January 28, 2023, St. Thomas Aquinas Memorial Day, Holy Rosary (Joyful Mysteries)

Friends of the Rosary:

Today is the Memorial Day of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), one of the greatest writers and theologians of all time.

This 13th-century theologian showed that the Catholic faith is in harmony with philosophy and all other branches of knowledge. He showed that “both the light of reason and the light of faith come from God, hence there can be no contradiction between them.”

His most important work, the Summa Theologiae, has been standard for centuries, even to our own day.

Thomas Aquinas combined a deeply speculative mind with a life of prayer. Reputed as great already in life, he nevertheless remained modest, showing a childlike simplicity and goodness.

In December 1273, the scholar proclaimed that he could write no more, following a mystical experience in which he said he had “seen things that make my writings look like straw.”

Nearing death, he made a final confession and asked for the Eucharist to be brought to him. In its presence, he declared: “I adore you, my God and my Redeemer… for whose honor I have studied, labored, preached, and taught.”