Virtue of the Month - Wisdom
Pablo Cortez
October 1, 2010
St Thomas Aquinas - The Dumb Ox (1225-1274) FEAST DAY: JAN 28
Thomas was born in his family castle near Naples, Italy. His family was very rich. Thomas was one of nine children and was extremely intelligent but he never bragged about his gifted mind from God. He was so quiet and reserved that sometimes people thought that he was dull. His parents wanted him to become a Benedictine abbot.
Thomas was educated by the Benedictine monks from 5 years of age to 18. Then he went to the University of Naples to finish his studies. There he met a new group of religious men called the Preachers (or The Dominicans). They lived very simple lives and felt that their calling was to teach. Their founder, St. Dominic, was still living. Thomas knew he wanted to become a priest and he felt called to join the Dominicans.
His parents were very angry with him! The Dominicans were not prestigious enough for them. He secretly joined the order in 1244. His brothers actually kidnapped him and kept him a prisoner in one of their castles for over a year! They did everything they could think of to make him change his mind. One of his sisters came to convince him to give up his vocation. But Thomas spoke so beautifully about the joy of serving God that she changed her mind and became a nun.
After fifteen months, Thomas was finally allowed to follow his calling.
When he first became a Dominican some of the men called him “The Dumb Ox”. They were very wrong! He was not dumb in fact, St. Thomas wrote so well about God that people all over the world have used his books for hundreds of years. St. Thomas’ explanations about God and the faith came from his great love for God. His writings touched the hearts of many people because he was not trying to impress anyone. He just wanted with all his heart to offer the gift of his life to Jesus and the Church.
He died when he was 49.
St. Thomas is one of the greatest Doctors of the Church and is considered the universal patron of universities, colleges, and Catholic schools.
