Word to the Wise
Monday, January 28, 2013 - Jan. 28 - St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church
[Wisdom 7:7-10, 15-16 and Matt 23:8-12]Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me....
A young man from a family of minor nobility in Italy goes to university in Naples and meets the Dominican friars, gets interested in them, overcomes family objections, and enters the very new Order of Preachers. That story was a fairly common one in the early years of the Dominicans. In this case, however, the young man was Thomas D'Aquino and he was destined to become one of the greatest and most influential theologians in the history of Western Christianity! He was born and died (1225-1274) completely in the 13th century, but his writing and teachings have transcended centuries and continue to challenge the efforts of theologians, philosophers and anyone interested in going deep into the truths of our Catholic heritage.
For those who find such endeavors not their field of interest in the church, his works still impact the devotional life of the church in the hymns he wrote for the feast of Corpus Christi, which we sing at the celebration of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: the "O Salutaris Hostia," and the "Pange Lingua" hymns are attirbuted to him. Those who have trouble with opposition to their ideas might read the introduction to his commentary on ARistotle's, "Metaphysics," in which he says that our opponents are often seeking the same truth that we are! Those troubled by the new translations in the Roman Missal might find comfort in his advice in the introduction to his small work, "Contra Errores Graecorum," in which he says it is not a good idea to literally translate Latin into the "vulgar tongue!"
I imagine that there is probably "something for everyone" someplace in Thomas' writings. We Dominicans justly celebrate his memory and accomplishments today and we invite you to join us! AMEN
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