Because of his strong work in Cologne, the archbishop Conrad of Hochstaden elevated Aquinas to the priesthood in 1250. In 1248 the pair traveled to Cologne, Italy, where Aquinas began to teach under Magnus as a Bachelor professor. Immediately thereafter, Aquinas was sent to Paris to study under Albertus Magnus, a famous Dominican scientist, theologian, and philosopher. It is also estimated that he officially received his Master’s in the Arts from the University of Naples around this time.

After his mother and siblings noted his devotion to the Church evidenced by his daily studies and constant writing (not to mention his dismissal of concubines), they relented and allowed him to take his vows with the Dominicans around 1245. To prevent Aquinas from following through with his plan, his family held him captive in the San Giovanni fortress in Rocca Secca, Italy, for nearly two years. His desire for the holy life shocked and upset his family, who lamented his choice of a poor lifestyle devoted to service. After receiving his formative education in Montecassino and Naples, Italy, Aquinas joined the order of the Dominicans. Born in Naples, Italy, around 1225 (scholars debate the exact year of many of his life events) to wealthy nobility, Thomas Aquinas quickly proved himself a pious and astute scholar with an insatiable desire for logic and understanding. Thomas Aquinas also published an opinion on the moral status of embryos andĬatholic Church's current standpoint on the matter. Roman Catholic Church’s body of doctrine, St.

Aquinas summa theologica