Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and Doctor of
the Church
(II Samuel 7:7-14; Mark 4:1-20)
Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and Doctor of
the Church
(II Samuel 7:7-14; Mark 4:1-20)
The name “Thomas Aquinas” suggests complexity to students of
theology. His magistral Summa Theologiae
explores more than six hundred topics (called “questions”) with more than three
thousand articles of investigation, and many thousands of citations from
Scripture. Yet Thomas was not a complex
person and sees his principal subject of inquiry – that is, God – as complete
simplicity.
Thomas was born into a semi-noble family in southern
Italy. Noticing his ability, his family hoped
that he would be a future abbot of the Benedictine abbey where Thomas schooled. However, when Thomas met the Dominicans in
Naples, he found his true calling. The
Order exhibited a simplicity that touched his heart. It professes poverty that eschews material
accumulation. It strives above all to preach the gospel intelligently. And its members wear a habit of the most
basic of colors – black and white.
Thomas’ conception of God bespeaks the singularity of Thomas’
own heart. God for him is absolutely
simple. He has no essence other than
existence, no attribute apart from His essence, and no possibility of being
anything other than who He is. In praise
of God Thomas devoted his life.
Today’s gospel speaks of “rich soil” producing much
fruit. Like few others Thomas Aquinas
exemplifies that soil. His simplicity of
heart explaining the complete simplicity of God gave rise to thousands of
insights into both God and humans.
