About Today
Wednesday 28 January 2026
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor
on Wednesday of week 3 in Ordinary Time
The Lord is the source of all wisdom: come, let us adore him.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 3. Liturgical Colour: White.
St Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)
He was born of a noble family in southern Italy, and was educated by the Benedictines. In the normal course of events he would have joined that order and taken up a position suitable to his rank; but he decided to become a Dominican instead. His family were so scandalised by this disreputable plan that they kidnapped him and kept him prisoner for over a year; but he was more obstinate than they were, and he had his way at last.
He studied in Paris and in Cologne under the great philosopher St Albert the Great. It was a time of great philosophical ferment. The writings of Aristotle, the greatest philosopher of the ancient world, had been newly rediscovered, and were becoming available to people in the West for the first time in a thousand years. Many feared that Aristotelianism was flatly contradictory to Christianity, and the teaching of Aristotle was banned in many universities at this time – the fact that Aristotle’s works were coming to the West from mostly Muslim sources did nothing to help matters.
Into this chaos Thomas brought simple, straightforward sense. Truth cannot contradict truth: if Aristotle (the great, infallible pagan philosopher) appears to contradict Christianity (which we know by faith to be true), then either Aristotle is wrong or the contradiction is in fact illusory. And so Thomas studied, and taught, and argued, and eventually the simple, common-sense philosophy that he worked out brought an end to the controversy. Out of his work came many writings on philosophy and theology, including the Summa Theologiae, a standard textbook for many centuries and still an irreplaceable resource today. Out of his depth of learning came, also, the dazzling poetry of the liturgy for Corpus Christi. And out of his sanctity came the day when, celebrating Mass, he had a vision that, he said, made all his writings seem like so much straw; and he wrote no more.
Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire us, like St Thomas, to love God with our minds as well as our hearts; and if we come across a fact or a teaching that seems to us to contradict our faith, let us not reject it but investigate it: for the truth that it contains can never contradict the truth that is God.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor
Gospel: Matthew 23:8-12
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’
Reflection on the painting
Today, we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas, one of the most influential theologians and philosophers in the history of Christianity. Among the few artistic depictions of Aquinas, our painting by Carlo Crivelli, is perhaps the most iconic. Frequently reproduced in publications discussing Aquinas, this panel was originally part of a larger work, the Demidoff Altarpiece, created for the church of San Domenico in Ascoli in the late 15th century. Interestingly, dedicated stand-alone portrayals of St Thomas are rare, and this panel itself serves more as a fragment of a larger narrative than an independent homage to the saint.
Crivelli’s craftsmanship in this work is remarkable, employing techniques that bring the image to life with a sense of depth. The gilding is highly tooled, with intricate punching, and incising, particularly around the saint’s halo, creating a three dimensional luminous effect that would have shimmered beautifully in the candlelit interior of its original setting. The use of pastiglia, a technique where raised areas are created on the surface, adds further dimension, most notably in the brooch resting over St Thomas’ heart. This detail symbolises that Aquinas’ teachings were not only intellectual pursuits but also deeply rooted in his heart and soul, encapsulating the harmonious balance of faith and reason.
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) was an Italian Dominican priest, born into a noble family in Roccasecca, near Aquino. He was educated at the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino and later at the University of Naples, where he encountered Aristotelian philosophy. Against his family’s wishes, he joined the Dominican Order, dedicating his life to the pursuit of truth through study, teaching, and writing. Aquinas studied in Cologne and Paris, where he developed his profound synthesis of faith and reason, integrating Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology. His most famous work, the Summa Theologica, remains a cornerstone of Catholic doctrine. He also wrote numerous commentaries on Scripture, and authored hymns such as Pange Lingua and Tantum Ergo, still used in Catholic liturgy today. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1567, Aquinas is celebrated as the “Angelic Doctor” for his unparalleled intellect and deep spirituality.
Saint Thomas Aquinas,
Painted by Carlo Crivelli (1430-1495),
Painted in 1476,
Tempera on poplar
© National Gallery, London
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor
on Wednesday of week 3 in Ordinary Time
The Lord is the source of all wisdom: come, let us adore him.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 3. Liturgical Colour: White.
St Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)
He was born of a noble family in southern Italy, and was educated by the Benedictines. In the normal course of events he would have joined that order and taken up a position suitable to his rank; but he decided to become a Dominican instead. His family were so scandalised by this disreputable plan that they kidnapped him and kept him prisoner for over a year; but he was more obstinate than they were, and he had his way at last.
He studied in Paris and in Cologne under the great philosopher St Albert the Great. It was a time of great philosophical ferment. The writings of Aristotle, the greatest philosopher of the ancient world, had been newly rediscovered, and were becoming available to people in the West for the first time in a thousand years. Many feared that Aristotelianism was flatly contradictory to Christianity, and the teaching of Aristotle was banned in many universities at this time – the fact that Aristotle’s works were coming to the West from mostly Muslim sources did nothing to help matters.
Into this chaos Thomas brought simple, straightforward sense. Truth cannot contradict truth: if Aristotle (the great, infallible pagan philosopher) appears to contradict Christianity (which we know by faith to be true), then either Aristotle is wrong or the contradiction is in fact illusory. And so Thomas studied, and taught, and argued, and eventually the simple, common-sense philosophy that he worked out brought an end to the controversy. Out of his work came many writings on philosophy and theology, including the Summa Theologiae, a standard textbook for many centuries and still an irreplaceable resource today. Out of his depth of learning came, also, the dazzling poetry of the liturgy for Corpus Christi. And out of his sanctity came the day when, celebrating Mass, he had a vision that, he said, made all his writings seem like so much straw; and he wrote no more.
Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire us, like St Thomas, to love God with our minds as well as our hearts; and if we come across a fact or a teaching that seems to us to contradict our faith, let us not reject it but investigate it: for the truth that it contains can never contradict the truth that is God.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor
Gospel: Matthew 23:8-12
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’
Reflection on the painting
Today, we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas, one of the most influential theologians and philosophers in the history of Christianity. Among the few artistic depictions of Aquinas, our painting by Carlo Crivelli, is perhaps the most iconic. Frequently reproduced in publications discussing Aquinas, this panel was originally part of a larger work, the Demidoff Altarpiece, created for the church of San Domenico in Ascoli in the late 15th century. Interestingly, dedicated stand-alone portrayals of St Thomas are rare, and this panel itself serves more as a fragment of a larger narrative than an independent homage to the saint.
Crivelli’s craftsmanship in this work is remarkable, employing techniques that bring the image to life with a sense of depth. The gilding is highly tooled, with intricate punching, and incising, particularly around the saint’s halo, creating a three dimensional luminous effect that would have shimmered beautifully in the candlelit interior of its original setting. The use of pastiglia, a technique where raised areas are created on the surface, adds further dimension, most notably in the brooch resting over St Thomas’ heart. This detail symbolises that Aquinas’ teachings were not only intellectual pursuits but also deeply rooted in his heart and soul, encapsulating the harmonious balance of faith and reason.
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) was an Italian Dominican priest, born into a noble family in Roccasecca, near Aquino. He was educated at the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino and later at the University of Naples, where he encountered Aristotelian philosophy. Against his family’s wishes, he joined the Dominican Order, dedicating his life to the pursuit of truth through study, teaching, and writing. Aquinas studied in Cologne and Paris, where he developed his profound synthesis of faith and reason, integrating Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology. His most famous work, the Summa Theologica, remains a cornerstone of Catholic doctrine. He also wrote numerous commentaries on Scripture, and authored hymns such as Pange Lingua and Tantum Ergo, still used in Catholic liturgy today. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1567, Aquinas is celebrated as the “Angelic Doctor” for his unparalleled intellect and deep spirituality.
Saint Thomas Aquinas,
Painted by Carlo Crivelli (1430-1495),
Painted in 1476,
Tempera on poplar
© National Gallery, London