Small Gods

13

St Thomas Aquinas (1224–1274) was called the “the dumb ox” by his fellow students due to his silence during theological disputes at the university. He just listened, or perhaps lurked is a better term. He also had a large and awkward frame, like Brutha.

The story goes that Thomas’ teacher (Albertus Magnus ^{*}) rebuked the insensitive students by saying: “His name will be remembered long after yours are all forgotten”. He was right. Thomas Aquinas was canonised less than a century later. (And so was Albertus Magnus, but not until 1931.)

* Albertus Magnus (also known as Albert the Great). Albertus Magnus (born in 1193 in Laufingen at the Donau, Germany), became known as ‘the Magician’ and was probably the most famous priest, philosopher and scientist of his time. Amongst other things he taught at the University of Paris, was Bishop of Regensburg, and at the age of 84 he again undertook the long journey from Cologne to Paris to defend the scientific work of his greatest student, Thomas Aquinas, against attacks and misunderstandings.