Setting the stage

     Catholic Schools Week, in which we showcase the Catholic school educational mission of the Church, begins this Sunday.  I will share thoughts on this as the week progresses.  But almost as a prelude to the week we have the feast of two saints who valued the importance of education within the framework of Faith.

     Yesterday we honored Angela Merici from Lombardy, who was a Third Order Franciscan.  She set up a school to instruct girls in Christianity and good works, and in 1535  she founded the Ursulines to continue her mission, especially for poor girls.

    Today we honor a giant of a man, supposedly literally as well as figuratively.  Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 of a noble family in southern Italy, studied with the Benedictines, and became a follower of Saint Dominic.  He studied in Paris and Cologne under the philosopher Saint Albert the Great, and delved into the pagan philosopher Aristotle.  He used a simple, common sense approach to philosophy and theology and wrote extensively.  He also wrote many of our beautiful eucharistic hymns.  He is considered a Doctor of the Church.

     Both of these individuals exemplified the theme of Catholic Schools Week in 2012:  "Faith, Academics, Service".  They join the students, faculties and administrations of our Catholic Schools in fleshing out this theme.