To be Saint Thomas Aquinas (also known as Thomas of Aquin or Aquino) by Stefano Donno

Saint Thomas Aquinas (also known as Thomas of Aquin or Aquino) was a Dominican friar and priest who was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian, and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism. He is known for his writings on the nature of God, the relationship between faith and reason, and the nature of morality.

Aquinas was born in 1225 in Aquino, a small town in southern Italy. He was the youngest son of Landulf of Aquino and Theodora of Chieti. His parents were members of the nobility, and his mother was a member of the royal house of Hungary.

Aquinas was educated at the Abbey of Monte Cassino and the University of Naples, where he studied the works of Aristotle and other classical philosophers. He later joined the Dominican Order, a religious order that placed a strong emphasis on study and intellectual pursuits.

Aquinas is best known for his writings on theology and philosophy, particularly his "Summa Theologica," which is a comprehensive summary of the teachings of the Catholic Church. In this work, he synthesized the ideas of Aristotle and other classical philosophers with the teachings of the Church, and his work became a standard text for students of theology for centuries.

Aquinas also made significant contributions to the fields of natural law and moral philosophy. He argued that there are certain moral truths that are universal and independent of human laws and customs, and that these moral truths can be known through reason alone.

Aquinas died in 1274 at the age of 49. He was canonized as a saint in 1323, and he is considered a Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church. His writings continue to be studied and debated by philosophers and theologians to this day.