827 angelic doctor every part of the earth and every region was enlightened by doctrine, virtues, and miracles.16 Now we descend to the greatest Son of the greatest Father, and we seek some certain reason by which it may be shown that Thomas Aquinas was already in the cradle designated as the Angelic Doctor. If you are favorable [to it], Learned Hearers, I shall demonstrate to you nothing other than this. For I encountered a wonder ascending beyond nature, yet not progressing beyond the virtue of Thomas, that was observed in his infancy. Which although I do not doubt to be already known by you all, I shall repeat nonetheless most briefly, so that I may be sure that your minds see the truth of what I have proposed. The nurse happened to be wrapping the tender child in soft clothes, and seeing a small piece of paper in the child’s fingers, and she wanted to take it away so that he could open his clenched fists more comfortably. The little child however would not allow and opposed and resisted. Hence, because of the heavens themselves, a most sweet fight began. The nurse pulled the little paper, the infant pulled back; she pleaded, he held on, until [his] mother called to help, took it away from the child in her caresses. And was he defeated in this way? By no means. So long with loud wailing did he pierce his mother’s heart, and so long did he cover his red cheeks with bitter tears, until the treasure taken away was restored [to him]. The mother was defeated, then, by the crying of [her] little son, and was overcome by the incredible constancy [with which] he demanded the little piece of paper, on which she saw that there was written the salutation of the Archangel to Mary. Imbued with a singular piety, she gave the paper to the crying child. You have won, little Hercules, you have won. But where will you hide the treasure returned [to you], of which you could be deprived again? The nurse is unfaithful, even if the mother is pious. What she restored, the other may take away again not to 16 Cf. Theodoricus de Appoldia [al. Apolda], Vita S. Dominici fundatoris ord. Praed. (1292).
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