1 Saint Thomas: The Student By: Fr. Maximiliano Rebollo, O.P.

The Church fosters Christian living by giving the faithful models in the saints who lived an aspect of human existence in the true Christian way. We call them patron saints because their mission is to protect and to inspire those who are put under their patronage. The Church declares St. Thomas Aquinas the patron saint of all Catholic students because he is a student who is not only to be admired but also to be imitated. By family decision, St. Thomas entered the Monastery of Monte Cassino at the early age of five. There in an informal manner, he learned the three Rs, memorized the psalms, and helped in the singing of the Divine Office and the Masses of the monks. Under the tutelage of the monks he developed good study habits although his penmanship became one of the problems of scholars. Inquisitive His biographers recount an incident at Monte Cassino. One day, during the afternoon recreation he approached his mentor and asked: What is God? History recorded the question but not the answer of the Benedictine monk. Yet this question revealed one of the characteristics of St. Thomas as a student. He was curious, so he became inquisitive. He who asks no questions has no power of admiration either because he knows everything or because he is not concerned about anything. Thomas was aware of his limited knowledge and he was concerned about this, thus he was not afraid to ask questions. By asking questions he entered into a dialogue with God, man and nature. Quiet Based on the stories the biographers have transmitted, the first characteristics of St. Thomas as a student is quietness. He was called the Dumb Ox of Sicily by his classmates in Cologne because he big, reflective and humble. Thomas understood that the process of learning requires time, attention, and reflection. Thus, he preferred the solitude of his room. Humble He was also humble and had a desire to learn. A German student who saw the quietness of Thomas thought that the Sicilian brother had problems and difficulties in following the explanation of their mentor, Albert the Great. Moved by pity, he offered himself to become the tutor of Thomas. The story goes that one day when Albert had explained a difficult passage, the student could not find a satisfactory way to repeat it to Thomas. It is his way said the German brother, No, let had me try it out this way, Let us try this other way, wellit is not. At this point Thomas said: I think this passage should be explained this way, and step by step by step he clarified the passage in an even better fashion
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The Academia Special Issue 2001. Official Bulletin of the University of Sto. Tomas.

2 than Albert had done in the morning. The German brother was astounded and he commented, Thomas, you have been pulling my leg, you are the one who should tutor me, not I who should tutor you.

His reply or excuse did not reach us, but from that day on Thomas became the tutor of the German brother on condition that he should not tell any one about the arrangement. But the student could not keep his mouth shut. He told the story to Albert the Great who remained silent. Thomas humility led him to accept the help offered in sincerity and charity. And impelled by the same humility and charity he tutored his classmate in return. When is offered, do not reject it. Look for truth wherever you may find it, he would later write. Creative Another characteristic of St. Thomas as a student was his creativity. He was not satisfied with what the teacher had said in class. He would add his own reflections, polish the work, develop it, and even reorganize it. St. Albert was one time lecturing on a passage about the different names given to God. Thomas left his room to go to the library where he could check some of his notes. It so happened that a parchment a piece of paper fell at the door of his room. One of the brethren who was familiar with the terrible penmanship of Thomas took it, read it and was very much surprised because there was the whole lecture of Albert but in a better order, with some clarifications and additions that Albert had not given in class. So the student brought the paper to Albert. Courageous This brings us to another characteristic of St. Thomas as student. He was not afraid to recite in class and defend his position. St. Albert thought it was time to let his students know the kind of man Thomas Aquinas was, the Dumb Ox of Sicily, as they called him. Albert announced that there would be a debate the following week. The chosen respondent was Thomas. Let us recall how the dispute was carried out. The professor announced the topic to be disputed in the form of a thesis statement which expressed the opinion of the professor. At the appointed time the respondent in this case Thomas Aquinas stated the thesis ad gave some arguments and reasons to prove it. Then, all the students and professors were invited to present objections and arguments the thesis. As the respondent, Thomas should answer all the questions to the best of his ability. The professor could intervene in favor of or against the thesis of the respondent as he deemed fit. That was what St. Albert did. When St. Thomas had satisfactorily resolved all arguments of his classmates and other professors, St. Albert intervened with a series of very strong arguments. There were looks, giggles, and some even thought that was the end of Thomas.

3 Thomas stopped for a while repeated the arguments of Albert and then proceeded to resolve them by making a very subtle distinction that surprised everyone, even his great mentor. So much so, that Albert said o Thomas, Thomas, your way of answering questions is not that of a student who is learning, but that of a Magister who is resolving, to which Thomas replied: Master, I dont know any other way of answering these questions. Albert replied, all right resolve the arguments. After that, Albert said You call Thomas the Dumb Ox of Sicily, but I tell you that his bellows will be so great that they will be heard all over the world.

Persevering Another quality of St. Thomas is perseverance in the struggle. The quietness of his room in Cologne was disturbed when he moved to Paris for his post-graduate studies. The students and professors there were against Dominicans and Franciscans because of envy and fear. Threats, shouting, disturbances of all types i.e. anything at the hands of other students and professors was used to interrupt the classes of St. Jacques. In an atmosphere of violence St. Thomas finished his studies to the satisfaction of all. From his days as Baccalareus Sententiarum (Assistant Teacher) he was admired for his order, his innovations, and his effectivity in teaching. Yet he was denied his diploma for two years. In spite of everything he remained unperturbed. He continued in his daily tasks as student, as teacher, as religious. These were difficult years, but his peace and endurance were not disturbed.