10 Awe-Inspiring Facts about St. Thomas Aquinas
Who St. Thomas Aquinas?
St. Thomas Aquinas was a 13th-century Catholic priest, theologian, and philosopher. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy and theology, and his works on the nature of God, the relationship between faith and reason, and the nature of human happiness are among his most famous.
Aquinas was born in Italy in 1225 and entered the Dominican Order at the age of 18. He studied at the University of Paris, then the University of Cologne, where he was influenced by Aristotle’s works.
Aquinas is best known for his “Summa Theologiae,” a comprehensive work on the nature of God, the Trinity, and the sacraments of the Catholic Church. He also wrote extensively on natural law and moral theology, and his contributions to the evolution of Catholic thought were significant.
Aquinas’ work is notable for its synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and Christian theology, as well as his emphasis on using reason to understand God and the world. He argued that reason and faith are not diametrically opposed, but rather complementary.
Aquinas was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1323, and he is known as a Doctor of the Church, a title given to saints whose writings have been deemed of particular importance and authority. His writings continue to have an impact on the fields of theology, philosophy, and moral theology, and he is still widely studied in Catholic and secular universities today. (CatholicAnswers.com)
What is St. Thomas of Aquinas known for?
St. Thomas Aquinas is well-known for his theological, philosophical, and moral theological works. St. Thomas Aquinas is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy and theology, and his works have had a long-lasting impact on the evolution of Catholic thought.
What did St. Thomas Aquinas write?
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote “Summa Theologiae,” a comprehensive work on the nature of God, the Trinity, and the sacraments of the Catholic Church, is one of his most famous works. This work is widely regarded as one of the most important theological works in Christian history, and it is still studied today. St. Thomas Aquinas uses the Bible, Church Fathers, and Aristotle’s works to provide a systematic explanation of the Catholic faith in this work.
Another well-known work of his is “Summa Contra Gentiles,” an apologetic work that defends the Catholic faith against non-Christian arguments. “On the Truth of the Catholic Faith,” a four-part work about God, man, and the universe, was also written by him.
Aquinas is also known for emphasizing the importance of reason in understanding God and the nature of the world. He argued that reason and faith are not diametrically opposed, but rather complementary. He believed that reason could demonstrate God’s existence and that faith could help us understand God’s mysteries that reason could not.
He also writes about the soul and human actions, as well as moral theology. He also wrote extensively on natural law, the idea that there is a set of moral principles that can be discovered through reason and are binding on all humans.
St. Thomas Aquinas is best known for his comprehensive works on theology, philosophy, and moral theology, his synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and Christian theology, and his emphasis on using reason to understand God and the world.
10 Inspiring Quotes from St. Thomas Aquinas
- “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
- “Happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach.”
- “The things that we love tell us what we are.”
- “The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being governs its own actions. A thing which is always subject to the direction of another is somewhat of a dead thing.”
- “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”
- “To live well is to work well, to show a good activity.”
- “The knowledge of God is the cause of things. For the knowledge of God is to all creatures what the knowledge of the artificer is to things made by his art.”
- “Man should not consider his material possession his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need.”
- “Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.”
- “The greatest error of man is to imagine that he is able to do something by himself.”
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What is St. Thomas Aquinas patron saint of?
St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of several things, including:
- Universities and schools: He is widely regarded as one of Christian history’s greatest teachers, and his works are still widely studied in universities and schools.
- Theologians and philosophers: He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy and theology, and his works have had a long-lasting impact on the evolution of Catholic thought.
- Students: He is revered as a model of the diligent student, and students seeking wisdom and academic success seek him out.
- Apologists: He is well-known for his work defending the Catholic faith against non-Christian arguments.
- Test takers:It is believed that praying to St. Thomas Aquinas before a test or exam will improve your performance.
- Bookbinders: Bookbinders invoke him because he is said to have saved a bookbinder who had carelessly left a book of his open in the rain, and the book was miraculously saved from damage.
- Italy: He is regarded as one of the greatest Italian saints and is one of Italy’s patron saints.
- The Catholic Church: He has been named a Doctor of the Church, a title given to saints whose writings have been judged to be of particular importance and authority.
Prayer to St. Thomas Aquinas
Here is a traditional prayer to St. Thomas Aquinas:
O God, who has taught the whole world by the ministry of blessed Thomas Aquinas, Your confessor and doctor, grant, we pray, that, as we glory in his wisdom and holiness, we may also imitate his example of humility and devotion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Thomas Aquinas Student Prayer
“St. Thomas Aquinas, model of all students, you who devoted yourself to the study of the sacred sciences, obtain for us from God the grace to love the truth, to seek it, to understand it and to live it. Obtain for us also the grace to be docile to the Magisterium of the Church, to persevere in the study of the sacred sciences and in the practice of virtue. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
It is important to note that these prayers are traditional, and you may pray to Saint Thomas Aquinas in your own words. The most important thing is to communicate your thoughts and intentions to the saint.
St. Thomas Aquinas Prayer After Communion
Here is a traditional prayer attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas to be said after receiving Communion:
“Blessed Lord, who has caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
This prayer is a variation of the “Suscipe” prayer which is a prayer of St Thomas Aquinas and is found in the spiritual writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is a powerful and meaningful prayer that expresses gratitude to God and requests for the grace to understand and live the teachings of the Scriptures, and to hold fast to the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ. (EWTN)
Where are the Relics of St. Thomas Aquinas?
From 1274 to 1369, the remains of St Thomas Aquinas were kept in Fossanova, Italy. In 1369, they were transferred to the Jacobin Convent in Toulouse, France. They were there until the French Revolution. For their protection, they were relocated a few blocks away to Toulouse’s Basilica of St Sernin. From 1789 to 1974, they were a part of this church. Finally, in 1974, the relics were returned to the Convent of the Jacobins in Toulouse to commemorate the 700th anniversary of St Thomas Aquinas’ death. They are now kept in this church in a bronze chest beneath an altar. (Saints in Rome)
Would you like to go to France to visit his relics? I’ve been to France and it’s absolutely beautiful. You can piggyback a grand tour of the city around a spiritual pilgrimage of one of your favorite saints like St. Thomas Aquinas and keep it in your life bank of happiness forever.
St. Thomas Aquinas is located only a 6 hour drive from Paris. Here’s a fun tour in Paris that you can use while you’re on your pilgrimage. Click HERE for your Tour in Paris.
Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas
The Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia (also known as the Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas) are a Catholic religious congregation of women founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1860. The community is a part of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order, which was founded in the 13th century by St. Dominic.
The mission of the Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas is to “contemplate the mysteries of salvation and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through word and sacrament, especially in the Catholic school apostolate.” They are dedicated to the education of young people and operate schools, academies, and colleges across the United States. They also work in pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, and the pro-life movement.
The Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas adhere to the Dominican charism of prayer, study, community, and preaching. They take poverty, chastity, and obedience vows and live in community. They are well-known for their dedication to education, as well as to the Church and soul salvation.
St Thomas Aquinas Philosophy
St. Thomas Aquinas was a 13th-century Catholic priest, theologian, and philosopher known as Thomas of Aquin or Aquino. He is regarded as one of the greatest thinkers in Catholic Church history and one of the most influential figures in the development of Western philosophy.
Thomism refers to Aquinas’ philosophy, which is heavily influenced by Aristotle’s work. He held that truth can be discovered through reason and faith, and that these two sources of knowledge are complementary rather than antagonistic. He considered reason to be the natural light of the intellect, while faith was the supernatural light of grace. He believed that while reason can comprehend many truths about God and the natural world, it cannot comprehend God, who is infinite and beyond human comprehension.
The Summa Theologiae, a comprehensive summary of Christian theology, is one of his most famous works. He covers a wide range of topics in it, including the nature of God, the creation of the world, the nature of the human soul, and the sacraments. He also wrote extensively on moral philosophy and the nature of law, and his work influenced the evolution of Catholic moral theology and the natural law tradition.
Aquinas’ philosophy emphasizes the importance of logic and reason in comprehending the nature of God and the universe. He held that God is the source of all being and that everything shares in God’s being. He contended that the natural world is orderly and that everything serves a purpose or has a telos. He also believed that the human soul is immortal and that the ultimate goal of life is to have a direct and unmediated experience of God’s presence in heaven.
Overall, St. Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy is a synthesis of Aristotelianism and Christian theology, focusing on the harmony of faith and reason, as well as the natural order of the universe as a reflection of God’s wisdom.
Are You Inspired?
Are you inspired by what you’ve learned today about St. Francis de Sales? I love sharing the lives of the saints. Check out our blog HERE for more inspiring saints! Does it make your heart ignited knowing about “The Saint Maker” and his life?
Pray to St. Francis de Sales to help you become a saint!
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Well, that’s all for today.
I’ll see you back tomorrow with another Saint of the Day to inspire you!
Toodles,
-Priscilla
