During the years of his theological maturity, from 1269 to 1272, St. Thomas Aquinas was called to Paris to resolve the complicated question of the nature of the Eucharistic Sacrament. Before St. Thomas started his dissertation, he went in church to pray and then finally wrote the actual text.
Once the exhibit was concluded, St. Thomas returned to church and that is when Our Lord Jesus appeared to him to confirm the righteousness of his writings.
During his second tenure as professor in Paris, St. Thomas found himself in the middle of a dispute taking place among the professors at the Sorbonne University in regard to the Eucharistic sacrament.
The dispute was about two points: a) if the senses perceive the presence of the so-called "accident," aside the color, taste, durability and quantity, it would be the concrete extension of the true and real Eucharistic Bread and Wine; b) faith confirms that in the sacrament exists the body and blood of Christ, which is an apparent contrast with the former theory.
Parisian theologians were clearly divided between the objective theory and the vague faith. They decided to ask St. Thomas because they already had the opportunity of experiencing his philosophical acuity.
They asked him to offer and communicate his opinion, in that his theological wisdom would become the rule to follow.
Thomas then, as he usually did, retreated himself to prayer and contemplation and started to pray with great fervor and devotion. Soon after, he quickly jotted down in writing the least amount of words with the most precise clarity possible, what his mind was able to understand and what the Lord inspired him to write.
He returned in church, went to the altar and laid down his written answers under the cross of the Crucifix and prayed. "Our Lord Jesus, actually and forever present in this Blessed Sacrament, I am asking You to help me understand Your truth and to be able to reach and confer it without any possibility of errors.
So, I concede to You, Oh Lord, to concede me this grace: If the things that I wrote about You and with Your blessing are true, make it possible for me to say and teach them publicly.
If, instead, I have written something that is not in tune to the truth revealed and alien to the mystery of the sacrament, wipe me from inferring anything that could deviate from the Catholic faith.
This was the humble prayer of the theologian who understands that he is dealing with things much higher than himself and that he has a grave responsibility towards his people. Father Reginaldo, his secretary, and other brethren were fortunate enough to observe St.
Thomas while in deep prayer, when suddenly Christ appeared and mentioned towards his writings and said: "You wrote well about the sacrament of my Body and you wrote well and according to truth; you also have resolved the question that was posed to you.
This understanding of the truth defines and holds true, as long as man is present on earth." Having heard this, Thomas was filled with joy and thanksgiving, and prostrated himself and knelt down at the altar in front of our Lord.