Last week, the universal Church celebrated the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas. It is fitting, therefore, that we provide some words of encouragement to ensure that the light of Aquinas’ remains at the forefront of the Church’s sapiential horizon.

Of all the Doctors of the Church, none has received as much praise as that which has been rendered over the centuries to the Angelic Doctor. Aquinas has rightly been ascribed the title "Common Doctor" for the reason outlined by Pope John XXIII:

His teaching was, more than any other, fully in keeping with the truths that God has revealed, with the writings of the Holy Fathers, and with the principles of right reason and therefore Holy Church has adopted it as her own, and has given the name of common or universal teacher to its author.

(Addressed to the Fifth International Thomistic Congress, September 16, 1960.)

Here is what JPII had to say:

...Thomas recognized that nature, philosophy's proper concern, could contribute to the understanding of divine Revelation. Faith therefore has no fear of reason, but seeks it out and has trust in it. Just as grace builds on nature and brings it to fulfilment,(45) so faith builds upon and perfects reason.

(Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio, 43)

As a final hoorah, we shall throw in the words of G.K. Chesterton from his insightful little book St. Thomas Aquinas:

The Thomist philosophy and theology, quite fairly compared with other philosophies like the Buddhist or the Monist, with other theologies like the Calvinist or the Christian Scientist, is quite obviously a working and even a fighting system; full of common sense and constructive confidence; and therefore normally full of hope and promise. Nor is this hope vain or this promise unfulfilled. In this not very hopeful modern moment, there are no men so hopeful as those who are today looking to St. Thomas as a leader in a hundred crying questions of craftsmanship and ownership and economic ethics.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Teacher of Truth

Pray for us!