St. Thomas Aquinas.

St Thomas, whose feast day we celebrate today, is a wonderful patron for students and all those who study. Born around the year 1225, Thomas was a brilliant scholar. At the age of 5 his father placed him under the care of the Benedictines at Monte Casino. Where his brilliant mind was already beginning to show itself.
When he became of age Thomas decided to enter into the order of St. Dominic. This caused his family much consternation and they tried to dissuade him, resorting to many underhand tactics. However, Thomas refused to change his decision and after about two years his family relented and let him go. He was sent to study in Cologne under St Albert the Great.

Because of his quiet and humble ways, Thomas was often referred to as the "dumb ox" at school, but when Albert heard his brilliant defense of a difficult thesis, he exclaimed: " We call this young man a dumb ox , but his bellowing in doctrine will one day resound throughout the world". I wonder if even his teacher realized the extent to which Thomas' work would touch the whole of the world even nine centuries later.

Having been sent to Paris to teach and take a doctorate in Theology his reputation as a brilliant scholar preceded him and he was always in demand. He travelled extensively, his one passion was to ardently explain and defend the Christian faith.

Pope Clement IV requested he become Archbishop of Naples, Thomas refused. The world can sigh with relief because if he had taken up this position it is thought that it would be highly unlikely that he would have written "Summa Theologica". Though he never finished this work it is still used today by those studying for the priesthood or those wanting to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith.
It is not surprising when reading the biographies on St. Thomas to see that he was often distracted and fell into ecstasy. One day he was observed by three of his fellow brothers before the crucifix, they heard a conversation between Thomas and Our Lord, they heard a voice proceeding from the crucifix on the altar, saying "Thou hast written well of me, Thomas; what reward wilt thou have?" Thomas replied, "None other than Thyself, Lord". Shortly after this Thomas laid aside his pen and would not write anymore. He felt that everything he had written so far had such little value in comparison to the things that had been revealed to him.
Thomas was invited by Pope Gregory X to speak at a General Council in Lyon on May 1st 1274. Thomas set out but shortly collapsed near Terracina. He was taken to a nearby castle which happened to belong to his niece. However, the Cistercian monks of Fossa Nuova pressed him to accept their hospitality, and he was conveyed to their monastery. Here he died on the 7th of March. He was canonized by John XXII in 1323.