St. Thomas Aquinas – I
Friends in Christ, today is the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas.
St. Thomas lived 800 years ago, yet his books are the most important of all theology.
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When he was growing up, his parents wanted him to be a very important man, but Thomas felt that God was calling him to become a Dominican priest. The Dominicans live a simple life, they wear a white habit, and their main work is to study and to preach the gospel. But Thomas’ parents were determined to prevent him from this path.
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So one day while he was walking along, Thomas saw two men riding quickly toward him on horses. He realized they were his brothers, who came to stop him from being a priest. They captured him, and locked him in the tower of their castle, until he changed his mind. They took away all his books, except one: the Bible. And so for the time he was locked in that tower, he read the bible. Because of his great mind, Thomas was able to memorize the entire bible, and this would serve him well in the future.
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His sisters continued to try to help him, and they often brought him food, sliding it under the wooden door. One day an angel appeared and placed a rope around his waist; ‘you will be a Dominican priest the angel told him.
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His brothers, determined to keep him from his plan, brought a wicked woman to tempt Thomas to give up his purity, but Thomas boldly grabbed a hot poker from the fireplace and ran at her yelling, get out! Get out! Which she did. Ultimately, his sisters came with a large basket and some rope, and lowered him down from the tower so that he could escape.
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St. Thomas DID become a Dominican, and his main teacher was Albert the Great, who taught him many things. Now he was a very gentle boy and rather quiet, so some fellow students thought he was not very smart. They often called him ‘The Dumb Ox,’ but Thomas didn’t mind; he just smiled and prayed for them. Albert their teacher once reprimanded the students. He said to them: ‘You will see that one day this dumb Ox will bellow so loud, that the whole world will listen to him.’ He meant that Thomas would be a great teacher and doctor of the Church, which he was.
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Even though Thomas had great knowledge, he had a child-like simplicity. The goodness of his heart shined in his face, and each person who met him felt happy. After his death, his confessor said: “Thomas Aquinas was as innocent as a five-year-old child.’ He died at only the age of 50, yet he accomplished more than any other man.
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His sister Theodora once asked him, ‘how can I become a saint?’ He told her: just decide to do it, and then do it.
