The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-10-09
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS-THE AN.
CELLO DOCTOR. x

st. Thomas, the patron of all Cath
Ollie Schools" was not only the great
master of the thirteenth century, the
golden age of education" but is re-
garded as the greatest human teacher
of all time. Not only did he success
fully refute the errors of the false
philosophers of his own day and those
who had gone before him but his,
works are the best basis for the refu-.
tation of many erroneous doctrines
that have sprung up since his time.
Thomas AQuinas was born, not later
than 1927, of noble family of Naples.
His father was the Count of Aquino
and his mother the Countess of Teano.
AT the age of five he was put in the
hands of the Benedictine monks of
Monte Casino, among whom he was
early noted for meditation and pray
er. He mystified his preceptor by
frequently asking: What is God?"
In 1886 Thomas was sent to the
University of Naples. The corrupt
surroundings there had no influence
on his pure heart. Resolving to en-
the Dominican Order. This step met
with violent opposition from his fam
lily. His brothers, who were soldiers,
captured him and confined him in the
fortress of San Giovanni where in
vain his parents and brothers and sis
tiers tried to tempt him from the vo-
cation. His sister, however, furnished
~
Aristotles Metaphysics and at the
end of two years, when he was re-
stored to the Dominicans, they mar
veled at the great progress he had
made. He was sent to Rome, where
Innocent V inquired into and approx.
ed his motives regarding his vocation.
He then went to Paris to study under
Albertus Magnus, who, commenting on
the name of dumb Ok" with which
Thomas was dubbed, said 1--WE call
this young man a dumb OK but his bel
lowing in doctrine will one day re-
sound throughout the world"
From the time he received his de-
gree as doctor he followed out an &C
tive career of teaching, preaching and
writing in defense of the faith, travel
ing throughout Europe, advising the
Pope and doctors and never ceasing
his untiring activities until on Deem
Der 6, 1878, following an unusually
long ecstacy during Mass, he laid
down his pen forever with the words:
IL can do no more. Such secrets have
been revealed to me that all L have
written appears now to be of little
vaIue.''
He died, protesting his belief in the.
Blessed Sacrament and his obedience
to the Church, in the Cistercian Mon
astery at Fossa Nuova in 1874. - -
st. Thomas has left US about sixty
works, the most important is his
''Summa Theological" which he did not
finish. In this he reconciles the phil
osophy of Aristotle with the doctrines
of Christianity, and his success in Civ
ing to faith philosophical basis of
reason has been admitted even by the
enemies of the true Church. Pope
Leo XIII, who based many of his En-
cyclical letters, including those on
Christian Marriage, the Condition of
the Working Glasses and the Christian
Constitution of States, on doctrines
elucidated by st. Thomas, declared
that in the works of st. Thomas a
remedy could be found for many of
the evils that affect society. Oxford
Amsterdam and many non-Catholic
universities in America recognize the
value of his works. especially in SchO-
lastic philosophy, of which he was the
principal exponent.
Pope Leo XIII urged the Catholic
bishops to the greater study OF
the works of st. Thomas that they
might restore the golden wisdom of
Thomas and spread it far and wide
for the defense and beauty of the
Catholic faith, Cor the good of society
and the advantage of the sciences"