The Dumb Ox

Since Gregory wrote a little review of a book by G.K. Chesterton, I figured that I could do the same. "The Dumb Ox" is a referent that was given to St. Thomas Aquinas because he was a rather quiet fellow. His mentor, St. Albert the Great, said this about his pupil: "You can call him a Dumb Ox; I tell you that the Dumb Ox will bellow so loud that his bellowing will fill the world." I have come to enjoy reading Aquinas because he is very clear and also because he is very concise. This book is an easy read being that it is only about 160 pages but very insightful. He begins his book by giving a brief history of what was going on during the formation of the Dominicans and the Franciscans which was very helpful for some reflection papers for my Church History class this past semester. This book is by no means a biography, but rather it is Chesterton's own thought on what Aquinas contributed to philosophy and theology, and how it applies to us now. The homily that was given at Mass on Saturday highlighted the reality that our intellect and/or will can become an idol in our life and I think that Aquinas had the correct balance of using the intellect and will to serve God. I will leave you with some of my favorite quotes.

This quote is in regards to Aquinas' zeal for the truth and the extent to which he sought it. "We can put it another way, by saying that his daydreams, the like the dreams of a dog, were dreams of hunting; of pursuing the error as well as pursuing the truth; of following all the twists and turns of evasive falsehood, and tracking it at last to its lair in hell."

This last quote closes the chapter entitled 'The Real Life of St. Thomas' and is in reference to Thomas' last moments on earth. "But there must have been a moment, when men knew that the thunderous mill of thought had stopped suddenly; and that after the shock of stillness that wheel would shake the world no more; that there was nothing now within that hollow house but a great hill of clay; and the confessor, who had been with him in the inner chamber, ran forth as if in fear, and whispered that his confession had been that of a child of five."