Page 6 - St. Joseph Messenger September 2020
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revealed to me that all I have written now appears
to be of little value.” He never finished his most
important work, the Summa Theologica. Instead he
began to prepare for his death. He died on March 7,
1274.
The Summa Theologica
The Summa Theologica remains the most illustri-
ous work of this saint. Thomas wrote it as a
“manual of Christian doctrine for the use of stu-
dents.” It is a melding of Christian philosophy with
and exposition of theology. The Summa contains
38 Treatises, 612 Questions, which are subdivided
into 3,120 articles. About 10,000 objections are
proposed and answered.
The Summa is a well-ordered explanation of the re-
lationship between God and man. It explains how
man's reconciliation with the Divine is made possi-
ble through Christ.
Model for Students
St. Thomas Aquinas is eminently worthy of being a
guide for students, both young and old, in their
studies. In his STUDIORUM DUCEM (On
St. Thomas Aquinas), Pope Pius XI said,
Vision of St Thomas Aquinas
1593 “. . . the studies to which our young
Santi di Tito people devote themselves may, under
Oil on panel
San Marco, Florence the patronage of Aquinas, daily yield
more and more fruit for the glory of God
The Ecstasies of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Church . . .”
St. Thomas frequently experienced ecstasies, more
so towards the end of his life. In one of these in- As a patron of students, St. Thomas Aquinas can
stances, in Naples, three companions saw him help one to develop purity of mind and body which
lifted in ecstasy. They heard the voice of Jesus encourages clarity in studies. He can provide an
coming from the crucifix on the altar. The voice example of a prayer life which provides blessings
said, “Thou hast written well of me, Thomas; what on reading and study. It is said that he never began
reward wilt thou have?” The humble friar replied, study without invoking prayer; and when something
“None other than Thyself, Lord.” was particularly difficult to comprehend, he added
fasting to his prayer. (See page 2 of this issue for A
In the year 1273, St. Thomas experienced another Prayer before Study)
profound ecstasy. The experience prompted Thom-
as to abandon writing any further. He told those St. Thomas Aquinas demonstrated that study and
who asked him why he would no longer write devotion are not incompatible, and that faith and
that “I can do no more. Such secrets have been reason are in harmony in learning. SJM
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