Comes from a Norman and Germanic family, Thomas d'Aquin was born toward the end of 1224. Son of Landulph, Count of Aquinas and Countess Theodora Caracciolo Rossi.

Pope Honorius III was his godfather and the Benedictines of the Abbey of Mont Cassin, where his uncle was superior, took charge of his education. Pious and intelligent, Thomas was sent to Naples, on the joint decision of his uncle and his father, to study art and culture. There he familiarized himself with the writings of Aristotle and the Roman laws. It was also in Naples that he came to know the Order of Friars Preachers.

Thomas entered the Dominicans without the consent of his family. His mother fell ill knowing that her son had entered a mendicant order. She complained in vain to the superior of the order and even to the Pope. She went to fetch her son in Naples, but he fled to Rome. Caught up in spite of everything, Thomas was put in the dungeon in his father's house. He was presented with women to distract him from his ideas, but Thomas knelt before the crucifix and renewed his vow of chastity. When he fell asleep, he saw an angel saying to him: "Receive eternal purity from God".

Thomas overcame all these obstacles and continued his vocation while excelling in his research and studies. What is striking in Thomas' life is the number and extent of his writings that he composed in such a short time, for he lived only 48 years, which is little compared to the richness of his works. One day Jesus spoke to him from the back of the tabernacle: "Thomas, you have written so well about me, what reward do you want? Thomas answered passionately, "Only you, Lord". Thomas Aquinas died in 1274.