In the winter of 1273, the great theologian Thomas Aquinas was nearing the end of his monumental work, the Summa Theologica. While praying in the Chapel of Saint Nicholas in Naples, he was observed by a fellow friar, Dominic of Caserta. As Thomas knelt before a wooden crucifix, a voice suddenly echoed through the silent stone walls. The figure of Christ upon the cross spoke clearly: 'You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward will you have from me for all your labor?' Without a moment's hesitation, the humble doctor of the church looked up and replied, 'Nil nisi te, Domine'—Nothing but you, Lord. Following this encounter, Thomas was seized by a profound mystical experience. He laid down his pen and never wrote again, telling his secretary that compared to what he had seen, all his vast writings were but straw.
The ultimate pursuit of knowledge should lead to a love for the Creator, for no earthly reward compares to the presence of the Divine.
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Questions about this story
What did the crucifix say to Saint Thomas Aquinas?
The crucifix miraculously spoke the words, 'You have written well of me, Thomas,' and asked what reward he would like for his work.
What was Thomas Aquinas's famous response to Christ?
Thomas replied, 'Nil nisi te, Domine,' which is Latin for 'Nothing but you, Lord,' indicating he desired no earthly glory.
Why did Thomas Aquinas stop writing the Summa Theologica?
After this mystical encounter and a subsequent vision during Mass, he felt that his words were like 'straw' compared to the divine truth he had glimpsed.
Where did the miracle of the speaking crucifix take place?
The event occurred in the Chapel of Saint Nicholas within the Dominican convent of San Domenico Maggiore in Naples.
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