Aquinas+background

Thomas Aquinas was born in late 1224 in Aquino, Italy to a wealthy family. He studied with the Benedictines of Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples. Later he entered the Dominican order of mendicant friars (1244). He family were deeply opposed and it is said his brothers kidnapped him and kept him a prisoner in the family castle for over a year until they finally relented. In 1252 he went to Paris where he taught until in 1258. He stopped teaching in Paris as the pope asked him to teach in several areas in Italy. St. Thomas Aquinas was born in late 1224 in Aquino, Italy to a wealthy family.

He died on his way to defend the papal cause at the Council of Lyon in 1274. He was later canonized in 1323.

In his life time he had great "intellectual authority" in the Church. To this day teachings of the Catholic Church are known as 'Thomism' In his philosophical writings he tried to combine and reconcile Aristotle's scientific rationalism with the Christian faith and the doctrine of revelation.

His two most famous works are The //Summa contra Gentiles,// which explored "natural religion" and //Summa theologiae,// which he did not complete.

http://www.allbiographies.com/biography-StThomasAquinas-1526.html