Year of Saint Joseph
Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor (1225-1274)
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 7:19-23
Mass: Heb 10:19-25; Resp Ps 24; Mk 4:21-25
The Lord's is the earth and it fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.
IS A LAMP BROUGHT IN TO BE PLACED UNDER A BUSHEL BASKET OR UNDER A BED, AND NOT TO BE PLACED ON A LAMPSTAND?
(Mk 4:21)
I am no Thomist. However, I did have the privilege of studying for several years at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas in Rome, commonly called, the Angelicum. There I studied under and with, was advised and supported by Dominicans from all over the world, as well as many other bright and gracious people. It is fitting and right then to honor the teachers, students, and staff at the Angelicum by turning to Saint Thomas Aquinas for today's reflections.
Not unrelated to today's Gospel, especially Jesus' words to His disciples included above, we turn to the Angelic Doctor and his Summa Theologica, II-II, q. 188, where Thomas Aquinas writes "Of the Different Kinds of Religious Life". In the Sixth Article, he addresses whether a religious Order devoted to the contemplative life is more excellent than one that is given to the active life. Among other wisdom, Thomas Aquinas teaches this: "Accordingly we must say that the work of the active life is twofold. One proceeds from the fullness of contemplation, such as teaching and preaching. Wherefore Gregory says that the words of Psalm 144(145):7, "They shall publish the memory ... of Thy sweetness", refers to perfect men returning from their contemplation. And this work is more excellent than simple contemplation. For even as it is better to enlighten than merely to shine, so it is better to give to others the fruit of one's contemplation than merely to contemplate ..."
Not unrelated to today's reading from the Holy Rule, we turn to the Summa, II-II, q. 83, "Of Prayer" with its seventeen articles. God is praised. Most specifically, we look to the Ninth Article on the Lord's Prayer. First though, Saint Benedict has something to say about the Lord's Prayer when writing on humility: "Truly, we are forbidden to do our own will, for Scripture tells us: Turn away from your desires. And in the Prayer too we ask God that his will be done in us" (RB 7:19-20). On the Lord's Prayer in general then, Thomas Aquinas calls the Prayer "most perfect, because, as Augustine says, if we pray rightly and fittingly, we can say nothing else but what is contained in this prayer of Our Lord ... Now in the Lord's Prayer not only do we ask for all that we may rightly desire, but also in the order wherein we ought to desire them, so that this prayer not only teaches us to ask, but also directs our affections". And on the words "thy will be done" specifically, Aquinas writes that they "rightly signify, 'May Thy commandments be obeyed' on earth as in heaven, i.e., by men as well as by angels".
How blessed we are with our faith tradition. In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory (Entrance Antiphon, Mass).
And in the far chance that you ever get your hands on the December 2020 issue of The American Benedictine Reivew, see an article by Dominican Father Andrew Hofer, "St. Thomas Aquinas on St. Benedict".
ANYONE WHO HAS EARS OUGHT TO HEAR.
(Mk 4:23)
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS,
SAINT JOSEPH,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: Another nice look at our second field this past Monday morning around 9am.
© Gertrude Feick 2021
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