messenger of the queen of arts 102 And precisely in regard to such nonessential things —according to the opinion of the Teacher of the Nations and the successors of the apostles — one ought to number knowledge, since God makes them happy and enriches them with such knowledge, that — as experience teaches — each of them becomes more wise in the hood [of the religious habit], than he was before in the doctoral beretta. Can one in this matter produce many witnesses known in the whole world? Let there come forth to me the sun of the philosophers of all times, Albert, called on account of his great erudition, the Great. Was he not a simple and unlearned youth when they received him into the order of St. Dominic? And yet his wisdom knows no measure. Where did he obtain it? In religious life. Let there come forth the great student of this great master, the Prince of Theologians, Thomas Aquinas, whom at the beginning of religious life and discipline was named “dumb ox” and thought to be so by his classmates, but this ox bellowed so loudly through his teaching, that he filled the entire world with the not unlearned words of his great knowledge. And where did he obtain such knowledge? In religious life. Beyond the Angelic Doctor, let there come forth here the one contemporary to him and his equal in devotion and erudition, the Seraphic Doctor, St. Bonaventure. The most plentiful founts of his superhuman doctrine not only watered the Franciscan family, but even now subdue the thirst of all religious and secular academies. And where did he obtain such knowledge? In religious life. Let there come forth one more, last in order, but by no means in regard to his erudition, the most subtle knower of divine things, the so-called Subtle Doctor, the best of masters, John Duns Scotus, who competing by his attitude, his behavior and his knowledge with Bonaventure, gave to the world so many scientific works that he sparked among many a noble argument
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