831 angelic doctor [Thomas], the great lover of purity, did not fall to a beauty nearly miraculous, and [fighting] in the arena did not surrender [his] palm before all the strength of Styx. Let the ancient days not glory in their Alexander of Macedon, because he won a greater victory over himself than over Darius, when he refused to shamelessly touch any of the captive women, although they were royal and beautiful.29 This Alexander distinguished himself once, not always. But our Angel, more constant than any Alexander, stands forth perpetually as a victor over himself; never corrupted, never stained. And so, shall we not approve the name of Angelic Doctor for one who thus vowed the angelic virtue to God, so that he might preserve [it]; he thus defended it, so that he might conquer; and gave to all fighting in this arena the method of overcoming the enemy, by which alone that enemy is able to be overcome? Thomas taught of course to conquer fire with fire; he taught that Venus fears nothing more than flames; he taught that constancy is needed in defending chastity, and that in this matter constancy alone shall be awarded the crown. Wherefore, the heavenly [spirits] offer to him, the angelic wrestler, a belt with which they girded his chaste loins as he rested after the fight.30 And we rightly confess that the laurel was justly awarded to the Angelic Doctor as the champion of the angelic virtue and its teacher for all those who desire it. Let us proceed from virtue to wisdom, from chastity to doctrine, which being entirely angelic, made our Doctor Angelic. Truly, not only shall we say this, but also prove [it]. Since in this matter I am giving an argument, I entreat you to try to understand it, as far as your education allows. I consider everything, Learned Hearers, which exceeds the order or powers of nature and for that reason is called miraculous, to be an angelic work. Are we amazed that the prayers of the fierce leader Joshua stopped the course of the sun?31 An 29 Plutarchus, op. cit., 327 (s.v. Alexander). 30 Cf. BR, p. 1045. 31 Cf. Josh 10:12-14.
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