Any insights into the 'secrets' revealed to St Aquinas?

[Robert_Sock]

On 6 December, 1273, he laid aside his pen and would write no more. That day he experienced an unusually long ecstasy during Mass; what was revealed to him we can only surmise from his reply to Father Reginald, who urged him to continue his writings: “I can do no more. Such secrets have been revealed to me that all I have written now appears to be of little value.”
-Saint Thomas Aquinas

This is the greatest quote by a saint that I have ever seen. Whatever he saw, it must have been extremely profound, like seeing that our world is under a ‘strong spell’ by Satan.

If the vision was enough for him to declare his writings to have such a limited worth, how much more so our postings and thoughts in this forum? PAY HEED!!!

LOVE!

 

[Loving_disciple]

This is only speculation but I am guessing that what he saw was the something that was very good. He had a lot of writing that tried to explain the nature of God in a way humans could understand. I am guessing he was allowed to see what those in heaven see to a lesser degree.

 

[KrazyKat]

On 6 December, 1273, he laid aside his pen and would write no more. That day he experienced an unusually long ecstasy during Mass; what was revealed to him we can only surmise from his reply to Father Reginald, who urged him to continue his writings: “I can do no more. Such secrets have been revealed to me that all I have written now appears to be of little value.”
-Saint Thomas Aquinas

This is the greatest quote by a saint that I have ever seen. Whatever he saw, it must have been extremely profound, like seeing that our world is under a ‘strong spell’ by Satan.

If the vision was enough for him to declare his writings to have such a limited worth, how much more so our postings and thoughts in this forum? PAY HEED!!!

LOVE!

I believe that this quote is the most honest and profound statement that Thomas Aquinas ever made. No one can know God and His intentions. His ways are not our ways.
Each day we can only do the best we can.

 

[Dhiambi]

Am sorry that I am not answering your question. It is my first time in this forum after just registering. I am a Catholic Priest - with a question - and this is it. Is there a Congregation or an Order for Religious Life that admits both men and women who live in the same community? Please send me name and place where this is if it indeed is. It is for Research Purposes. I heard it exists in the US but never cared to find out when I was there. Now am in Africa.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

This is the greatest quote by a saint that I have ever seen. Whatever he saw, it must have been extremely profound, like seeing that our world is under a ‘strong spell’ by Satan.
​

Now you are just guessing, aren’t you?

What we know for a fact is that Thomas was near the end of his life and therefore possibly knew that the only important thing on his agenda from then on was to prepare for the moment when he would meet God. Everything else naturally would seem unimportant to him at that point. There is no mention by any of his biographers that he saw the world under a “strong spell” by Satan. Rather, he was a holy man, extremely humble, and the proud work of his Summa Theologica left unfinished at that point seemed to him less important than meeting God face to face.

Does that word “spell” have you under its spell? ​

 

[Robert_Sock]

Now you are just guessing, aren’t you?

What we know for a fact is that Thomas was near the end of his life and therefore possibly knew that the only important thing on his agenda from then on was to prepare for the moment when he would meet God. Everything else naturally would seem unimportant to him at that point. There is no mention by any of his biographers that he saw the world under a “strong spell” by Satan. Rather, he was a holy man, extremely humble, and the proud work of his Summa Theologica left unfinished at that point seemed to him less important than meeting God face to face.

Does that word “spell” have you under its spell?

Well, Saint Thomas says that ‘secrets’ were revealed to him, in addition to saying that his writings were of ‘little value.’ It sounds to me like it was a heck of a lot more than somebody preparing for death.

Yes, I really am obsessed with the idea of a ‘spell.’ I saw Satan before I saw God. My atheistic belief system was shattered in 1990, and rebuilt on Christianity with this as a critical belief. When I first read this quote by Saint Thomas, I was like, well yes, of course. Oh, it’s so hard to share experiences, but my experiences were profound too. I believe my experiences go far beyond guessing. Like the Apostle Thomas, I would never have believed if I did not see.

LOVE!

 

[Robert_Sock]

This is only speculation but I am guessing that what he saw was the something that was very good. He had a lot of writing that tried to explain the nature of God in a way humans could understand. I am guessing he was allowed to see what those in heaven see to a lesser degree.

Speculation too, but I believe that he was permitted to see this lowly world from the perspective of Heaven.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Well, Saint Thomas says that ‘secrets’ were revealed to him, in addition to saying that his writings were of ‘little value.’ It sounds to me like it was a heck of a lot more than somebody preparing for death.LOVE!

Well, I don’t know of anything more important than preparing for death.

The bottom line is that we are not told what secrets were revealed to him, so I guess your guess is as good as mine.

 

[ynotzap]

St. Thomas was called the angelic doctor because of his ability to acquire truth through rationalization especially concerning philosophy and theology, he had a deep understanding which showed the work of the Holy Spirit. In Heaven and even in ecstacy God does infuse the mind with divine truth which is so superior to that whch is aquired by . the the efforts of the human mind. Saint Thomas was reacting to the difference in value.