1225–1274
13th-century Dominican philosopher and theologian — author of the Summa Theologiae, Doctor of the Church.
Tommaso d'Aquino was born to a noble Italian family at the castle of Roccasecca in 1225. He was sent at age five to the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino to begin his education, then to the University of Naples where he encountered the newly-founded Dominican Order (Order of Preachers). His decision to join the Dominicans against his family's wishes triggered a year of imprisonment by his brothers, who hoped to dissuade him; his sisters smuggled books to him during this time. He eventually escaped and made his way north to Paris, where he studied under Albertus Magnus (Saint Albert the Great) — the most learned scholar of the age. Aquinas became a master of theology, teaching in Paris, Naples, and Rome from 1256 to his death in 1274. His work was foundational and unprecedented: he undertook to systematically apply the rediscovered philosophy of Aristotle to all of Christian theology, producing the Summa Theologiae — a 3,000-page systematic survey of every major question of Christian thought from the existence of God through ethics, the sacraments, and Christ's return. The Summa, though unfinished at his death, became the most influential work of Christian philosophy ever written. Aquinas wrote also a Summa contra Gentiles (against unbelievers), countless biblical commentaries, and prayers and hymns that are still used in Catholic worship (the Eucharistic hymns Pange Lingua, Adoro Te Devote, and the Lauda Sion sequence). After a mystical experience at Mass on December 6, 1273, Aquinas stopped writing entirely. To a fellow Dominican who urged him to continue, he said: 'I cannot. All that I have written seems like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.' He died three months later. He was canonized in 1323 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1567 (the Common Doctor of the universal Catholic Church).
Aquinas's miracles are predominantly intellectual rather than physical: the unprecedented scope and clarity of his theological synthesis is itself considered evidence of supernatural assistance. Specific miracles attributed to him during life: a vision of Christ above the altar saying 'You have written well of me, Thomas; what reward will you have?' to which Aquinas reportedly replied, 'Lord, nothing but yourself.' A levitation during prayer (witnessed by his Dominican brothers). Knowledge of the deaths of distant family members at the moment they occurred. After death, his relics in Toulouse, France, are associated with healings.
“All that I have written seems like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.”After his mystical experience on December 6, 1273 — said when urged to finish the Summa.
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
“The things that we love tell us what we are.”
Ineffable Creator, you are the true source of light and the supreme principle of all wisdom. Pour forth a ray of your brightness into the darkened places of my mind; disperse from my soul the twofold darkness of sin and ignorance. Grant me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, an ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Direct my going forth, guide my way, and complete my finishing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a Dominican friar, philosopher, and theologian whose Summa Theologiae became the most influential work of Christian philosophy ever written. He systematically applied the rediscovered philosophy of Aristotle to all of Christian theology, producing what remains the standard reference for Catholic theology. He is called the Common Doctor of the universal Catholic Church.
The Summa Theologiae (1265-1273) is Thomas Aquinas's 3,000-page systematic survey of every major question of Christian thought — from the existence of God through ethics, the sacraments, and Christ's return. It is structured as a series of questions, each presenting objections, citing authorities, and then resolving the question with Aquinas's own argument. The Summa established the dialectical method that has structured Catholic theological argument for 700 years.
The Five Ways are Aquinas's five philosophical arguments for the existence of God, presented in Summa Theologiae I, q. 2, art. 3: (1) the argument from motion (everything in motion is moved by another; there must be an Unmoved Mover); (2) the argument from causation (every cause has a cause; there must be an Uncaused Cause); (3) the argument from contingency (contingent beings require a Necessary Being); (4) the argument from gradation (degrees of perfection require a Maximum); (5) the argument from design (purposeful order requires an Intelligent Designer). The Five Ways remain among the most studied arguments in philosophical theology.
On December 6, 1273, while celebrating Mass, Aquinas had a mystical experience — what exactly happened he never described. From that day until his death three months later, he wrote nothing. To his fellow Dominican who urged him to finish the Summa, he said: 'I cannot. All that I have written seems like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.' The greatest theologian of the medieval church chose silence rather than continue his work after meeting (in some unrecorded way) the God he had written so much about.