THOMAS AQUINAS, SAINT,

born 1224/25, Roccasecca, near Aquino, Terra di Lavoro, Kingdom of Sicily died March 7, 1274, Fossanova, near Terracina, Latium, Papal States; canonized July 18, 1323; feast day January 28, formerly March 7 also called Aquinas, Italian San Tommaso d'Aquino, byname Doctor Angelicus (Latin: Angelic Doctor) Italian Dominican theologian, the foremost medieval Scholasticist, whose Summa theologiae and Summa contra gentiles form the classical systematization of Roman Catholic theology. Thomas joined the newly founded Dominican order and was sent to the University of Paris (1245), where he studied under Albertus Magnus, a noted scholar, at a time when the influx of Arabian-Aristotelian thought was arousing a sharp reaction among believers. He went to Cologne with Albertus (124852), returned to Paris to prepare for the degree of master of theology (125256), and began teaching at Paris in 1256. He was theological adviser and lecturer to the papal Curia (125968) and then returned to Paris to argue his position concerning the relation of faith and reason ( i.e., that reason is able to operate within faith yet according to its own laws) against the rationalistic Averroists on the one hand, and concerning the authentic values of created nature against traditional theologians on the other. In 1272 Thomas returned to Italy to establish a Dominican house of studies at the University of Naples and defended the Aristotelian current of thought against the Franciscan scholar Bonaventure. He died on his way to the second Council of Lyons.