at Cologne under the celebrated St. Albert the Great. Here he was nicknamed the “dumb ox” because of his silent ways and huge size, but he was really a brilliant student. At the age of twenty-two, he was appointed to teach in the same city. At the same time, he also began to publish his first works. After four years he was sent to Paris. The saint was then a priest. At the age of thirty-one, he received his doctorate.

At Paris he was honored with the friendship of the King, St. Louis, with whom he frequently dined. In 1261, Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach, but he positively declined to accept any ecclesiastical dignity. St. Thomas not only wrote (his writings filled twenty hefty tomes characterized by brilliance of thought and lucidity of language), but he preached often and with greatest fruit. Clement IV offered him the archbishopric of Naples which he also refused. He left the great monument of his learning, the “Summa Theologica”, unfinished, for on his way to the second Council of Lyons, ordered there by Gregory X, he fell sick and died at the Cistercian monastery of Fossa Nuova in 1274.

St. Thomas was one of the greatest and most influential theologians of all time. He was canonized in 1323 and declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V.

Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

19 COMMENTS

  1. Please, Saint Thomas Aquinas pray for the health of my family. Especially my 2 year old son Zachary who is ill with a stomach virus, and my mother and father who possibly both have cancer. Please Lord God help us all, help us all be comforted in your mercy, and grant us all eternal life and forgiveness in Heaven with you. Amen.

  2. O God the Father, Thank you for all the blessings, help us to evangelize more couples to join our coming CFC Christian Life Program. Bring down your spirit to them and let them feel how important they are to you God. Lay your hands O Lord to the people suffering from severe pain and sickness. I’m also praying for my family to be together in good health full of love and happiness. Forgive me Lord for I’am a sinner help to me to always make a better decisions. I’am still praying of having a baby. Hear our prayers Lord. Amen.

  3. This will be done by a comparative study of both, listing the drawbacks and advantages of both.
    The group consists of Lauren Mayberry (lead vocals, additional synthesizers),
    Iain Cook (synthesizers, guitar, bass, vocals),
    and Martin Doherty (synthesizers, samplers, vocals). this type
    of bidet also attaches to your existing toilet but as the name implies, is plugged in to an electrical outlet.

  4. St.Thomas great Doctor of the Catholic Church you have taught us well and dwell within its universities as the greatest teacher keep us to remain today in this year of 2017 to be one,holy,catholic and apostolic church forever.

  5. Great St Thomas Aquinas! Through your intercession, may I be filled with Wisdom and strong Faith to discern the ways of the Lord as you did. May the thought and deeds of holiness be my focus in my daily life. Amen!!

  6. O Angelic Doctor St. Thomas, prince of theologians and model of philosophers, bright ornament of the Christian world and light of the Church; O heavenly patron of all Catholic schools, who didst learn wisdom without guile and dost communicate it without envy, intercede for us with the Son of God, Wisdom itself, that the spirit of wisdom may descend upon us, and enable us to understand clearly that which thou hast taught, and fulfill it by imitating thy deeds; to become partakers of that doctrine and virtue which caused thee to shine like the sun on earth; and at last to rejoice with thee forever in their most sweet fruits in heaven, together praising the Divine Wisdom for all eternity. Amen.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here