Thomas Aquinas

(1224-1274)

Dominican monk of noble birth; brilliant, tireless and gentle. Honored reason above all other human attributes, and was faithful to the church as well as scholarship. Was sent from Italy to counter the spread of Greek philosophies at the universities in Paris. In Summa Theologica, he countered the tenets of Averroes, Maimonides and Aristotle point by point, refuting some points and reconciling others with Christian doctrine. Held that theology and philosophy were distinctly different, but non contradictory, that both are fountains of knowledge and truth, for both come from the same God. Held to seven Sacraments, with the Lord’s Supper being primary.