Perhaps you’re a bit daunted about studying the work of St. Thomas Aquinas, a doctor of the Church known for his keen intellect. To honor his Jan. 28 feast day, check out one of many resources that make his teachings easy to grasp. TAN Books’ release, “The Traditional Virtues According to St. Thomas Aquinas: A Study for Men,” offers rich content you may want to peruse, especially before attending the similarly themed Catholic Men’s Conference on Feb. 10 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte. Other Aquinas-related titles from TAN Books include a book for children, “St. Thomas Aquinas: The Story of the Dumb Ox” as well as the nine-day “Marian Consecration with Aquinas” and “A Tour of the Summa.”
Candlemas, or the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is coming Feb. 2. On this day, Catholics celebrate Christ as the Light of the World. In the Canticle of Simeon, he prays, “Now dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, in peace, according to Thy word: For mine own eyes hath seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared in the sight of all the peoples, A light to reveal Thee to the nations and the glory of Thy people Israel.” In this spirit, we can pray that we, too, can readily recognize Christ’s light and spread it to others. Candles give a physical representation of this and are blessed before Mass on Candlemas. You can purchase them at online retailers such as www.stjudeshop.com, or make your own. Four easy candle-making techniques can be found at www.artofhomeschooling.com.