Saint Thomas Aquinas (1224/5-1274)

Saint Thomas Aquinas was a 13th century Dominican Friar, philosopher and theologian. Named a Doctor of the Church and given the title "Angelic Doctor," he is the patron of Catholic universities, colleges and schools. Renowned for his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas believed that both faith and reason discover truth; a conict between them is impossible since they both originate in God. He was instrumental, therefore, in the assimilation of the works of Aristotle into the intellectual life of Western Christendom. Saint Thomas was born in 1224 or 1225 to noble parents, being the youngest son of Landulf (descendent of the counts of Aquino) and Theodora, a noble woman of Naples. At the age of ve, he was placed in the Monastary of Monte Cassino to be educated for a career in the Church. Because of the promise he showed in his studies, around the age of fourteen he was sent to the University of Naples to continue his education and excelled under his new masters. It was there that he was probably rst exposed to the recently rediscovered natural and metaphysical works of Aristotle. At about the age of nineteen, he joined the Dominican Order, the Order Friars Preachers. His noble family was not pleased with this choice, however, since the friars, with their the extreme poverty and itinerant lifestyle, were not held in very high esteem. When his mother set out for Naples in order to retrieve Brother Thomas from the clutches of the Dominicans, the friars sent him to Rome, but Thomas was captured by his brothers, soldiers in the Imperial Army. He was taken to a family castle and imprisoned for nearly two years as his family tried to dissuade him from carrying through his resolution to continue as a Dominican. His brothers even sent a prostitute into his cell, but Thomas drove her away with a burning brand he took from the re. While in prison, he continued his study, and when nally released, he professed his vows in the Order of Friars Preachers. At the age of twenty, he was placed under the instruction of St. Albert the Great, rst in Paris and later in Cologne. Because of his large stature and quiet nature, Thomas' fellows called him a dumb ox, but St. Albert declared that Thomas' bellows would resound throughout the world. In Cologne, probably at the age of twenty-ve, Thomas was ordained to the priesthood. After a few years, Thomas was sent to Paris to teach his brethren and to earn a Doctorate in Theology from the University there. He became embroiled in a controversy, however, and was delayed in receiving his degree and occupying a place on the faculty. When a student was killed by the Paris guard, a dispute between the University and the city of Paris erupted. The University went on strike, but the Dominicans and Franciscans refused to join in. Consequently, St. Thomas and the Franciscan, St. Bonaventure, were refused their Doctorates in Theology. One of the Parisian professors, William of St.-Amour, even wrote a vicious attack against the friars, The Perils of the Last Times. Thomas responded by writing his own defense of the religious orders, Against Those Attacking the Worship of God and Religion. Finally, Pope Alexander IV and St. Louis IX of France resolved the dispute, and Thomas and Bonaventure received their degrees. In the fteen years from 1257-1273, St. Thomas was prolic in his writing, teaching and preaching. He is said to have been able to dictate several different treatises to various scribes at once. He held many academic debates at the University of Paris, far more than most other professors, and in his life-time he wrote over 50 major works, from original philosophical works, to theological treatises, to commentaries on works of Aristotle and on Scripture. His monumental Summa Theologiae is a masterpiece of medieval scholasticism. He is also credited with religious poetry in praise of the Eucharist which is used by the Church for the Feast of The Body and Blood of Christ. He traveled tirelessly around Europe, being called upon alternately by the Papal court and by his Order to teach in Anagni and Orvieto, then in Rome, then in Viterbo. He was called back to Paris in 1269, however, to help quell another controversy there over the use of Aristotle by the Christian scholars. Siger of Brabant, a professor on the Faculty of Arts, had asserted (following the Muslim philosopher Averroes) that Aristotle proves that there is one separate intellect for all human persons and that the world is eternal. Concerned with the threat to the Christian faith posed by these positions, Thomas wrote On the Unity of the Intellect against the Averroists and On the Eternity of the World against the Murmurers, arguing that such positions cannot be supported by reason. Finally in 1272, he was appointed head of the faculty of theology at the University of Naples. On 6 December 1273, however, he stopped writing; he is said to have had a vision, after which it seemed to him that all he had written was as straw. Having been called to the Council of Lyons by Pope Gregory X in 1274, Thomas traveled as far as Terracina in Central Italy, not far from his family's estates, before collapsing. He was brought to the Cistercian Monastery of Fossa Nuova and died there on 7 March 1274 at the age of about 50. He was canonized by Pope John XXII on 18 July 1323, and Pope Saint Pius V proclaimed Saint Thomas a Doctor of the Church in 1567. Pope Leo XIII, in the Encyclical Aeterni Patris, recommended the study of Saint Thomas as the model and norm of Christian philosophy. This last endorsement helped to inaugurate the Thomistic revival of the twentieth century.

MASS SCHEDULE, INTENTIONS, SCRIPTURE READINGS AND FEAST DAYS

Mon. Jan. 28 Services for Paul Bennett at Slade ODonnell Funeral Home Noon-6:00 p.m.- Visitation 6:00 p.m.- Vigil Service 6:30-8:30 p.m.- Visitation with Family 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Chariton Victims of Abortion Saint Brendan, Leon No Mass 8:30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Chariton Mary Alyce Sellers 6:30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Chariton Michael Brady No Morning Mass 4:30 p.m 6:30 p.m. Funeral for Paul Bennett Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 Mark 3:22-30 Hebrews 10:1-10 Mark 3:31-35 Hebrews 10:11-18 Mark 4:1-20 Hebrews 10:19-25 Mark 4:21-25 Hebrews 10:32-39 Mark 4:26-34 Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Feast of Our Lord (Optional Memorial of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr) Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Holy Day of OBG

Jan. 28 Jan. 29 Jan. 30 Jan. 31 Feb. 1 Feb. 2 Sat. Feb. 2 Sun. Feb. 3

Sacred Heart, Chariton Mary Bauer Saint Francis, Corydon Harold & Rosalie Siebneck Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 1 Corinthians 12:31-13;13 Clella Eastin 8:00 a.m. Saint Brendan, Leon Luke 4:21-30 10:30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Chariton All Parishioners

SACRED HEART CHARITON

Tithes- $1,294 Religious Education is Wed., Jan. 30 from 6-7:30 p.m. Bible Study Epic is Wed., Jan. 30 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. The Great Adventure is Wed., Jan. 23 from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. and Thurs., Jan. 31 from 9-11:00 a.m. Session 14 questions will be discussed. Wanted by WOSH- Names/addresses/information about men and women from our parish serving in the armed forces. Place in collection basket or call Jaynane Hardie @ 641-774-6869. WOSH is collecting dues for the year. All women of Sacred Heart are invited to be members of WOSH. Dishes in the Parish Hall that were brought in for funerals may be picked up in order to clear the kitchen for the Fish Fries. If they are not picked up by Ash Wednesday they will go in the Spring Rummage Sale. Celebrate is February 3. The cost is $20.00. The Women of Sacred Heart will pay half of this fee for each child. Collection of food for the Ministry Center is the 3rd Sunday of the month. The Ministry Center thanks you for the items we have donated. There is ALWAYS a need for paper products- toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers as the Center can only purchase food items. Ash Wednesday Mass is February 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Book Club for the month of February is at the home of Bob and Kathy Willets on Sunday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. The book that will be discussed is The Hidden Power of Kindness by Lawrence G. Lovasik. All are welcome. K of C Fish Fries for Lent begin Friday, Feb. 15 and end Fri., March 22 from 5:00 p.m.-6:45 p.m. Please invite your friends. Stations of the Cross will follow at 7:00 p.m. First Reconciliation for Second Graders will be Wednesday, February 20. Third- High School will follow. Adults are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation following Religious Education at 7:30 p.m.

SAINT FRANCIS CORYDON

Tithes- $150 Ash Wednesday Mass is February 13 at 4:00 p.m.

SAINT BRENDAN LEON

Religious Education is for K-8th and High school is Wednesday, January 30. Knights of Columbus Prime Rib Supper is Saturday, February 9 in Mount Ayr. Reconciliation will be Wednesday, February 27 at 6:30 for RE students. Open Reconciliation to follow. Ash Wednesday Service is February 13 at 6:30 p.m. K of C Fish Fries for Lent begin Friday, Feb. 15 and end Fri., March 22 from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Please invite your friends. Stations of the Cross will follow at 7:00 p.m.