Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Today's Mass Readings

 

Mission Accomplished

Today, in the opening prayer, we ask God to grant “that we may understand what he (St. Thomas Aquinas) taught and imitate what he accomplished.” Whoa. Really? He wrote about 60 works. One of them contains about 3,100 articles (the Summa Theologiae or “Summary of Theology”). Through his writing, teaching, and preaching, St. Thomas made a huge difference in the life of the Church and the world. How could we ever have time to read all that he wrote, let alone do what he did?

Well, perhaps we can interpret this prayer more loosely for our everyday lives.

What did he teach? He taught about God, creation, human nature, and the God-Man Jesus Christ. He also taught about the Sacraments, which are the principal means through which we encounter God and receive His grace. We can come to understand what he taught by receiving the Sacraments:

• Attending Mass often and receiving the Eucharist, especially on Sunday.
• Being humble and confessing our sins to God’s minister and receiving Reconciliation.
• If we are ill or if a loved one is, the Sacrament of Anointing is a beautiful way of receiving God’s healing and blessing. It is not just for those dying, but for those with an illness. Call your local parish for next steps.

Why did St. Thomas Aquinas write tomes on theology? To lead the faithful to an encounter with God. By entering the life of the Church, we can come to understand what he taught.

But how could we imitate what he accomplished? He accomplished great things through his clear thinking and retentive memory. He synthesized ancient philosophy and contemporary theology. We can imitate his accomplishment by faithfully serving God and His people.

After all that he did, St. Thomas realized that his accomplishments were “mere straw” compared to the greatness of God’s accomplishments—His creation, Christ’s redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification. So, who can compare?

For Today: Just look back on your life. It may not look like much compared to today’s saint or to Mrs. Over-Achiever. But look again. Look with thankful eyes. God has accomplished great things through you. And He’s not done with you yet!

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB