CAPG's Blog 

Saint Thomas, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Columbus, Ohio

"In his younger years having taken the habit of the Dominicans, his relations seized upon him, and by all arts endeavoured to dissuade him from his pious design. But they prevailed nothing; and after a long confinement he made his escape, and returning to his monastery, finished what he had before begun. Pray for all those who resolve upon a religious state, that they may undertake it for the best motives of God's honor, and the securing their eternal salvation. Those parents are to blame, who oppose so good a work; but those are still more criminal, who force their children into a state to which they are not called.

St. Thomas, having applied to study, arrived at that eminent degree of learning, as to be called the Angelical Doctor. He began his studies always with prayer; and for expounding difficult places of Holy Scripture, he added fasting to prayer. Thus he ever acknowledged his learning not to have been the effect of his own labor, but the blessing of Heaven. Follow this method as far as it falls within your sphere, and since reading spiritual books is a duty common to all, begin this always with prayer, that so through the blessing of Heaven you may receive benefit from what you read, to the improvement of your soul. Fail not to do this as often as you take the Holy Scripture to read; that so the Divine Spirit, which was the guide in writing it, may assist you in reading it, and secure you against the ill effects of ignorance, presumption, or rashness.

Pray for all universities, colleges, and places of learning, that they may follow the method of this saint, in taking God for their helper in studies, that they may advance in virtue as well as in learning. Many in their studies, take great pains to little purpose, often to draw from them the poison of vanity or error; or at least to drain their affections, and rather to nourish pride and other vices, than to promote true virtue. Sincere humility and simplicity of heart are essential for the sanctification of studies, and for the improvement of virtue by them." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother