St. Thomas Aquinas
On the Grapevine 35
When he was seventeen, St. Thomas Aquinas decided to join the Dominicans - an order of begging preachers. His noble family wanted him to choose a career where he could advance to a position of worldly influence and power, and spent two years trying to break his resolve. At one point, his brothers even hired a prostitute to seduce him. Upon finding her in his room, he seized a burning log from the fire and chased her out of the room, then burnt a cross into the closed door.
St. Thomas Aquinas joined the Dominicans and became a priest. He wrote and preached extensively and brilliantly. He is known especially for his "Summa Theologica" (a heavy tome on all things Catholic), his writings on the Eucharist and the angels, and his 5 arguments for the existence of God. St. Thomas Aquinas was an extremely influential philosopher and theologian. He was gifted by God with perfect chastity, and is a Doctor of the Church - the Angelic Doctor.
"On 6 December 1273 at the Dominican convent of Naples in the Chapel of Saint Nicholas after Matins Thomas lingered and was seen by the sacristan Domenic of Caserta to be levitating in prayer with tears before an icon of the crucified Christ. Christ said to Thomas, "You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward would you have for your labor?" Thomas responded, "Nothing but you, Lord."" (Taken from Catholic Online - you can read more about him from them HERE.)
- Meg
St. Thomas Aquinas joined the Dominicans and became a priest. He wrote and preached extensively and brilliantly. He is known especially for his "Summa Theologica" (a heavy tome on all things Catholic), his writings on the Eucharist and the angels, and his 5 arguments for the existence of God. St. Thomas Aquinas was an extremely influential philosopher and theologian. He was gifted by God with perfect chastity, and is a Doctor of the Church - the Angelic Doctor.
"On 6 December 1273 at the Dominican convent of Naples in the Chapel of Saint Nicholas after Matins Thomas lingered and was seen by the sacristan Domenic of Caserta to be levitating in prayer with tears before an icon of the crucified Christ. Christ said to Thomas, "You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward would you have for your labor?" Thomas responded, "Nothing but you, Lord."" (Taken from Catholic Online - you can read more about him from them HERE.)
- Meg
St. Thomas Aquinas' Prayer for Guidance
O Creator past all telling,
you have appointed from the treasures of your wisdom
the hierarchies of angels,
disposing them in wondrous order
above the bright heavens,
and have so beautifully set out all parts of the universe.
You we call the true fount of wisdom
and the noble origin of all things.
Be pleased to shed
on the darkness of mind in which I was born,
The twofold beam of your light
and warmth to dispel my ignorance and sin.
You make eloquent the tongues of children.
Then instruct my speech
and touch my lips with graciousness.
Make me keen to understand, quick to learn,
able to remember;
make me delicate to interpret and ready to speak.
Guide my going in and going forward,
lead home my going forth.
You are true God and true man,
and live for ever and ever.
--St Thomas Aquinas, 1225-74
you have appointed from the treasures of your wisdom
the hierarchies of angels,
disposing them in wondrous order
above the bright heavens,
and have so beautifully set out all parts of the universe.
You we call the true fount of wisdom
and the noble origin of all things.
Be pleased to shed
on the darkness of mind in which I was born,
The twofold beam of your light
and warmth to dispel my ignorance and sin.
You make eloquent the tongues of children.
Then instruct my speech
and touch my lips with graciousness.
Make me keen to understand, quick to learn,
able to remember;
make me delicate to interpret and ready to speak.
Guide my going in and going forward,
lead home my going forth.
You are true God and true man,
and live for ever and ever.
--St Thomas Aquinas, 1225-74