After being committed to the care of the Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino at the age of five, young Thomas Aquinas decided to enter the Order of St. Dominic, whose greatest glory he is. He taught philosophy and theology with such genius that he is considered one of the leading Christian thinkers. His innocence, on a par with his genius, earned for him the title of “Angelic Doctor.” St. Thomas died on March 7, 1274, and was canonized three years later. Leo XIII declared him the patron of all Catholic schools.