(icon ; Roccasecca, 1225 – Fossanova, 7 March 1274), also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican
priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism
, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis. "Aquinas" is not a surname (hereditary surnames were not then in common use in Europe), but is a Latin
adjective meaning "of Aquino", his place of birth.
Pange, lingua, gloriosiCorporis mysteriumSanguinisque pretiosi,Quem in mundi pretiumFructus ventris generosiRex effudit gentium.
Down in adoration falling,Lo! the sacred Host we hail;Lo! o'er ancient forms departing,Newer rites of grace prevail;Faith for all defects supplying,Where the feeble senses fail.
Thus Angels' Bread is madeThe Bread of man today:The Living Bread from HeavenWith figures doth away:O wondrous gift indeed!The poor and lowly mayUpon their Lord and Master feed.
O saving Victim, opening wideThe gate of heaven to man below,Our foes press on from every side,Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.
Law: an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community.
Concerning perfect blessedness which consists in a vision of God.
Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.
Reason in man is rather like God in the world.
As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in the active power.