Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Friar, and Doctor of the Church

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) was a Dominican friar, priest, and Doctor of the Church acclaimed as the "Angelic Doctor" and the supreme theologian of the Catholic Church. Born to the noble family of the Counts of Aquino, Thomas defied his family's fierce opposition to join the newly formed Order of Preachers. Studying under Saint Albert the Great in Paris and Cologne, Thomas synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, producing immortal masterpieces including Summa Theologiae and Summa contra Gentiles. Thomas articulated the Five Ways of proving God's existence, the doctrine of transubstantiation, and the harmony of faith and reason. Composing the liturgical Office for the Feast of Corpus Christi—including the sacred hymns Pange Lingua, Tantum Ergo, and Panis Angelicus—Thomas experienced a mystical vision before a crucifix in Naples where Christ said: "Thou hast written well of me, Thomas; what reward wilt thou have?" Thomas replied: "Non nisi Te, Domine" ("Nothing but Thee, Lord").