St Thomas High School - Aquin Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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2 el'llel'l'l el' . FATHER HIGGIN Kenneth Porche FATHER A. L. HIGGINS, C.S.B. Principal 1938-1943 Father Alfred L. Higgins served as a member of the Saint Thomas Staff for eight years during most of which he was Principal. Born in Buffalo, New York, he moved to Detroit when very young. Assumption College, Windsor, provided him with much of his early training. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in l935. His higher education was continued at the Universities of Toronto and Houston. Dark complexion and a fascinating smile helped add to an already attractive personality. Large in frame Father Higgins took part in all sports, even coaching the Basketball team in his last year here. Football, however, was his specialty, and many an hour he passed on the pigskin ground. As teacher Father Higgins had a good understanding of boys. He would walk and talk with boys and even give a friendly punch on the arm. Religion he taught both here and at lncarnate Word Academy. From him students learned that doing God's will is the all important thing in life. As Principal and Superior Father merited the friendship and esteem of all, lt has been said that he never put an order to his fellow priests, but the work of the School went on nonetheless. The Priesthood was, of course, uppermost in his thoughts. The ability almost to freeze a person to his seat at a sermon will be remembered as an outstanding characteristic of Father Higgins. Since leaving Saint Thomas our former Principal has been a Chaplain in the Air Corps of the United States Army wherein he serves both God and Country. He has wider scope now for his priestly zeal and interest.

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THE SAINT OF AQUINO August 4, I879, marks a renewal in human thought, a changing of directions. From the depths of mental bankruptcy man's thinking received a new orientation. The fool had said in his heart, There is no God. On that day one of the greatest popes of modern times issued a call for a return to the wisdom of the saint of Aquino declaring that saint Patron in heaven of all Catholic schools and commanding that his teaching be followed in all Catholic institutions of higher learning. Scarcely a score of years passed after the clarion call of Pope Leo XIII when the Basilian Fathers established our school named in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. What, then, is the story of our Patron? The story of Thomas is the story of a search for God, a search which took him through all the byways of human wisdom, through luminous paths of Grace, and to mystical union with God the Source of all wisdom and charity. Saint Thomas Aquinas was born in the Chateau of Rocca Sicca near Naples, Italy, in the year of Our Lord l225. He was a descendant of the counts of Aquino and a blood relative of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa. As was the custom of the time he was entered as an Oblate in the nearby Abbey of Monte Cassino at a tender age. Here it was that he formulated his life quest into words: What is God? The next scene in his search was the University of Naples when he was but fourteen. His father was quite agreeable that he should pursue a Church career, perhaps he would enhance the family name by becoming a renowned Abbot, but the thoughts of his son were along different lines. There was a new religious order which had made its appearance not many years previous, a collection of religious mendi- cants organized by a Spaniard, Dominic Guzman, and pledged to uproot the false teachings of certain re- ligious fanatics in southern France. Among these mendicants Thomas would continue his quest: What is God? , Parental opposition can be determined, especially when noble parents learn their son is to become, of all things, a beggar, a wandering preacher. At the age of seventeen Thomas applied for entrance to the Order of Preachers. Aware of the father's desire of high Church office for his son, the Prior put him off advising him to spend a year thinking over his voca- tion. With characteristic humility the applicant took the advice without question returning duly at the expiration of the year. By this time his father had died and Thomas received the habit of the Dominican Order in I244. A noble mother, however, was still to be con- vinced. She became party to a family plot to waylay the misled youth and return him to the ancestral estate. He escaped from his place of detention, how- ever, and took up the quest again: What is God? The Master General of the Order now sent him to Paris and its already renowned university to pursue his studies in theology. Here it was that he met his teacher, guide, and life long friend, Albert, from Swabia in Germany, who was himself to find a place on the list of saints as Saint Albert the Great. Next Thomas went with Master Albert to Cologne. Here he continued the studies he had pur- sued in Paris only now retiring more within himself, becoming more recollected, so much so that his fellow students were quite convinced of his stupidity. University wits, sharpened by philosophic study, de- vised for him the title Dumb Ox. But well aware of the family legacy of pride the young noble and saint steeped himself in all important humility and bore the taunts as penance for himself. Flashes of his brilliance appeared, however, which were recognized by Albert causing him to predict that the bellowings of this Ox would some day be heard around the world. At the age of twenty-five the title of Master was bestowed on Thomas, and he began publicly to lecture on philosophy and theology. The mysteries of the Godhead far from being comprehended now revealed new depths. Thus his query was not fully answered: What is God? Next came the busy years. Paris, Rome, Naples, Viterbo-all these were scenes of continuous intel- lectual endeavor, yet, strangely enough, his periods of prayer became longer. He openly acknowledged that the main source of his knowledge was not books and teachers but the Crucifix. His companion, Brother Reginald, testified that he often heard Thomas con- versing with the Blessed Mother and Saints Peter and Paul when confronted with a difficult problem. Into mystical love the quest beckoned, What is God? Besides numerous explanations of Greek wisdom, as exemplified by Aristotle particularly, and of the Fathers of the Church, Saint Thomas produced his monumental Summa Theologica as a fitting crown to his life's work. Here, especially, his genius comes to full blossom. Here especially one must look to find an integral blending of the best in pagan wisdom coupled with Christian revealed religion. Here Thomas does his best to answer the question: What is God? lt was a source of especial joy to Thomas to be asked by Pope Urban IV to compose the ecclesiastical Office for the feast of Corpus Christi, for it was from the Holy Eucharist particularly that he drew so much of his wisdom. The Eucharistic hymns Adoro Te and Pange, Lingua are tributes both to his devotion and to his poetic talents. From the image of the Crucified he heard the words, Well hast thou written of me Thomas, what reward wilt thou have? He answered: None other, Lord, but Thyself. Yes, for Him he had searched all his life. After this vision Thomas wrote no more. It all seemed to him now as so much straw. Now he knew more fully what God is, but found human language unable to express it. Henceforth Thomas lived only for death. Pope Gregory X asked him to attend the Council of Lyons, but he died on the way at the Monastery of Fossa Nova. The search was over, and Faith gave way to vision. The date was March 7, I274. This, then, is the story of the Patron of our school. For the students of all schools who are looking for a fellow student to follow Saint Thomas Aquinas, who is also Patron of all Catholic schools, is a shining example. Here his inspiration leads to knowledge and increased love of God, and that is the purpose of our existence.