Thomas of Chantimpré

Thomas of Cantimpré (Latin: Thomas Cantipratensis) (1201 – 15 May 1272) was a Roman Catholic medieval writer, preacher, and theologian.

Thomas was born of noble parentage at Sint-Pieters-Leeuw near Brussels, in the Duchy of Brabant in 1201; died 15 May 1272. At the age of five his education began at Liège, where he spent eleven years mastering the difficulties of the trivium and quadrivium.

At the age of sixteen he received the habit of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in the Abbey of Cantimpré (), where he was eventually elevated to the priesthood. In 1232 after fifteen years at Cantimpré, during which he was a constant source of edification to his religious brethren, he entered the Order of St. Dominic at Leuven, also in Brabant. Immediately after his profession in the following year, he was sent to Cologne to pursue the higher theological studies of the order, under the tutelage of the illustrious Albert the Great. From Cologne, where he spent four years, he went to Paris, to the Dominican studium of St. James, to perfect himself in the sciences and to prepare for the apostolate of preaching.

Returning to Leuven in 1240, he was made professor of philosophy and theology—an office he filled with rare distinction. He achieved equal success in the apostolate of preaching, in recognition of which the title of "Preacher General" was conferred upon him. His missionary activities extended throughout Brabant and into Germany, Belgium, and France.

In all, seven works are attributed to Thomas of Cantimpré, treating of philosophy, theology and hagiology:

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