January 28

Thomas lived in the thirteenth century. He was the son of a noble family

of Italy. He was very intelligent, but he never boasted about it. He knew

that his mind was a gift from God. Thomas was one of nine children. His

parents hoped that he would become a Benedictine abbot some day. The family

castle was in Rocca Secca, just north of Monte Cassino where the monks

lived.

Thomas was sent to the abbey for schooling when he was five. When he was

eighteen, he went to Naples to finish his studies. There he met a new group

of religious men called the Order of Preachers. Their founder, St. Dominic,

was still living. Thomas knew he wanted to become a priest. He felt that

he was called to join these men who would become known in popular language

as "Dominicans." His parents were angry with him. When he was on his way

to Paris to study, his brothers kidnapped him. They kept him a prisoner in

one of their castles for over a year. During that time, they did all they

could to make him change his mind. One of his sisters, too, came to

persuade him to give up his vocation. But Thomas spoke so beautifully about

the joy of serving God that she changed her mind. She decided to give her

life to God as a nun. After fifteen months, Thomas was finally freed to

follow his call.

St. Thomas wrote so well about God that people all over the world have

used his books for hundreds of years. His explanations about God and the

faith came from Thomas' great love for God. He was effective because he

wasn't trying to make an impression on anyone. He just wanted with all his

heart to offer the gift of his life to Jesus and the Church. St. Thomas is

one of the greatest Doctors of the Church.

Around the end of 1273, Pope Gregory X asked Thomas to be part of an

important Church meeting called the Council of Lyons. While traveling to

the meeting, Thomas becmae ill. He had to stop at a monastery at Fossanova,

Italy, where he died. It was March 7, 1274. He was only forty-nine. St.

Thomas was declared a saint in 1323 by Pope Benedict XI.

All of St. Thomas' learning, writing or teaching is not what makes him a

saint. He became a saint by doing everything for God with love. He will

help us do the same if we ask him.