Who is Saint Thomas Aquinas? 5 Facts You Should Know
Who is Saint Thomas Aquinas?
Five key facts about Saint Thomas Aquinas:
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Philosophical and Theological Masterpiece: Saint Thomas Aquinas is best known for his work Summa Theologica, a comprehensive summary of Christian theology. It covers topics such as the existence of God, the nature of man, the moral life, and the sacraments, and remains one of the most influential works in Catholic thought.
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Integration of Faith and Reason: Aquinas is renowned for his belief that faith and reason are complementary, not contradictory. He argued that human reason could uncover many truths about the natural world, but some mysteries, such as the Trinity and the Incarnation, can only be known through divine revelation.
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The Five Ways: In his Summa Theologica, Aquinas formulated five arguments for the existence of God, known as the "Five Ways." These include the arguments from motion, causality, contingency, degree, and design, all aiming to demonstrate the rationality of belief in God.
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Dominican Friar: Thomas Aquinas joined the Dominican Order in 1244, despite his noble family's opposition. He became one of the order’s most influential scholars, contributing significantly to its intellectual tradition.
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Canonized and Named a Doctor of the Church: Aquinas was canonized as a saint in 1323 by Pope John XXII. In 1568, he was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V for his monumental contributions to theology. His feast day is celebrated on March 7th.
Saint Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of Catholic schools, universities, and scholars, reflecting his profound influence on theology and philosophy. He is also the patron saint of students, especially those pursuing academic and intellectual pursuits. Known for his deep understanding of the faith, he is also invoked by those seeking clarity in matters of reasoning and doctrine. Saint Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of theologians, guiding them in their study and interpretation of Christian truths.
Who is Saint Thomas Aquinas? The Angelic Doctor
Saint Thomas Aquinas, often hailed as one of the greatest theologians and philosophers in the history of the Catholic Church, was born in 1225 in the Kingdom of Naples, Italy. His profound contributions to Catholic thought earned him the title of “Doctor Angelicus” (Angelic Doctor) and “Doctor Communis” (Common Doctor) because of his extraordinary intellectual clarity and theological depth. His life and work have shaped Catholic doctrine and philosophy, influencing the Church’s understanding of the relationship between faith and reason, and of how human beings come to know God and His creation.
Early Life and Calling
Thomas was born into a noble family, the Count of Aquino, and was expected to follow a path of political power and military service. However, from an early age, Thomas felt a strong calling to religious life. At the age of 19, he joined the Dominican Order, much to the chagrin of his family, who had hoped he would pursue a secular career. His family even imprisoned him for a time, but Thomas remained steadfast in his vocation. Upon escaping, he completed his studies in Naples and eventually traveled to Paris, where he studied under Albert the Great, one of the most eminent scholars of his time. This was where Thomas’s intellectual prowess began to shine.
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Saint Thomas Aquinas and Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saint Thomas Aquinas had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and regarded her as an essential figure in the spiritual life. He often meditated on Mary's role as the Mother of God and her intercessory power, which is reflected in his teachings. The Hail Mary prayer, which honors Mary as the "full of grace" and the "Mother of God," aligns with Aquinas's theological understanding of Mary's unique role in salvation history. Aquinas wrote extensively about the importance of Marian devotion in his work, emphasizing that she is the most perfect model of Christian virtues. His reverence for Mary deepened the Church’s understanding of her as a powerful intercessor, a belief that is encapsulated in the Hail Mary prayer itself.
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The Integration of Faith and Reason
One of the most significant aspects of Saint Thomas Aquinas’s theology is his synthesis of faith and reason. His approach to theology and philosophy was deeply rooted in the belief that both reason and revelation come from God and, therefore, cannot ultimately contradict each other. Aquinas believed that human reason, although fallen, can still discover truths about the natural world and the existence of God. However, he also recognized that there are truths which surpass human reason, such as the mysteries of the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation, which can only be known through divine revelation.
Aquinas argued that reason and faith are not only compatible but complementary. In his magnum opus, Summa Theologica, Aquinas laid out a systematic approach to understanding God, man, and the world. He distinguished between the use of reason in the natural sciences and the higher truths of theology, which are revealed through Scripture and Tradition. Through this distinction, Aquinas was able to defend the use of reason in understanding and explaining divine truths, while also respecting the necessity of revelation in revealing the mysteries of the faith.
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The Five Ways: Proving the Existence of God
Perhaps the most famous part of Aquinas's philosophical work is his "Five Ways" (Quinque Viae), which are five arguments for the existence of God. These arguments are found in his Summa Theologica and are considered a cornerstone of Christian philosophy. The Five Ways include:
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The Argument from Motion: Everything in motion must have been set into motion by something else. Since there cannot be an infinite regression of movers, there must be a First Mover, which Aquinas identifies as God.
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The Argument from Causality: Every effect must have a cause, and there cannot be an infinite chain of causes. Therefore, there must be a First Cause, which is God.
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The Argument from Contingency: The universe is full of contingent beings—beings that could have not existed. If everything in the universe is contingent, there must be a necessary being whose existence is not contingent, and this necessary being is God.
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The Argument from Degree: In the world, there are varying degrees of perfection. For there to be varying degrees, there must be a maximum, a "being of being" that is the ultimate source of all perfection, and that is God.
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The Teleological Argument (Argument from Design): The order and design of the universe suggest the existence of an intelligent designer, which Aquinas identifies as God.
Each of these arguments is designed to demonstrate the rationality of belief in God’s existence, even without direct appeal to Scripture. In his view, the natural world provides ample evidence of a Creator whose nature can be known, albeit imperfectly, through human reason.
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The Nature of God
Aquinas’s understanding of God was deeply influenced by the works of Aristotle, whom he integrated into his theological framework. Aquinas posited that God is pure act, without potentiality. This means that God is absolutely simple, unchanging, and the ultimate source of all being and goodness. God is not one being among many, but rather, He is Being itself. Furthermore, Aquinas described God as existing necessarily—He must exist and cannot not exist—and as transcendent, beyond all human comprehension and experience.
In his Summa Theologica, Aquinas explored God's attributes, including His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. He also emphasized God’s goodness and providence, asserting that God governs all of creation according to His divine plan, and that all of creation is ordered towards the good, as willed by God.
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The Relationship Between Faith and Morality
Aquinas’s moral theology is built upon the concept of natural law, which holds that God's law is discernible by human reason through the observation of nature. According to Aquinas, human beings are created by God with a natural inclination to seek the good. Natural law, then, is a participation in God's eternal law, and it guides human beings to act in accordance with their true end: union with God.
Aquinas emphasized that the moral law is not merely a set of rules but is a reflection of God's eternal law. For Aquinas, true happiness is found in the pursuit of God, and all human actions should be ordered towards this ultimate end. Virtue, then, is a habit of choosing the good and acting in accordance with God's law.
In his theological anthropology, Aquinas argued that human beings, as rational creatures, have free will and are morally responsible for their actions. However, this freedom is not absolute; it is ordered towards the good and must be exercised in accordance with divine law.
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Legacy and Influence
Saint Thomas Aquinas died in 1274, but his legacy endures through his writings, which continue to be a foundational source for Catholic thought. His work laid the groundwork for centuries of theological and philosophical reflection, earning him a place as one of the Church’s greatest doctors. His influence extends beyond theology, shaping Christian philosophy, ethics, and even aspects of natural law theory.
Aquinas was canonized as a saint in 1323 by Pope John XXII, and in 1568, Pope Pius V declared him the patron of all Catholic schools. In 1879, Pope Leo XIII issued the encyclical Aeterni Patris, which called for a return to Thomistic philosophy as the foundation of Catholic education. Today, his thought remains central to Catholic seminaries and universities worldwide.
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Saint Thomas Aquinas’s contributions to theology and philosophy are immeasurable. He harmonized faith and reason in a way that remains a cornerstone of Catholic teaching, showing that belief in God is not only a matter of faith but also of reasoned understanding. His legacy continues to guide Catholics in their quest for truth, helping them to understand the nature of God, the world, and their own place in creation. As the "Angelic Doctor," Saint Thomas Aquinas remains a towering figure in the history of Catholic thought, his work shining as a beacon of reason, faith, and truth.
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