Refuting the Atheists Claim on St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas lovingly carrying his writings which became an excellent guide of the Church in Philosophy and Theology.

Bro. A said...

Hi Fr.Abe. Once a friend told me that when she was studying philosophy in UP, they were taught that St.Thomas Aquinas before his death denies the truth about all his works & writings. Is there any truth in this? I suspect this friend of mine is just being influenced by her other protestant friends.

September 16, 2010 12:14 PM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

Hello Bro. A.,

Your U.P. grad friend is telling a lie. He or she is distorting the historical fact. This is what really happened to St. Thomas Aquinas.

Near the end of his life St. Thomas Aquinas all the more increased in sanctity and the height of his prayer he experienced what we Catholics called BEATIFIC VISION wherein his soul was caught up to God and he was able to experience the glory of heaven or had a direct vision of heaven.

After this experience, St. Thomas wanted to burn his writings because as he explained to his disciples: "No words are enough to explain fully the Glory of Heaven."

It means, that St. Thomas didn't deny the truth of his writings. On the contrary, he proclaimed the Truth of our Faith and of his writings albeit he considers his works as insufficient to fully present the Splendor of God and the Glory of Heaven.

Now, did St. Thomas really burn his writings? NO, NO, NO. Why? Because his vision of heaven didn't turn him into an idiot. He knew that his writings are valuable because not all people reaches the high level of sanctity that he himself had attained. The Holy Spirit didn't inspire him to burn his writings instead they were preserved and became part of the treasury of the accumulated wisdom of the Church and one of the great works of Philosophy. Unlike the products of the atheists of U.P. whose works are forgettable and are valueless for the development of mankind.

September 16, 2010 3:05 PM