St. Thomas Aquinas & St. Francis Assisi

St. Thomas Aquinas - For Chesterton, Thomas Aquinas is a man of mystery, who though born into a noble Neapolitan family chose the life of a mendicant friar. Shy and lumbering, his classmates dubbed him "the Dumb Ox". However he was to lead a revolution in Christian thought. Chesterton's portrayal will engage, enlighten and sometimes confound. His seminal sketch of the life and thought of this great man is as relevant today as when it was first published in 1933. St Francis of Assisi - Chesterton puts himself in the position of the 'ordinary modern thinker and enquirer' to write this excellent biography of St Francis. St Francis was a 'very real historical human being' and Chesterton tells his story using many anecdotes and examples. We learn about his youth as a young romantic troubadour and how he learnt to help the poor. Chesterton tells how St Francis turned his back on his home and family and refused to have possessions. For the 'sake of his vision he denied himself all sense of place and possession'… (more)

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LibraryThing member thierry

Being lazy by temperament and not wanting to read the original, I have been seeking an account of the life and beliefs of Thomas Aquinas. I had read glowing reviews of this book but was quickly disenchanted. That Thomas Aquinas stands as a giant of Catholic doctrine is beyond dispute. Known for his

silent contemplation and obduracy in his doctrine – hence the dumb ox, Thomas Aquinas is credited for declaring reason and faith not incompatible and equally useful in religious beliefs. Unfortunately, I did not get much from this book however much I compelled myself to trudge on. In my opinion, it felt more like a soliloquy – given the arcane imagery used, the unfamiliar feelings depicted, the implicit a prioris, and opaque writing – than an account that I could get something from. On Thomas Aquinas, I am still looking.

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