Thomas Aquinas was a great theologian, an expert in the study of God and his Revelation to the world.

The Dominicans have made intellectual contributions to the Church.

Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuits, also known as the Society of Ignatius.

All baptized Christians are called to live holy lives by practicing fasting and silence every day.

Evangelical counsels are the virtues of faith, hope, and charity that help men and women live holy lives in accordance with the Gospels.

Men and women living in religious communities consecrate themselves to God by professing the evangelical counsels.

Benedictine monks serve the Church in many ways, including feeding those who are hungry, providing shelter to travelers and pilgrims, and healing those who are sick.

Saint Anthony founded Christian monasticism, a form of religious life in which men and women live out their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a stable community.

The Rule of Saint Benedict is the only rule for monastic communities.

An alternative to the fear that people felt in the Dark Ages was monastic living, where communities of monks or nuns lived together and devoted themselves to prayer and labor.

Temperance, or moderation, is the Cardinal Virtue that helps us control our attraction to pleasure so that our natural desires are kept within proper limits.

Saint Anthony grew up in a wealthy family, but he did fit in with that culture.