What an awesome week for the Saints; tonight, I'm talking about Saints in Heaven. Today is the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, a doctor of the church. He was born in the 13th century to a wealthy family in Italy. Thomas studied at the Benedictine Monte Cassino Monastery from the age of 5. He joined the Dominicans in 1244, a move that so shocked his familt they actually kidnapped him holding him captive in a castle. He persisted and rejoined the order and was ordained in 1250 or 1251. He went to Paris and excelled at writing, teaching and preaching. His most famous writings are contained in the Summa Theologiae. He is considered the greatest theological master of all Christianity. He did experience visions and revelations during his priesthood. He died in 1274, was canonized in 1323 and made a doctor of the church in 1567.
Just yesterday we celebrated the Memorial of St. Angela Merici. She was born in 1470 and became a third order Fransiscan. She began her ministry of educating young girls in charitable works under the patronage of St. Ursula. This gave rise to the Ursuline nuns who are well known for Christian education of young girls. They were established in 1535, just 5 years before her death in 1540. We in New Orleans benefit greatly from her memory as the Ursulines are prominent here and we have a first class church parish and blue ribbon Catholic school named for St. Angela in the Metairie community.
And on Tuesday we remembered Sts. Timothy and Titus. Both were devoted disciples and assistants to St. Paul. Timothy actually replaced Barnabas, the trusted companion of Paul on many of his well documented journeys. Timothy led the church at Ephesus and was named a bishop. He died around the year 97. Titus was a convert to Christianity at the urging of St. Paul. He was present at the Council of Jerusalem, the first church counil documented in Acts of the Apostles. He too was ordained bishop for the faithful of Crete. St. Paul wrote letters to both of them which make up part of the inspire canon of the New Testament.
So, in many ways, this has been a great week for Saints.
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