Wednesday, January 28 Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274

 



Wednesday, January 28
Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274

Thomas of Aquino or Thomas Aquinas remains one of the most brilliant and creative theologians in the church's history. During his early life the Philosophy of Aristotle, which had been written in Greek and which had been lost in the west was first translated by Muslim Arab scholars in the near East and for the first time was being translated into the common University language of Europe, that is Latin. As those studying Medicine, the Philosophy and the Liberal Arts, Theology, or Law (the sciences of the time) increasingly were debating and discussing Aristotle’s philosophy in the major universities of Europe, new questions were being raised as never before about whether this newly rediscovered philosophy might be used as a model to discuss Scripture and Theology. This import of this newly rediscovered philosophy created a crisis in the Church, not unlike the rise of Darwinism challenged some parts of the Church in the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Thomas found a way to bring this much studied philosophy together with the discussion of Scripture and Theology as no one else had before.
He was descended from several of the most prominent and noble families in Europe. He was born in 1225 on his family’s estate in Roccasecca, Italy, in the county of Aquino, which had been in his family for generations. He became a member of the Order of Preachers (O.P.) also known as the Dominicans. At his consecration as a friar, like all who were received as brothers into the Dominican order at the time, Thomas received the tonsure For the Dominicans meant that his hair was cut so that the top of his head was shaved, thus the hair on the side was intended to resemble the crown of thorns on the head of Christ. Aquinas quickly displayed a natural aptitude for theology. He had a considerable influence as a teacher and theologian on Western thought down to the present. His two major works were the Summa contra Gentiles (a summa is type of major treatise, in this case against the non-Christian nations). It was considered a missionary handbook for centuries and influenced his greatest and most extensive work in Systematic Theology, the Summa Theologica. He also wrote several Biblical commentaries, and hymns including the hymn including Eucharistic hymn, # 476 in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship, “Thee We Aore, O Savior.”
Thomas is honored as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and is held to be the model teacher for those studying for the priesthood. He was regarded as the core part of theological study for Roman Catholic theologians and seminary students. Aquinas is honored as a Latin Doctor of the Church, an honor only bestowed upon 34 other women and men by the Roman Catholic Church. He is remembered on this day since he died on January 28, 1274.

 

Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died circa 710

Friday, January 9, 2015
Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died around 710

African by birth, Adrian (or Hadrian) worked with Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, in developing the church in England. He was director of a school at which church leaders were trained.

Adrian actually turned down a request from the Pope to become Archbishop of Canterbury, England. Pope St. Vitalian accepted Adrian’s rejection of the appointment on the condition that Adrian instead served as a papal assistant and adviser. Adrian accepted this papal position which interestingly he ended up spending most of his remaining life working in Canterbury.

Although he was born in Africa, Adrian had served as an abbot in Italy when the new Archbishop of Canterbury appointed him abbot of the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury. Thanks to his leadership skills, the facility became one of the most important centers of learning in all of Europe. This was at a time when the centers of learning were funded and operated by the Church. Amid the demise of the Roman Empire in the West, the Church was the institution responsible for preserving history, literature and learning. Adrian’s school in Canterbury attracted many outstanding scholars from far and wide and produced numerous future bishops and archbishops. Students reportedly learned Greek and Latin and spoke Latin as well as their own native languages.

Adrian taught at the school for 40 years. He died there, probably in the year 710, and was buried in the monastery. Several hundred years later, during a reconstruction project, Adrian’s remains were rediscovered reportedly in an incorrupt state. As word spread, people flocked to his tomb. Reports circulated of miracles taking place at Adrian’s tomb including a rumor that when young schoolboys found themselves in trouble with their school masters, they could make regular visits there and face less severe punishment for their infractions.