St Thomas Aquinas kneeling and offering his works to the
Roman Catholic Church.
MARCH 7
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
From
The Liturgical Year - Dom Guéranger
The saint we are to honour today is one of the sublimest
and most lucid interpreters of divine truth. He rose up in the Church many
centuries after the apostolic age, nay, long after the four great Latin
doctors, Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory. The Church, the ever young
and joyful mother, is justly proud of her Thomas, and has honoured him with the
splendid title of the angelical doctor, on account of the extraordinary gift of
understanding wherewith God had blessed him; just as his contemporary and
friend, St. Bonaventure, has been called the seraphic doctor, on account of the
wonderful unction which abounds in the writings of this worthy disciple of St.
Francis. Thomas of Aquinas is an honour to mankind, for perhaps there never
existed a man whose intellect surpassed his.
He is one
of the brightest ornaments of the Church, for not one of her doctors has equaled
him in the clearness and precision wherewith he has explained her doctrines. He
received the thanks of Christ Himself, for having well written of Him and His mysteries.
How welcome ought this feast of such a saint to be to us during this season of
the year, when our main study is our return and conversion to God! What greater
blessing could we have than to come to the knowledge of God? Has not our
ignorance of God, of His claims, and of His perfections, been the greatest
misery of our past lives? Here we have a saint whose prayers are most efficacious
in procuring for us that knowledge, which is unspotted, and converteth souls, and
giveth wisdom to little ones, and gladdeneth the heart, and enlighteneth the
eyes. Happy we if this spiritual wisdom be granted us! We shall then see the
vanity of everything that is not eternal, the righteousness of the divine
commandments, the malice of sin, and the infinite goodness where with God treats
us when we repent.
Let us learn
from the Church the claims of the angelical doctor to our admiration and
confidence.
St Thomas Aquinas by Sandro Botticelli
The distinguished ornament of the Christian world and
light of the Church, the most blessed man Thomas, was born of noble parents,
his father being Landulph, Count of Aquino, and his mother a rich Neapolitan
lady, by name Theodora. While yet an infant he gave proof of his future
devotion towards the Mother of God; for having found a leaflet on which was written
the angelical salutation, he clenched it so fast that the nurse tried in vain
to take it from his hand. His mother, however, having forced it from him, the
child succeeded by tears and signs, in recovering the paper, which he immediately
swallowed. When he was five years old he was sent to Monte Cassino, that he
might receive from the Benedictine monks his first training.
Thence he was sent to Naples, where he went through a
course of studies, and, young as he was, joined the Order of Friars Preachers.
This step caused great displeasure to his mother and brothers, and it was
therefore deemed advisable to send him to Paris. He was waylaid by his brothers,
who seized him, and imprisoned him in the castle of Saint John. After having
made several unsuccessful attempts to induce him to abandon the holy life he
had chosen, they assailed his purity, by sending to him a wicked woman: but he
drove her from his chamber with a
firebrand. The young saint then threw himself on his
knees before a crucifix. Having prayed some time, he fell asleep, and it seemed
to him that two angels approached him, and tightly girded his loins. From that
time forward, he never suffered the slightest feeling against purity. His
sisters also had come to the castle, and tried to make him change his mind; but
he, on the contrary, persuaded them to despise the world, and devote themselves
to the exercise of a holy life.
It was contrived that he should escape through a window
of the castle, and return to Naples. He was thence taken by John the Teutonic,
the General of the Dominican Order, first to Rome and then to Paris, in which
latter city he was taught philosophy and theology by Albert the Great.
At the age of twenty-five, he received the title of
doctor, and explained in the public schools, and in a manner that made him the
object of universal admiration, the writings of philosophers and theologians.
He always applied himself to prayer, before reading or writing anything. When
he met with any difficult passage in the sacred Scriptures, he both fasted and
prayed. He used often to say to his companion, Brother Reginald, that if he
knew anything, it was more a gift from
God, than the fruit of his own study and labour. One'
day, when at Naples, as he was praying with more than his usual fervor, before
a crucifix, he heard these words: ‘Well
hast thou written of me, Thomas! What reward wouldst thou have me give thee? He
answered: ‘None other, Lord, than thyself.’
His favourite spiritual book was the Conferences of
the Fathers, and there was not a book which he had not most carefully read. His
writings are so extraordinary, not only for their number and variety, but also
for their clearness in explaining difficult points of doctrine, that his copious
and sound teaching, so wonderfully consonant with revealed truth, is most apt
for utterly refuting the errors of all ages. Being called to Rome by Pope Urban
IV., he composed, at his command, the ecclesiastical Office for the solemnity of
Corpus Christi; but he refused to accept any honours, as like Wise the
archbishopric of Naples offered to him by Pope Clement IV. He was most zealous
in preaching the word of God. On one occasion, during Easter week, as he was
preaching in the church of St. Peter, a woman touched the hem of his habit, and
was cured of an issue of blood. He was sent by Gregory X. to the Council of
Lyons; but having reached Fossa Nova, he fell sick, and was received as a guest
in the monastery of that place, where he wrote a commentary on the Canticle of
Canticles. There he died in the fiftieth year of his age, in the year of our
Lord 1274 on the Nones of March (March 7). His sanctity was made manifest after
his death, by miracles: which being proved, he was canonized by Pope John XXII.
in the year 1323. His body was translated to Toulouse by command of blessed
Urban V. Being comparable to the angels, no less by his innocence than by his genius,
he has received the title of angelical doctor, confirmed to him by the authority
of St. Pius V. Pope Leo XIII. joyfully acceding to the 'desires and petitions
of the bishops of the Catholic world, by a decree of the sacred Congregation of
rites and by letters apostolic, ordained and declared him the heavenly patron
of all Catholic schools; and this especially for the purpose of repelling the
evil of so many philosophical systems abandoned to error, for the increase of
knowledge, and for the common utility of mankind.
The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus adored by Sts. Thomas
Aquinas and Marguerite-Marie Alacoque
How shall we worthily praise thee, most holy Doctor!
How shall we thank thee for what thou hast taught us? The rays of the divine
Sun of justice beamed strongly upon thee, and thou hast reflected them upon us.
When we picture thee contemplating truth, we think of those words of our Lord: Blessed
are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Thy victory over the
concupiscence of the flesh merited for thee the highest spiritual delights; and
our Redeemer chose thee, because of the purity of thy angelic soul, to compose
for His Church the Office whereby she should celebrate the divine Sacrament of
His love. Learning did not impair thy humility. Prayer was ever thy guide in
thy search after truth; and there was but one reward for which, after all thy
labours, thou wast ambitious, the possession of God.
Thy life,
alas was short. The very masterpiece of thy angelical writings was left
unfinished. But thou hast not lost thy power of working for the Church. Aid her
in her combats against error.
She holds thy teachings in the highest estimation because
she feels that none of her saints has ever known so well as thou, the secrets
and mysteries of her divine Spouse. Now, perhaps more than in any other age,
truths are decayed among the children of men; strengthen us in our faith, get
us light. Check the conceit of those shallow self-constituted philosophers, who
dare to sit in judgment on the actions and decisions of the Church, and to
force their contemptible theories upon a generation that is too ill-instructed
to detect their fallacies. The atmosphere around us is gloomy with ignorance; loose
principles, and truths spoilt by cowardly compromise, are the fashion of our
times; pray for us; bring us back to that hold and simple acceptance of
truth, which gives life to the intellect and joy to
the heart.
Pray, too,
for the grand Order which loves thee so devoutly, and honours thee as one of
the most illustrious of its many glorious children. Draw down upon the family
of thy patriarch St. Dominic the choicest blessings, for it is one of the most powerful
auxiliaries of God’s Church.
We are on the eve of the holy season of Lent, preparing
for the great work of earnest conversion of our lives. Thy prayers must gain
for us the knowledge both of the God we have offended by our sins, and of the
wretched state of a soul that is at enmity with its Maker. Knowing this, we
shall hate our sins; we shall desire to purify our souls in the Blood of the
spotless Lamb; we shall generously atone for our faults by works of penance.
MASS PROPERS
ST. THOMAS
AQUINAS
COMMEMORATION –
FERIA IN LENT
STATION AT THE
FOUR HOLY CROWNED MARTYRS
White vestments/Double
White vestments/Double
INTROIT
Ecclesiasticus
15: 5
In medio ecclesiæ aperuit os ejus: et implevit eum
Dominus spiritu sapientiæ, et intellectus: stolam gloriæ induit eum. Ps. 91: 2.
Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. Gloria Patri.
In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth:
and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with
a robe of glory. Ps. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to Thy
Name, O Most High. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
O God, through Whom Thy Church is glorified by the
wonderful learning of Thy blessed Confessor Thomas and profiteth still from his
holy labours: grant, we pray, that we may grasp his teaching with our minds and
show it, as he did, in our lives. Through our Lord.
Collect - Commemoration
of the Feria in Lent
We beseech Thee, O almighty God, grant that as year by
year we devoutly keep these sacred fasts, we may please Thee both in body and
mind. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE
Wisdom 7: 7-14
I wished, and understanding was given me; and I
called, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me; and I preferred her before
kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches, nothing in comparison of her.
Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone, for all gold in comparison
of her is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as
clay. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of
light, for her light cannot be put out. Now all good things came to me together
with her, and innumerable riches through her hands. And I rejoiced in them all:
for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them
all which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy and her
riches I hide not; for she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use,
become the friends of God, being commended for the gift of discipline.
GRADUAL
Psalm 36: 30-31
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his
tongue shall speak judgment. The law of His God is in his heart: and his steps
shall not be supplanted.
TRACT
Psalm 111: 1-3
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall
delight exceedingly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth:
the generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in
his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.
GOSPEL
Matthew 5:
13-19
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: You are the
salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be
salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and be trodden on
by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but upon a
candlestick, that it may shine to all that are before men that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father, Who is in heaven. Do not think that I
am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfil. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that
shall break one of these least commandments, and so shall teach men, shall be called
the least in the kingdom of heaven: but he that shall do and teach, he shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
OFFERTORY
Psalm 91: 13
The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall
grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
SECRET
May the holy prayer of Saint Thomas, Thy Confessor and
Doctor, fail us not, O Lord: may it render our offerings acceptable, and ever
obtain for us Thy pardon. Through our Lord.
Commemoration
of the Feria in Lent
May the Sacrifice we offer up to Thee, O Lord, be ever
our life and our protection. Through our Lord.
PREFACE FOR
LENT
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto
salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee,
O holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting God. Who by the fasting of the
body dost curb our vices, elevate our minds and bestow virtue and reward;
through Christ our Lord. Through whom the angels praise Thy majesty, the
dominions worship it, and the powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly
hosts, with the blessed seraphim join together in celebrating their joy. With
these we pray Thee join our voices also, while we say with lowly praise:
THE SANCTUS
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth. Pleni
sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus qui venit in
nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
COMMUNION
Luke 12: 42
The faithful and wise servant, whom his lord setteth
over his family: to give them their measure of wheat in due season.
Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics by Filippino
Lippi
POSTCOMMUNION
May blessed Thomas Thy Confessor and illustrious
Doctor intercede for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that these Thy sacrifices may
obtain for us salvation. Through our Lord.
Commemoration
of the Feria in Lent
We have received the Sacraments of salvation, O Lord,
and beg that and increase of eternal redemption for us may be their fruit.
Through our Lord.
This
extraordinary Eucharistic hymn, by the great St. Thomas Aquinas.
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