St. Thomas Aquinas
Saint Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Thomas came from one of the noblest families of the Kingdom of Naples. He is held in the Catholic Church to be the model teacher for people who are studying for the priesthood. His best-known work is the Summa theologiae and the Summa Contra Gentiles. Thomas is considered the Church's greatest theologian and philosopher. Thomas was born in Roccasecca c. January 28, 1225. The rest of St. Thomas Aquinas family’s brothers pursued military careers, but the family intended for Thomas to follow his uncle into the abbacy. He was born into a family of the south Italian nobility and was through his mother Countess Theadora of Theater related to the Hohenstaufen dynasty of Holy Roman emperors. His father is Count Landulf. Landulf's brother, Sinibald, was abbot of the original Benedictine monastery, and the family intended Thomas to follow his uncle into that position. This would have been a normal career-path for a younger son of the nobility.
When he was five, he was sent for his early education to the monastery. However, after studying at the University of Naples, Thomas joined the Dominican order. That decision then ordered a challenge to the well-established systems of early medieval Europe. This change of heart did not please the family; on the way to Rome, Thomas was seized by his brothers and brought back to his parents at the castle of San Giovanni. He was then held a captive for a year or two to make him relinquish his purpose. Finally the family yielded and the Dominicans sent Thomas to Cologne to study under Albertus Magnus. He remained with the famous philosopher of scholasticism, presumably teaching. This long period of time of Thomas with the great polyhistor was the most important influence in his development; it made him a comprehensive scholar.
After Aquinas went to Paris to get his degree, he taught in Paris for several years and there wrote some of his works. The provincial chapter at Florence allowed him to select a job in Naples. Early in 1274 the Pope directed him to attend the Second Council of Lyons and, so he took the journey. On the way he stopped at the castle of a niece and there became seriously ill. He wished to end his days in a monastery and not being able to reach a house of the Dominicans he was taken to the Cistercians. He died at the monastery of Fossanova on March 7, 1274.
http://www.themiddleages.net/people/aquinas.html
When he was five, he was sent for his early education to the monastery. However, after studying at the University of Naples, Thomas joined the Dominican order. That decision then ordered a challenge to the well-established systems of early medieval Europe. This change of heart did not please the family; on the way to Rome, Thomas was seized by his brothers and brought back to his parents at the castle of San Giovanni. He was then held a captive for a year or two to make him relinquish his purpose. Finally the family yielded and the Dominicans sent Thomas to Cologne to study under Albertus Magnus. He remained with the famous philosopher of scholasticism, presumably teaching. This long period of time of Thomas with the great polyhistor was the most important influence in his development; it made him a comprehensive scholar.
After Aquinas went to Paris to get his degree, he taught in Paris for several years and there wrote some of his works. The provincial chapter at Florence allowed him to select a job in Naples. Early in 1274 the Pope directed him to attend the Second Council of Lyons and, so he took the journey. On the way he stopped at the castle of a niece and there became seriously ill. He wished to end his days in a monastery and not being able to reach a house of the Dominicans he was taken to the Cistercians. He died at the monastery of Fossanova on March 7, 1274.
http://www.themiddleages.net/people/aquinas.html