“Everything imperfect must proceed from something perfect: therefore the First Being must be most perfect. Everything is perfect inasmuch as it is in actuality; imperfect, inasmuch as it is in potentiality, with privation of actuality. That then which is nowise in potentiality, but is pure actuality, must be most perfect; and such is God.” [1]

For human beings perfection is found in discipleship to Christ.

St. Thomas Aquinas was born in Aquino, Italy, in 1225, the youngest son of Count Landulf. St. Aquinas received his education at the Abbey of Montecassino and at the University of Naples. In 1244, St. Aquinas entered the Dominican Order. He traveled to Paris and Cologne, studying under St. Albert the Great. He became a Master of Theology at Paris and subsequently, taught there and in Italy. He wrote a series of commentaries on the newly translated works of Aristotle to guide Christians in their reading of them. He wrote the Summa theologiae and much of the liturgy for the feast of Corpus Christi. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1567 by Pius V who called him the Doctor Angelicus. [2][3][4][5]

An altarpiece in Ascoli Piceno, Italy by Carlo Crivelli, (15th Century)