Thomas Aquinas

===Late career and cessation of writing (1272–1274)===
[[File:Saint Patrick Church (Columbus, Ohio) - stained glass, St. Thomas Aquinas, detail.jpg|thumb|An icon of the crucifixion speaking to Thomas Aquinas is depicted on this stained glass window in [[Saint Patrick Church (Columbus, Ohio)]].]]

In 1272, Thomas took leave from the University of Paris when the Dominicans from his home province called upon him to establish a ''studium generale'' wherever he liked and staff it as he pleased. He chose to establish the institution in Naples and moved there to take his post as regent master.{{sfn|Davies|2004|p=5}} He took his time at Naples to work on the third part of the ''Summa'' while giving lectures on various religious topics. He also preached to the people of Naples every day in Lent of 1273. These [[s:Ninety-nine Homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas Upon the Epistles and Gospels for Forty-nine Sundays of the Christian Year|sermons]] on the Commandments, the Creed, the Our Father, and Hail Mary were very popular.<ref>{{cite book| first= James |last= Weisheipl| title= Friar Thomas D'Aquino: His Life, Thought, and Work| publisher=Doubleday| year= 1974| page= 319}}</ref>

Thomas has been traditionally ascribed with the ability to [[Levitation (paranormal)|levitate]]. For example, [[G. K. Chesterton]] wrote that "His experiences included well-attested cases of levitation in ecstasy; and the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, comforting him with the welcome news that he would never be a Bishop."<ref>{{cite journal| first= G. K. |last= Chesterton| author-link= G. K. Chesterton| url= http://chesterton.org/gkc/theologian/aquinas.htm |title= Essay on St. Thomas Aquinas| journal= [[The Spectator]]| date= 27 February 1932| via= chesterton.org}}</ref>

It is traditionally held that on one occasion, in 1273, at the Dominican convent of Naples in the chapel of [[Saint Nicholas]],<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www4.desales.edu/~philtheo/loughlin/ATP/Sermons/Nicholas_Essay.pdf| title= A Tale of Two Wonderworkers: St. Nicholas of Myra in the Writings and Life of St. Thomas Aquinas| first= Peter A.| last= Kwasniewski| publisher= International Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family Gaming, Austria| via= desales.edu| access-date= 19 March 2016| archive-date= 19 November 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214628/http://www4.desales.edu/~philtheo/loughlin/ATP/Sermons/Nicholas_Essay.pdf| url-status= dead}}</ref> after [[Matins]], Thomas lingered and was seen by the [[sacristan]] Domenic of Caserta to be levitating in prayer with tears before an icon of the crucified Christ. Christ said to Thomas, "You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward would you have for your labor?" Thomas responded, "Nothing but you, Lord."{{sfnm |1a1=de Tocco |1a2=Le Brun-Gouanvic |1y=1996|1p= |2a1=Kennedy |2y=1912}}

On 6 December 1273, another mystical experience took place. While Thomas was celebrating Mass, he experienced an unusually long ecstasy.{{sfn|Kennedy|1912}} Because of what he saw, he abandoned his routine and refused to dictate to his ''socius'' [[Reginald of Piperno]]. When Reginald begged him to get back to work, Thomas replied: "Reginald, I cannot, because all that I have written seems like straw to me"{{sfn|Davies|1993|p=9}} (''mihi videtur ut palea'').<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Development and Meaning of Twentieth-century Existentialism |last=McBride |first=William Leon |publisher=Taylor and Francis |year=1997 |isbn=0-8153-2491-X |page=131}}</ref> As a result, the ''Summa Theologica'' would remain uncompleted.{{sfn|Murray |2013|p=27|loc=Ch. 10}} What exactly triggered Thomas's change in behaviour is believed by some to have been some kind of supernatural experience of God.<ref name=SEP2 /> After taking to his bed, however, he did recover some strength.{{sfn|Healy|2003|p=7}}

In 1054, the [[East-West Schism|Great Schism]] had occurred between the [[Catholic Church]] in the West, and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. Looking to find a way to reunite the two, [[Pope Gregory X]] convened the [[Second Council of Lyon]] to be held on 1 May 1274 and summoned Thomas to attend.{{sfn|Nichols|2002|p=18}} At the meeting, Thomas's work for Pope Urban IV concerning the Greeks, ''Contra errores graecorum'', was to be presented.{{sfn|Hampden|1848|p=46}}

On his way to the council, riding on a donkey along the [[Appian Way]],{{sfn|Nichols|2002|p=18}} he struck his head on the branch of a fallen tree and became seriously ill again. He was then quickly escorted to [[Monte Cassino]] to convalesce.{{sfn|Healy|2003|p=7}} After resting for a while, he set out again but stopped at the [[Cistercian]] [[Fossanova Abbey]] after again falling ill.{{sfn|Healy|2003|p=8}} The monks nursed him for several days,<ref>Thomas Aquinas, ''Reader'', p. 12.</ref> and as he received his [[last rites]] he prayed: "I have written and taught much about this very holy Body, and about the other sacraments in the faith of Christ, and about the Holy Roman Church, to whose correction I expose and submit everything I have written."{{sfn|Torrell|2005|p=292}} He died on 7 March 1274{{sfn|Healy|2003|p=8}} while giving commentary on the [[Song of Songs]].{{sfn|Hampden|1848|p=47}}