St.

Thomas Aquinas,
Priest, Doctor of the
Church
Greatest and Most influential
Theologian of all Time

1226: Birth of St. Thomas

Towards the end of the year 1226 in
Roccasecca, Aquino County, Sicily.
Aquino, an area where his family held land until
1137.
Noble Parents: Count Landulf of Aquino and
Countess Theodora of Theate (Teano).
Like St. Hyacinth, Thomas parents were from a
noble family.
Descendants of Emperor Frederick I and
Henry VI.
Siblings of 8.
Thomas Aquinas being the youngest.

Aquino County, Naples

Feast Day: January 28th

His memory is honored On January 28.
On January 28, 1369, his body was
transferred to Toulouse, France.
In the Church of the Jacobins.
Between 1789 and 1974, they were held
in Saint Sernin Basilica of Toulouse.
In 1974, they were returned to the
Church of the Jacobins.

The Tomb of St Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225 7 March 1274)

Le couvent des Jacobins
Toulouse, France

 Holy translation,
which was
crowded with a
great multitude of
men
Over 150,000 were
said to have
accompanied it.

Titles:
Aquinas is not his
surname. A Latin
demonyn.
Dumb Ox

Doctor of the Church: declared by

Pope Pius V in 1323.
Most brilliant light of the
Church

Titles:
Patron of all
Universities and
Students(1880)
Angelic Doctor
Pius X

Pope Leo XIII

Angelic Doctor
restored due to his
perseverance in his
vocation. His fidelity
and perfect chastity.

Titles:
Not only Angelic
but Common or
Universal Doctor
of the Church by
Pius XI

The Master and

Patron of Catholic
Schools declared
by Pope Benedict
XV.

Significant Events in the

Life of St. Thomas
1230: He was sent to the Abbey of Monte
Cassino with the Benedictine Monks at
the age of 5 until he was 13 years old.
He secretly joined the Dominican Order
in Naples.
He was held captive for two (2) years by
his brothers.
1239: Attended the University of Naples.
1243: He was particularly drawn with
more to the life of spiritual service than
in sheltered life.
A friar at the age of 17.

Abbey of Monte Cassino

University of Naples

The jailers transferring St. Thomas from the castle,

sent him down the window in a basket and
immediately to Naples,

Significant Events in the

Life of St. Thomas
1245 to 1252: Continued his studies in Naples,
Paris and Cologne.
1250: Ordained to the Dominican Order in
Cologne, Germany.
1261: Pope Urban IV called him to Rome where
he was appointed to teach.
Clement IV offered him Archbishopric of
Naples.

Significant Events in the

Life of St. Thomas
1274: In January,
summoned by
Gregory X,
St. Thomas
embarked on a
trip to Lyon,
France, on foot to
serve on the
Second Council of
Lyon.

Significant Events in the

Life of St. Thomas

1274: Died at the Monastery of

Fossanova with Cistercian Monks on
March 7.

Fossanova Abbey
Italian Cistercian
Monastery;
Place of death of
St. Thomas
Aquinas
On March 7,
1274,after
lingering in illness
for seven weeks.

Significant Events in the

Life of St. Thomas
1323:
His life was
Canonization of
saintly and his
St. Thomas on the doctrine could only
July 18 by Pope
be miraculous
John XXII.
because he
enlightened the
church more than
all the other
doctors

Exceptional Qualities as a
Student/Priest
At five (5) years old was described as a witty
child who had received a good soul.
Excel in learning more than other students.
Studied in Cologne, at the age of 22 he was
appointed to teach here.
At 31 years he received his doctorate.
He was invited by to teach (Pope Urban) but
declined to accept any ecclesiastical dignity or
honor.
Clement IV offered him Archbishopric of Naples
which he also refused.

Trials of Saint Thomas:

At the time of his death in 1274, he
was under suspicion by some Church
officials
Condemnation by Bishop of Paris
Etienne Tempier (Stephen Tempier)
was lifted when he was canonized and
received the title of Common Doctor
of the Church.

Person/s Close to St. Thomas:

St. Albert, the Great whose interest in
Aristotle strengthened Thomas own
interest.
Thomas embraced several ideas put
forward by Aristotle whom he referred
to as the Philosopher
Thomas used Aristotelian reason and
logic to prove the existence of God but
not necessarily his divine actions.
Divine knowledge can be philosophically
approached and analyzed.

Two Important Works of St.

Thomas Aquinas
Summa Contra Gentiles, 1259-1264
Summa Theologica (Summary of
Theology), 1265-1274,
Magnum Opus
Contains his proofs for the existence
of God through faith and reason.
He left a great part of the Summa
Theologica unfinished

Thomas 5 ways of St. Thomas

Aquinas
Proofs of the existence of God
Immovable Mover
Cause of everything
Necessary Being
Perfect being
Intelligent Being

Three (3) Kinds of Laws:

Natural: prompts man to act
according to his being
Positive : law of the
state/government
Eternal/Divine: reason put into
action through free will

Today:
Thomist Theology stands at the
center of the Roman Catholic
tradition.
Thomas is honored as a saint by
the Catholic Church.
Model teacher for those studying
for the priesthood.

Sources:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2530
http://www.biography.com/people/st-thomasaquinas91897231#education
http://www.biography.com/people/st-thomas-aquinas9187231#synopsis
http://www.biography.com/peoples/st-tghomas-aquinas9187231#later-life-and-death
http://www.egs.edu/ibrary/thomas-aquinas/biography/
http://www.aquinas.emory.edu/resources_thomas.html
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas
http://www.btcatholic.org/House-AquinasFactsAboutStThomasAquinas
http://www.dspt.edu/site/general/vita-d.thomaeaquinatis-otto-van-veen-1610
Christian Prayer: the Liturgy of The Hours. Paulines
Publishing House: Pasay City, Philippines, 1997.

Happy Feast Day

St. Thomas Aquinas !!