Thomas Aquinas Timeline

(1225–1274)

Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and theologian widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in Western history. He synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, producing landmark works such as the Summa Theologiae. His teachings, known as Thomism, continue to shape Catholic doctrine and scholastic philosophy today. More Less

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Life and Education

Birth of Thomas Aquinas

1225

Thomas Aquinas was most likely born in the family castle of Roccasecca, near Aquino, controlled at that time by the Kingdom of Sicily (in present-day Lazio, Italy), around 1225.

Image source: Thomas Aquinas

Studies at the University of Naples

1239

After the military conflict between Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX spilled into the abbey in early 1239, Landulf and Theodora had Thomas enrolled at the studium generale in Naples (known today as the University of Naples Federico II).

Image source: University of Naples Federico II

Escape from family to join the Dominicans

1244

By 1244, seeing that all her attempts to dissuade Thomas had failed, Theodora sought to save the family's dignity, arranging for Thomas to escape at night through a window.

Study at the University of Paris

1245

In 1245, Thomas was sent to study at the Faculty of the Arts at the University of Paris, where he most likely met Dominican scholar Albertus Magnus, then the holder of the Chair of Theology at the College of St.

Follows Albertus Magnus to Cologne

1248

When Albertus was sent by his superiors to teach at the new studium generale at Cologne, in 1248, Thomas followed him, declining Pope Innocent IV's offer to appoint him abbot of Monte Cassino as a Dominican.

Image source: Albertus Magnus

Return to Paris for master's degree

1252

In 1252, Thomas returned to Paris to study for a master's degree in theology.

Friendship with Saint Bonaventure

1252 - 1257

From 1252 to 1257, Thomas lived and worked with Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, of whom he became a fraternal friend.

Image source: Bonaventure

Preaches daily in Naples during Lent

1273

He preached to the people of Naples every day in Lent of 1273. It is traditionally held that on one occasion, in 1273, at the Dominican convent of Naples in the chapel of Saint Nicholas, Thomas was said by the sacristan Domenic of Caserta to be levitating in prayer with tears before an icon of the crucified Christ.

Mystical experience ends his writing

Dec 6, 1273

On 6 December 1273, another mystical experience reportedly took place, after which Thomas ceased writing, leaving his Summa Theologiae unfinished.

Teaching and Writing

Dispute between secular masters and mendicant orders

1255

In 1255, along with Saint Bonaventure, Thomas was involved in the dispute between secular masters and masters of the mendicant orders, with the former contesting the right to teach at the University of Paris.

Appointed regent master in theology at Paris

1256

In early 1256, Thomas was appointed by direct intervention of Pope Alexander IV as regent master in theology at Paris. One of his first works upon assuming this office was Contra impugnantes Dei cultum et religionem, a defense of the mendicant orders, which had come under attack by William of Saint-Amour.

First regency writings at Paris

1256 - 1259

During his tenure from 1256 to 1259, Thomas wrote numerous works, including Quaestiones Disputatae de Veritate, Quaestiones quodlibetales, and commentaries on Boethius's De trinitate and De hebdomadibus.

End of first Paris regency

1259

In 1259 Thomas completed his first regency at the studium generale and left Paris so that others in his order could gain this teaching experience.

Summa contra Gentiles

1259 - 1265

Among Thomas's body of work is the Summa contra Gentiles (1259–1265), along with the Disputed Questions on Truth (1256–1259) and numerous commentaries on Christian Scripture and on Aristotle.

Image source: Summa contra Gentiles

Appointed general preacher in Naples

Sep 29, 1260

He returned to Naples where he was appointed as general preacher by the provincial chapter of 29 September 1260.

Conventual lector at Orvieto

Sep 1261

In September 1261 he was called to Orvieto as conventual lector, where he was responsible for the pastoral formation of the friars unable to attend a studium generale.

Image source: Orvieto

Summa Theologica composed

1265 - 1274

Thomas's best-known work is the unfinished Summa Theologica, or Summa Theologiae (1265–1274), which is a comprehensive guide to the theology of the Catholic Church.

Image source: Summa Theologica

Teaching at Santa Sabina

1265 - 1268

This same year, he was ordered by the Dominican Chapter of Anagni to teach at the studium conventuale at the Roman convent of Santa Sabina, founded in 1222. He remained there until he was called back to Paris in 1268.

Image source: Santa Sabina

Summoned to Rome as papal theologian

Feb 1265

In February 1265, the newly elected Pope Clement IV summoned Thomas to Rome to serve as papal theologian.

Image source: Pope Clement IV

Accusation of encouraging Averroists

1266

A year before Thomas re-assumed the regency at the 1266–67 Paris disputations, Franciscan master William of Baglione accused Thomas of encouraging Averroists, most likely counting him as one of the 'blind leaders of the blind'.

Second Paris regency begins

1268 - 1272

In 1268, the Dominican Order assigned Thomas to be regent master at the University of Paris for a second time, a position he held until early 1272. In November 1268, he left Viterbo with his associate and secretary Reginald of Piperno on their way to Paris.

Quaestiones disputatae de malo

1269 - 1272

Thomas Aquinas's thought on evil draws on an Augustinian inheritance that he systematises through the sixteen Quaestiones disputatae de malo (Paris, 1269–1272) and the corresponding articles of the Summa Theologiae.

Image source: List of works by Thomas Aquinas

Disputations on virtue and hope

1270 - 1272

In what appears to be an attempt to counteract the growing fear of Aristotelian thought, Thomas conducted a series of disputations between 1270 and 1272: De virtutibus in communi, De virtutibus cardinalibus, and De spe.

Condemnation of Aristotelian propositions by Bishop Tempier

Dec 10, 1270

On 10 December 1270, the Bishop of Paris, Étienne Tempier, issued an edict condemning thirteen Aristotelian and Averroistic propositions as heretical and excommunicating anyone who continued to support them.

Establishes studium generale in Naples

1272

In 1272, Thomas took leave from the University of Paris when the Dominicans from his home province called upon him to establish a studium generale wherever he liked and staff it as he pleased.

Death and Canonization

Summoned to the Second Council of Lyon

1274

In 1274, Pope Gregory X summoned Thomas to attend the Second Council of Lyon. The council was to open 1 May 1274, and it was Gregory's attempt to try to heal the Great Schism of 1054, which had divided the Catholic Church in the West from the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Death of Thomas Aquinas

Mar 7, 1274

Thomas died on 7 March 1274 while giving commentary on the Song of Songs.

Canonization by Pope John XXII

Jul 18, 1323

Fifty years after Thomas's death, on 18 July 1323, Pope John XXII, seated in Avignon, pronounced Thomas a saint.

Image source: Pope John XXII

Relics translated to Church of the Jacobins

Jan 28, 1369

His remains were translated from Fossanova to the Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse, France, on 28 January 1369.

Image source: Church of the Jacobins

Declared Doctor of the Church

Apr 15, 1567

Pope Pius V declared Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church on 15 April 1567 with the Papal bull Mirabilis Deus, and ranked his feast with those of the four great Latin fathers: Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo, Jerome and Pope Gregory I. This happened within the historical timeframe of the 'second scholasticism', a trend during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Image source: Doctor of the Church

Relics held at Basilica of Saint-Sernin

1789 - 1974

Between 1789 and 1974 Thomas's remains were held in the Basilica of Saint-Sernin. In 1974 they were returned to the Church of the Jacobins, where they have remained ever since.

Image source: Basilica of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse

Feast moved to January 28

1969

Since this date commonly falls within Lent, the 1969 revision of the calendar moved his memorial to 28 January, the date of the translation of his relics to the Church of the Jacobins, Toulouse.

Image source: General Roman Calendar

Legacy and Influence

Condemnation of 1277 by Étienne Tempier

1277

In 1277, Étienne Tempier, the same bishop of Paris who had issued the condemnation of 1270, issued another, more extensive, condemnation.

Image source: Condemnations of 1210–1277

Dante places Thomas in the Heaven of the Sun

1321

In the Divine Comedy (completed c. 1321), Dante Alighieri sees the glorified soul of Thomas in the Heaven of the Sun with the other great exemplars of religious wisdom.

Image source: Divine Comedy

Malleus Maleficarum cites Thomas Aquinas

1486

The famous 15th-century witch-hunter's manual, the Malleus Maleficarum, also written by a member of the Dominican Order, begins by quoting Thomas Aquinas refuting the Episcopi and goes on to cite Thomas Aquinas over a hundred times.

Image source: Malleus Maleficarum

Editio Piana first edition of complete works

1570

The first edition of Thomas's complete works, the so-called editio Piana (from Pius V, the Pope who commissioned it), was produced in 1570 at the studium of the Roman convent at Santa Maria sopra Minerva, the forerunner of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum.

Image source: Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Neo-scholasticism revives interest in Thomas

1801 - 1900

During the 19th century, a movement that came to be known as neo-scholasticism revived Catholic scholarly interest in scholasticism generally and Thomas in particular, as well as the work of the Thomists of second scholasticism.

Image source: Neo-scholasticism

Taparelli coins 'social justice'

1840

'Social justice' is a term that arose in the 19th century in the writings of Luigi Taparelli, and it was his term for the reality Thomas Aquinas called 'legal justice' or 'general justice'.

Image source: Luigi Taparelli

Rickaby English edition of the Summa Theologiae

1872

Abbé Migne published an edition of the Summa Theologiae, in four volumes, as an appendix to his Patrologiae Cursus Completus; English editions followed, including Joseph Rickaby's in 1872.

Image source: Joseph Rickaby

Aeterni Patris encyclical

1879

This movement was given papal support in Aeterni Patris, the 1879 encyclical by Pope Leo XIII stating that Thomas's theology was a definitive exposition of Catholic doctrine. That same year, Leo XIII instituted the Pontifical Academy of Saint Thomas Aquinas, putting into practice Aeterni Patris' recommendations.

Image source: Aeterni Patris

Patron saint of Catholic educational establishments

1880

In 1880 Thomas was declared the patron saint of all Catholic educational establishments.

Leonine edition of Thomas's works

1882 - 1930

Critical editions of Thomas's works include his commentaries on Aristotle's On Interpretation and Posterior Analytics, prepared by Thomas Maria Zigliara, in the first volume (1882), the Summa Theologiae in nine volumes from 1888 to 1906, and the Summa contra Gentiles in three volumes from 1918 to 1930.

Thomae Aquinatis doctoris angelici published

1898

Girolamo Maria Mancini, professor of theology at the Collegium Divi Thomae de Urbe, published Thomae Aquinatis doctoris angelici in 1898.

Image source: Thomas Aquinas

Pascendi Dominici gregis endorses Thomism

1907

In Pascendi Dominici gregis, the 1907 encyclical by Pope Pius X, the Pope said professors cannot set St. Thomas aside, especially in metaphysical questions, without grave detriment.

Image source: Pascendi Dominici gregis

Sacrorum Antistitum mandates Thomistic philosophy

Sep 1, 1910

On 1 September 1910 Pius X addressed the letter Sacrorum Antistitum to all bishops and teachers of religious orders, by which he decreed that the Scholastic philosophy of Thomas was to be established as the foundation of sacred studies for young clerics.

Image source: Oath Against Modernism

Postquam sanctissimus decree

1914

Pius X's 1914 decree Postquam sanctissimus gave further Vatican endorsement to 24 specific neo-scholastic theses of 'Official Catholic Philosophy' understood to be rooted in Thomism.

Image source: Integralism

Nouvelle théologie movement emerges

1920 - 1960

In response to neo-scholasticism, Catholic scholars who were more sympathetic to modernity gained influence during the early 20th century in the nouvelle théologie movement (meaning 'new theology').

Fausto Appetente Die encyclical

1921

General Catholic appreciation for Thomas remained strong in the 20th century, as seen in the praise offered by Pope Benedict XV's 1921 encyclical Fausto Appetente Die.

Panofsky's Gothic Architecture and Scholasticism

1951

Erwin Panofsky later would echo these views in Gothic Architecture and Scholasticism (1951).

Image source: Erwin Panofsky

Umberto Eco essay on Thomas's aesthetics

1956

The influence of Thomas's aesthetics can also be found in the works of the Italian semiotician Umberto Eco, who wrote an essay on aesthetic ideas in Thomas (published in 1956 and republished in 1988 in a revised edition).

Image source: Umberto Eco

Anscombe's Intention and double effect

1957

Through the work of twentieth-century philosophers such as Elizabeth Anscombe (especially in her book Intention), Thomas's principle of double effect specifically and his theory of intentional activity generally have been influential.

Image source: G. E. M. Anscombe

Lumen ecclesiae apostolic letter

Nov 20, 1974

On 20 November 1974, Paul VI wrote the apostolic letter Lumen ecclesiae, inviting the Dominicans to return to the source and rediscover the true doctrine of Thomas.

Image source: Lumen gentium

Catechism of the Catholic Church cites Thomas

1997

With 70 quotations, predominantly in the field of Catholic liturgy, Thomas is one of the most frequently cited authors of the 1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Image source: Catechism of the Catholic Church

Fides et ratio encyclical

1998

Similarly, Pope John Paul II's 1998 encyclical Fides et ratio praised Thomas, continuing the long tradition of papal appreciation for his thought.

Image source: Fides et ratio

Key Facts

Thomas Aquinas was born around 1225 in Roccasecca, Italy, to a noble family related to the ruling houses of Europe.
He joined the Dominican Order against his family's wishes, reportedly leading them to imprison him for over a year to change his mind.
His magnum opus, the Summa Theologiae, remains unfinished but is considered one of the greatest works of theology ever written.
Aquinas integrated the philosophy of Aristotle with Christian doctrine, arguing that faith and reason are complementary paths to truth.
Canonized as a saint by Pope John XXII in 1323 and later declared a Doctor of the Church, his thought—Thomism—remains central to Catholic education.

Source

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