Thomas Aquinas is considered the greatest figure of 13th century Europe in the sciences of the era, Philosophy and Theology. At the Sorbonne he was mistakenly called the dumb ox by his classmates because of his humility. Later he was known as the patron saint of lecturers and scholars.
Born in 1225 in High Medieval Italy to a well-connected family, Thomas was hugely influenced by two key factors that were changing the religious, political and social life – scholasticism was flourishing driven by the founding of universities across Europe and the rise of the Dominican Order of Preachers.
Even though the church dominated the culture of Western Europe, his search for truth lead Aquinas to synthesise Christianity with the Greco-Roman philosophers Aristotle and Cicero.
His surviving writings total over eight million words ranging from articles, contemplations and commentaries on almost every topic from Angels, Ethics, Faith, Reason, Scriptures, Truth etc. His best known works include Summa contra Gentiles and Summa Theologiae.
Thomas Aquinas is said to have had a profound spiritual experience towards the end of his life. In December 1273, while celebrating Mass, he reportedly had a mystical vision that deeply affected him. After this experience, he stopped writing, leaving his major work, the “Summa Theologica,” unfinished. When asked why he had ceased his work, he replied, “I can write no more. All that I have written seems like straw to me”. He passed away a few months later, on March 7, 1274.
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Events
Free Public Talk on Sunday 17 November 2024 By Sean McCrumlish Topic: Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas is considered the greatest figure of 13th century Europe in the sciences of the era, Philosophy and Theology. At the Sorbonne he was
July 26, 2023
