His family locked him in a tower to stop him from becoming a friar. They sent a woman to tempt him away from his vows. He chased her out with a burning log from the fireplace, drew a cross on the wall, and knelt in prayer. Nothing — not family pressure, not ridicule, not imprisonment — could stop Thomas Aquinas from pursuing God with his entire mind.

He went on to write the Summa Theologica, one of the greatest intellectual achievements in human history. He is called the Angelic Doctor — and the Church has never produced a greater thinker.

This beautifully laminated St. Thomas Aquinas prayer card carries his beloved prayer for wisdom — words that have guided students, scholars, and seekers for 750 years.

Card Details:

• Laminated cardstock with gold colour accents
• 2.5" × 4.5" — fits perfectly in a wallet, Bible, or pocket
• Classic religious art image on the front
• Full prayer text on the back
• Available in packs of 3, 10, 25, 50, and 100

Prayer to St. Thomas Aquinas — Angel of Schools

Angel of Schools, at the bidding of Peter,
Thousands today are saluting thee thus.
We too are claiming thy care and thy counsel,
Angel of Schools, be an Angel to us.

Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know You,
a heart to seek You,
wisdom to find You,
conduct pleasing to You,
faithful perseverance in waiting for You,
and a hope of finally embracing You.
Amen.

— St. Thomas Aquinas

Patron Saint Of:

• 🙏 Students and scholars — the patron of all who pursue knowledge in the light of faith
• 🙏 Catholic schools, colleges, and universities
• 🙏 Theologians and philosophers
• 🙏 Pencil makers — yes, really! (A nod to his tireless writing)
• 🙏 Chastity — for his heroic resistance to temptation in the tower
• 🙏 Booksellers and publishers

Feast Day: January 28th

The Story of St. Thomas Aquinas — The Angelic Doctor

Born in 1225 to a noble Italian family near Naples, Thomas was sent to the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino as a child, and later to the University of Naples — where he encountered the Dominicans and felt called to join them. His family was horrified. They kidnapped him and held him in the family castle for over a year, trying everything to change his mind.

He refused. He was released. He joined the Dominicans, studied under the great St. Albert the Great in Cologne and Paris, and began the most extraordinary intellectual career in Church history. His Summa Theologica — a systematic synthesis of Christian theology and Aristotelian philosophy — remains one of the most influential works ever written. He produced over 8 million words in his lifetime.

Near the end of his life, Thomas had a mystical experience during Mass that left him unable to write. When asked why he had stopped, he said: "All that I have written seems to me like straw compared to what I have seen." He died in 1274 at the age of 49, on his way to the Second Council of Lyon. He was canonized in 1323 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1567.

A Personal Note from Shawn

I'm Shawn Kilgarlin — wife, mother of four, mental health clinician, and Life Coach. Thomas Aquinas fascinates me because he was a man who used every gift God gave him — his extraordinary mind, his iron will, his contemplative heart — entirely in service of truth. As someone who works at the intersection of faith and mental health, I believe deeply that faith and reason are not enemies. Thomas proved that. Every ShopCatholic card is part of my mission of giving, funding Christmas gifts for those in need and serving those in addiction recovery. Thank you. 🙏

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was St. Thomas Aquinas, and why is he called the Angelic Doctor?
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) was a Dominican friar, priest, and theologian whose synthesis of faith and reason transformed Catholic intellectual life. He is called the Angelic Doctor — Doctor Angelicus — both for the angelic purity of his life and the heavenly quality of his thought. Pope Leo XIII declared his philosophy the official philosophy of the Catholic Church in 1879. His Summa Theologica is still studied in seminaries and universities worldwide. He is one of only 37 Doctors of the Church.

What is St. Thomas Aquinas the patron saint of?
St. Thomas is the patron saint of students, scholars, Catholic schools and universities, theologians, philosophers, booksellers, publishers, and pencil makers. He is also invoked for chastity. His feast day is January 28th — a wonderful day to give this card to a student, teacher, or anyone who loves learning.

Are there Catholic churches and universities named after St. Thomas Aquinas?
Many! Here are some of the most notable:
• St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Palo Alto, California, USA — the parish of Stanford University, one of the most intellectually vibrant Catholic communities in America.
• St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Dallas, Texas, USA — a beautiful parish in the Diocese of Dallas.
• St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Denton, Texas, USA — serving the University of North Texas community.
• St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, New York, USA — a Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1952.
• Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA — a Dominican-founded Catholic college bearing his legacy.
• Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, Italy — the Dominican university in Rome where his thought is studied at the highest level, steps from the Vatican.
• Basilica of San Domenico, Bologna, Italy — where Thomas studied and where his influence on Dominican intellectual life began.
• Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy — the only Gothic church in Rome, home to the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena and deeply connected to Dominican and Thomistic tradition.
From Palo Alto to Rome, the Angelic Doctor's name graces some of the finest Catholic institutions of learning in the world.

Can I order these in bulk for my school, parish, or university?
Absolutely! Cards are available in packs up to 100 for standard orders. For larger needs, our custom print option starts at 1,000 cards, takes approximately 5 days, and can be ordered in any quantity. When Pope Francis visited the United States, he ordered 15,000 "Praying with Five Fingers" cards — a reminder of just how powerful a simple prayer card can be. Imagine giving a St. Thomas Aquinas card to every student at the start of the school year. Contact us to discuss your custom order. 🙏