Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor

Thomas was the son of a count and a relative of both the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the King of France. He joined the Dominicans and was ordained a priest about 1250. Thomas became a master of theology. He then moved on to teaching and writing, first in Paris and then in other schools. His greatest opus, the Summa Theologica, a work that deals with Catholic theology in its entirety, remains a staple for all theological studies.

Thomas Aquinas is considered the preeminent spokesman for the Catholic tradition of reason and of divine revelation. His writings are required study for all theological students even to this day. He was canonized a saint in 1323 and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V in 1567.

Thomas Aquinas was a theologian of unparalleled insight. While not everyone would want to delve into the writings of Aquinas, all Catholics should strive to learn more about the teachings and traditions of the Church.