St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas was born around 1225 in Roccasecca, Italy, to a noble family. His early education took place at the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino. However, Thomas's desire to join the Dominican Order in 1244 was met with resistance from his family, who had envisioned a different path for him. Despite this, he pursued his calling and began studying under Albertus Magnus in Paris in 1245. Thomas's intellectual prowess flourished under Magnus's tutelage, and he went on to become a prominent figure in medieval Scholasticism. Throughout his life, Thomas dedicated himself to teaching, writing, and theological debates, producing seminal works such as the *Summa Theologiae*. His contributions significantly shaped Catholic theology and earned him the title of "The Universal Teacher." Thomas Aquinas died on March 7, 1274, at the Cistercian Abbey of Fossanova, Italy, while en route to the Second Council of Lyon. He was canonized in 1323 by Pope John XXII, recognizing his profound impact on Catholic doctrine. Later, in 1567, Pope St. Pius V declared him a Doctor of the Church, further solidifying his legacy as a foundational figure in Catholic thought.