Christians are normally known for two main services to society: education and healthcare. However, not many, including Christians, know that the feasts of the two patron saints of education are celebrated end-January: Thomas Aquinas (28th) and John Bosco (31st). Three years ago I highlighted the life of John Bosco in this column. So, let’s focus on little known Aquinas.
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) is little known in India because the other Thomas — one among Jesus’ handpicked 12 apostles who was martyred here — is more popular. It is, therefore, not surprising that many Christians in Kerala are named “Thomas” after the Apostle. But, Thomas Aquinas is the theologian-saint nicknamed “Angelic Doctor”.
When someone boasted that he had become a doctor of theology, his guru good-humouredly asked: “Doctor of theology? What disease is that?” Likewise, when I sometimes say that I’m a theologian many either ask: “Woh kya hai?” or reply: “Achcha, geology!” Then, I explain that theology is Ish-shashtra: the study of matters divine or striving to grasp reality with God’s eyes.
While categorising Aquinas, as doctor of theology isn’t incorrect, it’s certainly incomplete. For, he was also philosopher, ethicist, apologist, teacher, orator, pastor, nobleman and mystic. Born into a royal family related to emperor Fredric II, it was natural that his family dreamt of him becoming an able administrator; more so, since young Thomas had a prodigious intellect. He entered Naples University aged just 11 and wanted to join the Dominican religious order at 18.
Bent on blocking Thomas from priesthood, his brothers imprisoned him in a tower for two years. They also hired a temptress to seduce him. Driving her away, Thomas resolved to remain celibate and surrendered to God. Moved by love, his mother set him free by secretly arranging to let him down in a basket. He then earned doctorates at the universities of Cologne and Paris.
Aquinas is the most outstanding exponent of “Scholasticism” that reinterpreted Aristotelian philosophy to teach the basics of Christianity. He towers over other theologians since he mastered every area of theological, philosophical and ethical inquiry. His magnum opus the Summa Theologica is still a standard textbook at every Christian faculty, worldwide.
Angels are God’s messengers. Aquinas, the angelic doctor, could convey God’s message so effectively because he spent hours in meditation and prayer. So engrossed was he in spiritual sadhana that he’d forget to eat and sleep. A monk was appointed to remind him to eat and sleep!
Short of his 50th year, Thomas became silent. “Why have you stopped writing?” asked a confrere. Thomas replied, “I can write no more. All that I’ve written seems like straw.” Aquinas inspires us to harmonise faith and reason, contemplation and action, speech and silence.
