Thomas Aquinas

Scholasticism

The medieval school science that systematically joined faith and reason.

💡 Did you know? Thomas Aquinas was the greatest thinker of scholasticism: the union of faith and reason at the medieval universities.

Dominicans

His family was so appalled that his brothers kidnapped him and held him at the castle for over a year.

💡 Did you know? Against the fierce resistance of his noble family, Thomas joined the poor mendicant order of the Dominicans.

Summa theologiae

A complete exposition of theology in thousands of systematically constructed articles.

💡 Did you know? The „Summa theologiae“ was to order all Christian knowledge: but stayed unfinished, because Thomas stopped writing.

the five ways

For instance, arguing from the motion of the world to a first 'unmoved mover'.

💡 Did you know? The „Five Ways“ are Thomas's famous proofs of God, such as the inference from motion to a first mover.

Aristotle

He called him simply 'the Philosopher': faith and reason could not contradict each other.

💡 Did you know? Thomas reconciled the newly rediscovered philosophy of Aristotle with Christian faith: an intellectual feat.

Albertus Magnus

The polymath recognised his silent pupil's genius early.

💡 Did you know? His teacher was the polymath Albertus Magnus, who early recognised the talent of his silent pupil.

dumb ox

Albertus Magnus prophesied: 'This ox will one day bellow so loudly that the whole world will hear him.'

💡 Did you know? Thomas was famously heavyset and a man of unshakable calm.

like straw

After an experience during Mass he abruptly stopped writing: the 'Summa' remained unfinished.

💡 Did you know? After a mystical experience in 1273, Thomas saw his vast work „as straw“ and wrote not another word.

Angelic Doctor

Canonised in 1323; his teaching (Thomism) became the foundation of Catholic philosophy.

💡 Did you know? For the clarity and loftiness of his thought, Thomas bears the title „doctor angelicus“: angelic teacher.

They do not contradict each other

Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it: a core tenet of Thomism.

💡 Did you know? Faith and reason cannot contradict each other, said Thomas, because both come from God: a pillar of Catholic doctrine.

Italy

Between Rome and Naples; his family wanted him to become abbot of Montecassino.

💡 Did you know? Thomas was born around 1225 in a castle near Aquino in southern Italy: hence the name „Aquinas“.

the Council of Lyon

He died barely 50 years old at the Cistercian abbey of Fossanova.

💡 Did you know? Thomas died in 1274 on his way to the Council of Lyon: only 49, yet leaving a work of immense influence.

Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas was the greatest theologian of the Middle Ages: he united the philosophy of Aristotle with Christian faith.

💡 Did you know? His fellow students called him the „dumb ox“ for his bulk and silence: his teacher said this ox would one day make the world roar.