St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas was a brilliant writer and teacher who traveled throughout Europe within his lifetime. Born in south-central Italy, 1225, Thomas began life as the youngest of a noble family and served as Benedictine oblate for a short time. Thomas was an intellectual young man who had great potential from the start. He studied in multiple universities across
the land and wrote many great books.
Thomas began his studies at the University of Naples and joined the new mendicant Dominican order at the young age of nineteen. He later moved on to study theology in Paris where he became a bachelor of Scripture. Thomas returned to Italy and taught in various Dominican houses in 1259-1268 until he later moved back to Paris. In Paris, he wrote commentaries on religious based texts, composed hymns, sermons and prayers.
On December 6, 1273, Thomas had a mysterious vision which caused him to say "Everything I have written seems like straw in comparison with what I have seen and what has been revealed to me." He stopped writing after this strange vision. He died in 1274 on his way to the Second Council of Lyons.
St. Thomas Aquinas had many written works, one being his Summa contra gentile. Around the time he finished this, he began writing his Commentary on the Book of Job. From 1265-1268, Thomas directed the Dominican center for studies in Rome where he started his second commentary and began his best-known work, Summa theologica. He completed many other works during this time as well. He wrote many parts to his Summa, all reflecting his intellectual thinking.
St. Thomas Aquinas was a very bright and very religious author during his time. He wrote many well-known pieces of literature and did so for much of his young adult hood. Thomas was also a traveler who moved around often throughout his lifetime. Whether he was teaching in Rome or learning in Paris, St. Thomas Aquinas was almost always writing new brilliant articles.
the land and wrote many great books.
Thomas began his studies at the University of Naples and joined the new mendicant Dominican order at the young age of nineteen. He later moved on to study theology in Paris where he became a bachelor of Scripture. Thomas returned to Italy and taught in various Dominican houses in 1259-1268 until he later moved back to Paris. In Paris, he wrote commentaries on religious based texts, composed hymns, sermons and prayers.
On December 6, 1273, Thomas had a mysterious vision which caused him to say "Everything I have written seems like straw in comparison with what I have seen and what has been revealed to me." He stopped writing after this strange vision. He died in 1274 on his way to the Second Council of Lyons.
St. Thomas Aquinas had many written works, one being his Summa contra gentile. Around the time he finished this, he began writing his Commentary on the Book of Job. From 1265-1268, Thomas directed the Dominican center for studies in Rome where he started his second commentary and began his best-known work, Summa theologica. He completed many other works during this time as well. He wrote many parts to his Summa, all reflecting his intellectual thinking.
St. Thomas Aquinas was a very bright and very religious author during his time. He wrote many well-known pieces of literature and did so for much of his young adult hood. Thomas was also a traveler who moved around often throughout his lifetime. Whether he was teaching in Rome or learning in Paris, St. Thomas Aquinas was almost always writing new brilliant articles.
Joan of Arc (1412-1431)
Joan of Arc was a national hero to her home country, France. Born on January 6, 1412, Joan lived a simple life of peasantry. At the age of 13, young Joan heard voices in her head that told her to remove the English authority from France. Being a religious young woman, Joan interpreted these voices as a sigh from the heavens and decided to obey.
Dressed in men’s clothing, Joan rode for 11 days (along with her escorts) to meet the rightful ruler of France, Charles VII. Joan impressed not only an ecclesiastical commission, but Charles himself with her saint-like behavior. Her calmness, simplicity and honesty won the men over in an interrogation and they believed in Joan’s mission.
Dressed as a knight, Joan commanded an army to fight against the English. She restored the French army’s confidence and hope with her piety. After many battles and much fighting, France overpowered the English and Charles became king. Many soldiers, peasants and rulers thought of Joan as a spiritual being; she was holy.
Although her biggest feat was putting Charles on the throne, Joan did not stop there. She continued to fight for France, even without the support of Charles. Inevitably, Joan was captured and put through multiple trials by the English. On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Joan forgave those who burned her with her last breath of life, causing
officials to feel afraid that they had burned a holy person.
Only after her death did France completely unify. King Charles restored her name and her trials declared illegal. She was not alive to see it, but Joan’s story and beliefs helped push France to greatness and unification.
Dressed in men’s clothing, Joan rode for 11 days (along with her escorts) to meet the rightful ruler of France, Charles VII. Joan impressed not only an ecclesiastical commission, but Charles himself with her saint-like behavior. Her calmness, simplicity and honesty won the men over in an interrogation and they believed in Joan’s mission.
Dressed as a knight, Joan commanded an army to fight against the English. She restored the French army’s confidence and hope with her piety. After many battles and much fighting, France overpowered the English and Charles became king. Many soldiers, peasants and rulers thought of Joan as a spiritual being; she was holy.
Although her biggest feat was putting Charles on the throne, Joan did not stop there. She continued to fight for France, even without the support of Charles. Inevitably, Joan was captured and put through multiple trials by the English. On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Joan forgave those who burned her with her last breath of life, causing
officials to feel afraid that they had burned a holy person.
Only after her death did France completely unify. King Charles restored her name and her trials declared illegal. She was not alive to see it, but Joan’s story and beliefs helped push France to greatness and unification.