St Thomas Aquinas--1225-1274
Probably the most famous Dominican saint in our windows, Thomas is the author of the Summa Theologica which showed the relationship of faith and reason. Thomas, at an early age, was sent to the University of Naples were he met the Dominicans and admired their apostolic life. At the age of 18 Thomas left his family and came to the Dominicans much to the chagrine of his family. His family had dreams of him becoming the abbot of the local Benedictine monastery in Montecasino. His brothers kidnapped him and locked him in one of the towers of the family home. His sisters were sent up to him to help him see the error of his thinking. After about a year Thomas ended up converting his sisters to his own side and with their help, one day when his brothers were lax in their guard duty, he was able to escape and return to the Dominicans. Thomas dedicated his life to teaching and preaching. Thomas was also a man of prayer and the liturgy for Corpus Christi is attributed to his pen as well as the words to the Eucharistic Hymn "Tantum Ergo". Feast Day: January 28.
Thomas great Summa is in his hands. He has the sun of Divine Wisdom on his breast, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove over his shoulder. The master's cap is on his head.
One day, shortly after he had completed his treatise on the Eucharist and about a year before his death, Thomas was praying before the altar in a church in Naples. Suddenly, from the Crucifix on that altar came the words "Bene scripsisti de me, Thoma" "Thou hast written well of Me, Thomas. What reward wilt thou have?" To this the Saint replied: "None, Lord, other than Thyself."