Thomas was born in about 1225 in the Kingdom of Sicily. AS a younger son, his parents
placed him in religious life, assuming because of family connections, that he
would be abbot some day. He was placed
in Monte Casino Monastery at the age of five, and later studied at the University of Naples after war caused problems for
Monte Casino. After having spent all
this time in a Benedictine house, Thomas resolved to become a Dominican. His parents were very much against this, and
the Dominicans attempted to spirit him
away to Paris,
but he was kidnapped by his brothers, and held as a prisoner by his mother for
two years. They even sent a prostitute to
him to break his resolve, but he kept his resolve and his celibacy, being
strengthened by God to resist. His
mother, giving up, arranged to leave a window open so he could “escape” and she
could save face.
He traveled to Naples,
then to Rome to meet the head of the Order, and
was sent to Paris
to study. He followed his master,
Albertus Magnus to Cologne
(declining the abbacy of Monte Casino) where he continued his studies. Because of his quietness and size he was
given the name of dumb ox. In 1525 he
returned to Paris
to finish his studies and began his writing.
In 1261 he was back in Naples to tutor
those unable to attend the University, and was assigned to Rome in a teaching position. He continued his writing and wrote a new
Liturgy for the new feast of Corpus
Christi.
One thousand two hundred and sixty-eight
found him once again as regent at the University of Paris,
where he had a tumultuous time due to the rising of Averroism. In 1272 he left Rome
and was given permission to found a new school where ever he pleased, which was
Naples. During this time he worked on the third part
of Summa Theologica. During Eucharist at the feast of St.
Nicholas, he stopped everything, telling his companions that everything he had
done was as straw.
He did recover
somewhat and was called to the second
council of Lyon in 1274. On the way he was injured and fell ill. He died on 7 March 1274 while giving
commentary on the Song of Songs.His writings have continued to affect the
church and guide her in the ensuing centuries.
Thomas was also known for his hymns, “O Saving Victim” and “Now my
tongue the Mystery Telling.” St. Thomas Aquinas was the greatest theologian of the
High Middle ages, and is counted by some as the second greatest theologian in
Western Christianity.
Because of the
rediscovery of Aristotle’s works, Thomas asserted that reason and faith are in
basic harmony. “Grace is not the denial
of nature, but the perfection of it.”
Thomas accomplished this synthesis in his greatest workd, Summa Theologia and Summa Contra Gentiles which continue to influence Christian thought
and philosophy today. He was considered
a radical in his time, and some of his thoughts were regarded as heretical by
his contemporaries.
Thomas
understood that when God revealed his name to Moshe, “I am who I am” to mean
that God is being, the ultimate reality form which everything else derives its
being. The difference between God and
the universe, is that God’s essence is to exist, wherefore everything else
derives its being from God. God is
reflected in his creation, and therefore can be partially understood through
the creation. Therefore human reason can
demonstrate the existence of God.
Distinctive truths about God, though must come through revelation. It is important to note that much of western
philosophy today is based on reflection of his thought.
Collect:
Lord, as you raised Thomas Aquinus as a theologian in your church, grant
wisdom as grace that your church may always have teachers to expound the truth
and guide us in faith and knowledge of you, that our faith would not be blind,
but based on understanding. This we ask
through our great teacher Yeshuah, who lives and reins with you and the Ruach
haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting.
Amen. (white)
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