Commemoration Thomas Aquinas, Teacher

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Commemoration

Thomas Aquinas, Teacher, d. 1274

Reflection

Next to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas ranks as perhaps the greatest theologian of the Western Church. Born into a noble family in southern Italy, he was given to the nearby Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino, where his uncle had been abbot. At nineteen, he displeased his family by joining the mendicant Dominican Order of Preachers (begging monks). Despite his intellectual prowess, Aquinas was a man of humility and deep piety. He insisted that the Christian scholar must be prepared to meet other scholars on their own ground, to become familiar with their viewpoints, to argue from their premises, all of which has been an invaluable contribution to Christian thought.

The philosophy of Aristotle was becoming known to Christian intellectual circles, primarily through Eastern and Islamic Arab sources at the time. Aquinas immersed himself in Aristotle and undertook to explain Christianity in a language that would make sense to followers of the ancient Greek philosopher. It was at the time a radical and dangerous idea.

Toward the end of his life (he died not yet 50), he said, “All that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me.”

Aquinas also wrote hymn lyrics, including “Thee We Adore O Savior” (ELW 476). 

Prayer

Gracious God, Thank you for your servant, Thomas Aquinas, for his passion for learning, and his humility and deep piety. Inspire in us those same qualities. In Jesus’ name. Amen.