Thomas Aquinas Biography

Thomas Aquinas is believed to have been born on January 28, 1225, in Aquino, Kingdom of Sicily, Italy. His father was Landulf, count of Aquino and his mother was Theodora, countess of Teano. He was the youngest of eight children in the family. His family members were descendants of Emperors Frederick I and Henry VI and were considered to be of lower nobility.

By the time his tenure ended, he had become quite famous and had gained a reputation for being an exemplary scholar. He spent many of the ensuing years preaching, teaching and writing, while also holding important positions, including that of a general preacher in Naples. He produced several works for Pope Urban IV such as the liturgy for the newly created feast of Corpus Christi and the ‘Contra errores graecorum’ (Against the Errors of the Greeks).

In 1272, he was asked to establish a studium generale wherever he liked by the Dominicans from his home province. Thus he took leave from the University of Paris to start work on the project. He established the institution in Naples and became its regent master. He had a profound religious experience in December 1273, following which he stopped writing.

Thomas Aquinas is best known as the author of the ‘Summa Theologiae’. Even though he could not finish the work, it is regarded as "one of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature”. The Summa covers topics such as the existence of God, creation of Man, Man’s purpose, Christ, etc. He also wrote several important commentaries on Aristotle's works, including ‘On the Soul’, ‘Nicomachean Ethics’ and ‘Metaphysics’.

Thomas Aquinas embarked on a trip to Lyon, France, on foot to serve on the Second Council, in January 1274. However, he fell ill along the way at the Cistercian monastery of Fossanova, Italy, and died on March 7, 1274.

He was canonized on July 18, 1323, by Pope John XXII, 50 years after his death. He is honored with a feast day in some churches of the Anglican Communion.