March 07

Born in 1225, Saint Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican priest and one of the most influential medieval philosophers. His magnum opus, the Summa Theologica, systematically integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine. He developed the concept of natural law and five proofs for the existence of God, which remain central to Catholic theology. Aquinas taught at the University of Paris and attracted a large following of students and scholars. His ideas on ethics, metaphysics, and politics laid the groundwork for Scholasticism. Canonized in 1323, he is honored as a Doctor of the Church.

Born Michelangelo dei Conti in 1655, Innocent XIII served as pope from May 1721 until his death in March 1724. His pontificate emphasized moral discipline among the clergy and efforts to address the challenges posed by Jansenism. He maintained diplomatic relations with European monarchs and upheld the rights of the Church against secular interference. Innocent XIII also worked to improve the administration of the Papal States and combat corruption. He canonized Saint Joseph of Cupertino and supported missionary activities abroad. Although his papacy was short, his commitment to ecclesiastical reform left a lasting impression on the Catholic Church.