January 28th (Post-Conciliar Calendar): St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P.

Francisco de Zurbarán, The Apotheosis of St. Thomas Aquinas (1631).  See here for an article about this painting.

Happy feast day to my friend and illustrious brother in St. Dominic, Thomas Aquinas.  On the pre-conciliar calendar, his feast is on March 7th.  Though I went through a large part of my life without a particular devotion to the Angelical, I have reason to believe that he has been quietly and secretly taking care of me in a special way.

Here is the Summa Theologica, available online in its entirety.

Here is Leo XIII's 1879 encyclical Aeterni Patris, on the restoration of Christian philosophy, in which the Pope discusses the monumental importance of Aquinas and his teaching.

Here is a pretty good sermon about Thomas Aquinas, delivered in 2006.  To be well-grounded in Aquinas, says the priest, is a sure safeguard against heresy.  The hatred and denigration of Aquinas, on the other hand, is an unmistakable sign of a modernist.

And, last but not least, the Litany of Thomas of Aquin.

O THOU, the Most High, have mercy on us.

Mighty One of Jacob, have mercy on us.

Divine Spirit, have mercy on us.

Great Triune God, have mercy on us.

Glorious Mother of the King of kings, pray for us.

Saint Thomas of Aquin, pray for us.

Worthy child of the Queen of Virgins...

Aquinas most chaste...

Aquinas most patient...

Prodigy of science...

Silently eloquent...

Reproach of the ambitious...

Lover of that life which is hidden with Christ in God...

Fragrant flower in the parterre of St. Dominic...

Glory of Friars Preachers...

Illlumined from on high...

Angel of the Schools...

Oracle of the Church...

Incomparable scribe of the Man-God...

Satiated with the odour of His perfumes...

Perfect in the school of His Cross...

Intoxicated with the strong wine of His charity...

Glittering gem in the cabinet of the Lord...

Model of perfect obedience...

Endowed with the true spirit of holy poverty...

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

Ant.— Oh, how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory, for the memory thereof is immortal, because it is known with God and man, and it triumpheth crowned for ever.

V. Oh! what have I in heaven, or what do I desire on earth?

R. Thou art the God of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Prayer:

O God, who hast ordained that blessed Thomas should enlighten Thy Church, grant that through his prayers we may practise what he taught, through Christ our Lord. Amen.