“Among the Scholastic Doctors, the fundamental and expert of all systems Thomas Aquinas, who, as Cajetan observes, because 'he many venerated the historic Physicians of the Church, in a particular way seems to have inherited the intelligence of all.'
The doctrines of those illustrious men, like the scattered people of a body, Thomas collected collectively and cemented, distributed in fantastic order, and therefore enhanced with essential improvements that he is rightly and deservedly famous the specific bulwark and glory of the Catholic faith.
With his spirit at as soon as simple and fast, his storage prepared and tenacious, his existence spotless throughout, a sweetheart of reality for its personal sake, richly endowed with individual and divine technology, like the sunlight he warmed the globe with the warmth of his virtues and filled it with the elegance of his training.
Viewpoint offers no component which he do not touch finely at as soon as and completely; on the laws of thinking, on Lord and incorporeal ingredients, on man and additional sensible issues, on individual activities and their concepts, he reasoned in such a way that in him now there is wanting neither a complete variety of questions, nor an appropriate removal of the several components, nor the greatest method of carrying on, nor soundness of principles or strength of case, nor quality and elegance of style, nor a facility for explaining what is certainly abstruse.
Moreover, the Angelic Doctor sent his philosophic query into the factors and concepts of factors, which because they are usually most extensive and consist of in their bosom, therefore to state, the seeds of almost infinite facts, were to become unfolded in good period by later professionals and with a goodly produce.
And as he also used this philosophic technique in the refutation of error, he received this name to difference for himself: that, single-handed, he victoriously combated the mistakes of former periods, and provided invincible hands to put those to rout which might in after-times spring and coil up.
Again, clearly distinguishing, as is fitted, reason from trust, while enjoyably associating the one with the additional, he both stored the rights and acquired respect for the pride of each; so much so, certainly, that cause, borne on the wings of Thomas to its individual height, can hardly rise increased, while beliefs could scarcely expect more or more powerful helps from reason than those which she has already obtained through Thomas.
For these reasons most discovered males, in previous ages especially, of the highest reputation in theology and viewpoint, after studying with assets aches the immortal works of Thomas, gave themselves up not so very much to become directed in his angelic wisdom as to be nourished upon it.
It can be recognized that almost all the founders and lawgivers of the religious orders instructed their users to study and religiously adhere to the theories of St. Thomas, afraid least any of them should swerve actually in the slightest level from the footsteps of so great a guy. To say nothing at all of the household of St. Dominic, which appropriately claims this excellent instructor for its own beauty, the statutes of the Benedictines, the Carmelites, the Augustinians, the Society of Christ, and numerous others all state that they are usually guaranteed by this legislation. '
- From Pope Leo XIII -Aeterni Patris(Aug 4, 1879)