January 28--St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

St. Thomas Aquinas—January 28

St. Thomas Aquinas lived in the thirteenth century, during the High Middle Ages in Europe.  St. Thomas was a Dominican priest who found his calling writing and teaching theology.  He is considered by many to be the greatest theologian in Catholicism.  He believed that as God gave us intellect, we need to use it in order to know who God is; as God gave us free will, we need to use it to choose to love God with all our hearts.  In order to help us know, love, and serve God more, God gives us his grace.  Grace builds on nature.  He also taught that the truths of faith cannot contradict the truths of reason for both are from God.  This can help us as we note that the natural moral law that is written in our hearts by God cannot conflict with the guidance in morals that the Church’s Magisterium offers us as we strive to become holier in our daily lives.  When our consciences come into conflict with the authoritative truths of the Church we should look at ourselves and pray for a willing and faithful submission to truth, the truth that Jesus gives to us through our shepherds, the pope and bishops.

St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of Catholic schools, an appropriate saint during Catholic Schools Week because of his extensive scholarship and teaching.  As we celebrate the gift of Catholic schools, it is appropriate to keep in mind that Catholic schools teach the truths of faith and morals that St. Thomas expounded on so long ago; the truths of revelation that cannot, and do not, conflict with the truths of reason.