“Saint Thomas Aquinas: For Children and the Childlike”
by Raissa Maritain, illustrated by Ted Schluenderfritz.
Sophia Institute Press, Manchester, N.H., 1935, republished in 2009, 114 pages, Grades 4-6.
One of the greatest saints in the history of the Catholic Church is St. Thomas Aquinas. There are many reasons for this, but chief among them is the great holiness and humility of St. Thomas.
The Church has declared St. Thomas to be the Angelic Doctor. His great learning, writing and teaching has led many people to know and love Our Lord deeply.
The virtue that marked St. Thomas more than any other was humility. What is even more remarkable about his deep humility is the fact many scholars are filled with intellectual pride. Raissa Maritain tells the magnificent story of this great saint in this well-written children’s biography entitled “Saint Thomas Aquinas: For Children and the Childlike.”
Saint Thomas is born near the city of Naples in 1225. His family is of Italian nobility and is related to many of the most important political leaders of Europe. His family decides Thomas should be consecrated to Christ at a young age. Unfortunately, his family wants this consecration to benefit the family as well. So they take the 5-year-old Thomas to the famous Benedictine Monastery of Monte Cassino and dedicate him to Christ. The family’s understanding is that young Thomas will either eventually become the abbot of the monastery or a bishop. To ensure that this happens, Thomas’s father makes a substantial contribution of gold to the monastery.
So at 5, Thomas begins living the life of a Benedictine monk. He advances quickly in his intellectual and spiritual growth. By 14, Aquinas is well versed in the Bible, as well as some famous Church fathers, such as St. Augustine.
At this time, Monte Cassino is captured during a war and all the monks are forced to leave. The 14-year-old Thomas now leaves as well. The Abbot of Monte Cassino advises his parents to enroll him at the University of Naples. There the 14-year-old astonishes the faculty and students with his vast and profound knowledge of philosophy and theology.
But soon, a troubling set of events occurs effecting the Aquinas family. Thomas becomes acquainted with the Dominican Order, which was started by St. Dominic to teach and preach. Their religious charism causes the Dominicans to become great thinkers and scholars but the Order is completely uninterested in earthly advancements. The whole point of consecrating Thomas to begin with was to ensure that material benefits come to the family. This is not possible if Thomas becomes a Dominican. But Aquinas is drawn to the Order and joins in 1244. His family is aghast and actually kidnaps the young monk for over a year. Finally, they give in and Thomas Aquinas is released to join the Dominicans.
What happens next to this remarkable man? Who is St. Albert the Great? Who is the Dumb Ox, and why will his bellowing be heard throughout the world? How is St. Thomas Aquinas able to write such masterful philosophy and such beautiful music? To find out the answers to these questions, buy this fine biography, “Saint Thomas Aquinas: For Children and the Childlike.”
Raissa Maritain is famous writer and poet from the 20th century. Her husband is the well-known philosopher, Jacques Maritain. Much of the writing of St. Thomas Aquinas can be daunting and this short biography gives a great deal of useful information about the Angelic Doctor. It is a very good introduction to the great saint whose philosophical writings have so enriched the Church.
Though this book is not likely to be available at the public library, it can be purchased through online book vendors or ordered at local bookstores. I hope you and your family members get a chance to read this well written biography. Enjoy!
