Peter's church the same day, a woman
was cured of the bloody flux by touching the hem of his garment. The
conversion of two considerable Rabbins seemed still a greater miracle.
St. Thomas had held a long conference with them at a casual meeting in
cardinal Richard's villa, and they agreed to resume it the next day. The
saint spent the foregoing night in prayer, at the foot of the altar. The
next morning these two most obstinate Jews came to him of their own
accord, not to dispute, but to embrace the faith, and were followed by
many others. In the year 1263, the Dominicans held their fortieth
general chapter in London; St. Thomas assisted at it, and obtained soon
after to be dismissed from teaching. He rejoiced to see himself reduced
to the state of a private religious man. Pope Clement IV. had {530} such
a regard for him, that, in 1265, among other ecclesiastical preferments,
he made him an offer of the archbishopric of Naples, but could not
prevail with him to accept of that or any other. The first part of his
theological Summ St. Thomas composed at Bologna: he was called thence to
Naples. Here it was that, according to Tocco and others, Dominick
Caserte beheld him, while in fervent prayer, raised from the ground, and
heard a voice from the crucifix directed to him in these words: "Thou
hast written well of me, Thomas: what recompense dost thou desire?" He
answered: "No other than thyself, O Lord."[10]

From the 6th of December, in 1273, to the 7th of March following, the
day of his death, he neither dictated nor wrote any thing on theological
matters. He from that time laid aside his studies, to fix his thoughts
and heart entirely on eternity, and to aspire with the greatest ardor
and most languishing desires to the enjoyment of God in perfect love.
Pope Gregory X. had called a general council, the second of Lyons, with
the view of extinguishing the Greek schism, and raising succors to
defend the holy land against the Saracens. The ambassadors of the
emperor Michael Palaeologus, together with the Greek prelates, were to
assist at it. The council was to meet on the 1st of May, in 1274. His
holiness, by brief directed to our saint, ordered him to repair thither,
and to prepare himself to defend the Catholic cause against the Greek
schismatics. Though indisposed, he set out from Naples about the end of
January. His dear friend, F. Reynold of Piperno, was appointed his
companion, and ordered to take care that he did not n