Homily: Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas

Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas (2 Samuel 11:1 ff.) “Let Me Follow My Dream.”

The story of the early life of Thomas Aquinas was strange, to say the least. Thomas was born of noble parents in the castle of Roccasecca, near the small town of Aquino in Italy. His parents sent him to the Abbey of Monte Casino when he was only five years old. They had a plan for him. They wanted him to join the Benedictines where it was hoped that he would eventually become the Abbot of a large wealthy monastery.

St. Thomas proved to be a wonderful student. He was sent to the University of Naples when he was at the age of thirteen. He became interested in philosophy. He also became interested in the Dominican order. They wanted to join him, but the Dominicans told him to wait until he was older. At nineteen St. Thomas did join the Dominicans.

When news reached his parents, they were horrified because they wanted their son to be a wealthy powerful churchman. As a Dominican Thomas was destined to be a poor wandering friar who would carry the gospel message from place to place. This is not the life that the parents of Thomas wanted for him, and they went to extremes as they tried to change his mind.

His mother Theodora sent his brothers to kidnap him and bring him home, which they did. They tried to strip off his habit and he fought them tooth and nail. Finally, he was locked in a room. His family argued with him trying to convince him to give up his vocation. They sent a prostitute into his room to try and seduce Thomas. He would not be tempted.  For two years the family of Thomas tried everything to persuade him to forget becoming a Dominican, but he would not.

Finally, they let him go and Thomas went back to the Dominicans, and he began his life with them. He went to the University of Paris to study. Thomas was a very quiet young man who seldom spoke. At first his classmates thought him a dunce, but when his instructors saw some of his writing, they realized how brilliant he was. Thomas today is considered the most brilliant Theologian who ever lived. Thank goodness he stubbornly held on to his dreams.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have I ever chased a dream that others did not think was possible? What was that dream?
2. St. Thomas was disobedient to his parents? Was he right to break the fourth commandment?

 Dear Parishioners,

 Next week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. As we think about the long history of Catholic grade school education in our parish, we remember the many sacrifices that people have made to keep our Catholic grade school alive. We remember Fr. Culemans who founded Sacred Heart School and we remember the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception who were here for decades staffing our school. The sisters lived in difficult conditions and were paid only a small stipend, room and board. They literally gave their life so that children would have a good education and find success in life.

As we think of those sacrifices, and we remember all those who have fought to keep Alleman High School viable throughout the years perhaps this can help us value Catholic Education. Will we invest ourselves in it?

Let’s ask St. Thomas, the patron saint of Catholic Education to pray for our schools today and throughout the next week.

May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over us today.

Fr. Mark