Two Saints Named Thomas

The name Thomas in Aramaic and Hebrew means “twin.”  Saint Thomas the Apostle attempted to use human reason when he said: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his [Jesus’] hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25), and St. Thomas faithfully declared to the other Apostles: “Let us also go to die with him [Jesus]” (John 11:16).  This Apostle lived and died for Jesus Christ by evangelizing India and accepting martyrdom.  Saints Thomas Aquinas and Thomas More almost certainly received their names in honor of this Apostle.  Saints Thomas Aquinas and Thomas More are inspirations for the common man.

Thomas of Aquin was born to wealthy Italian parents.  When as a university student Thomas was drawn to the newly founded Order of Preachers (commonly called the “Dominicans”), Thomas’s family kidnapped him and locked him in a tower.  For more than a year, Thomas unrelentingly maintained his Dominican vocation and his family eventually resorted to placing a woman of prostitution in the tower with Thomas believing that if Thomas faltered in chastity, he would abandon his calling.  Thomas, however, responded by grabbing a burning piece of wood, chasing the woman out of the room, slamming the door shut and emblazoning the sign of the Cross into the door.  Then, Thomas fell to his knees in prayerful ecstasy while two angels ministered to him and bound a chord around his waist saying: “On God’s behalf, we gird you with the girdle of chastity, a girdle which no attack will ever destroy.”  Saint Thomas’s gift of purity ennobled all his thoughts and actions.

Saint Thomas often wrote about angels—which makes sense in light of his angelic encounter—and earned the title the “Angelic Doctor.” Commenting upon the pivotal moment in which Saint Thomas chose Jesus over sexual sin, Pope Pius XI wrote: “If St. Thomas had not been victorious when his chastity was in peril, it is very probable that the Church would never have had her Angelic Doctor.”

Similarly, Saint Thomas More lived a life of healthy priorities: God was first, and everything else followed and only remained a priority while it was united with God.  When Thomas More’s own king urged him to swear allegiance to the king rather than Thomas’s God and Church, Saint Thomas humbly chose God.  Thomas’s family, country, position and well-being were all priorities, yet only remained as such in proper ordering, which was with God first.  Because Saint Thomas More remained simple, he lived in this world and for the next, keeping God first in his heart.  Thus, when he was forced to choose, Thomas More chose his treasure with God and in God’s Church, rather than from any earthly king.  Saint Thomas More, like the Apostle, gained his eternal reward by earthly martyrdom.

In conclusion, Saints Thomas Aquinas and Thomas More illumine the path to God, are guideposts along the way, and stars giving direction to God’s Son.  The verse “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8) exemplifies Saint Thomas Aquinas’s choice of chastity, and the Psalm’s words: “My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me” (Psalm 131:1) summarize Saint Thomas More’s humble allegiance to God.  .

We, who are mostly ordinary people, should pray to Saint Thomas Aquinas for an increase of purity and chastity in our culture, relationships, dress and movements, senses, sensuality, imagination, memory, power of estimation, affectivity, intellect, will, conscience, hearts, self-surrender and love.  Christians for centuries have prayed to God through Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Thomas Aquinas and all the angels and saints for these very petitions in a supernatural fellowship called the Angelic Warfare Confraternity.

We should also ask Saint Thomas More to help us chose God first in our lives, especially with regards to our jobs, families, and countries.  Chastity, purity and allegiance to God are simple, difficult and worthwhile.  The St. Thomas’s have shown ordinary people the importance of firm resolutions in everyday life.  May we humbly chose God, give our lives and souls to Him and with great peace and joy look forward to those most beautiful words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy” (Matthew 25:21).

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Shea Hasenauer is the son of wonderful Catholic parents, Tom and Linda, and brother of two amazing younger siblings, Avery and Janelle. Born in Michigan, Shea benefitted from Christian community at Cornell University and continues to do so at the Ave Maria School of Law. Shea began praying to St. Thomas Aquinas for increases in purity and chastity while at Cornell and his devotion to St. Thomas More has intensified during law school. An avid Detroit sports fan, Shea also enjoys Vanderbilt Beach in Naples, FL, and his favorite television show, Duck Dynasty.

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