Review: The Life and Prayers of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 15, 2012
I was aware of this Saint but knew very little of him except that he wrote "Summa Theologica".  Born to royalty (Count Landulf and Countess Theodora), Thomas was the eighth child.  During the pregnancy, a holy hermit visited to inform the Countess that her son would become a Dominican.  One of Thomas's uncles was a Benedictine and his parents enjoyed a close connection to that order.  At age 5, Thomas was placed into the same abbey where his uncle was abbot and his education began.  Thomas was an eager student but even his uncle recognized that his talents would be wasted there.  Thomas was sent to study in Naples and while here expressed an interest in studying Holy Orders with the Dominicans.  For the next 18 months his family attempted to destroy his vocation, to no avail. Eventually the family realized their efforts were futile and accepted Thomas's decision.  His education continued throughout his life and his writings were plentiful and highly valued.  Thomas died at the young age of 49.  There are many beautiful prayers in the second half of the ebook.