St. Thomas Aquinas was the son of a noble family of Italy. Thomas was very, very intelligent, but he was never proud about it. He knew that his mind was a gift from God.
When he was nineteen, he entered the Dominican Order, even though his family was very much against it. When he was on his way to Paris to study, his angry brothers captured him and kept him a prisoner in one of their castles for two years. During that time they did all they could to make him change his mind. They even sent bad women to his room to tempt him. But Thomas grabbed a burning brand from the fireplace and chased her away! His sister also came to try to give up his vocation. But Thomas spoke so beautifully about the joy of serving God that it was she who changed her mind and decided to give her life to God! At last the Saint was set free.
Because this lovable Saint was chubby and a bit quiet, he was teased and called the “dumb ox” while he was a student. Yet Thomas never grew angry. He just offered it all to Jesus and Mary, whom he loved with all his heart.
St. Thomas wrote so well about God that people all over the world have used his books for hundreds of years now. The secret of his success was that he never began to write anything without first praying.
When traveling to see the Pope, Thomas became ill. Just before he died, a brother asked him what was the best way of living without offending God. Thomas answered, “He who lives in the presence of God and loves Him will never be separated from Him by sin.”
If we want to do well in school, let us imitate St. Thomas by praying and trying our very best.
