The major relics of St. Thomas Aquinas, including his skull, will be on display in Washington, D.C., from November 29 to November 30, 2024. Hosted by St. Dominic’s Church, the Dominican House of Studies, and the Thomistic Institute, this rare opportunity invites the faithful to venerate one of the medieval Catholic Church’s most revered theologians.
“In a time of renewed interest in the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas, the jubilees of his canonization (700 years in 2023), death (750 years in 2024), and birth (800 years in 2025) draw our attention to the masterwork of wisdom and sanctity which God wrought in him,” said Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, Assistant Director at the Thomistic Institute. “The opportunity that we have to receive and venerate his relics makes this grace all the more proximate and precious to us.”
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The visit coincides with significant anniversaries that celebrate Aquinas’ intellectual and spiritual contributions. His teachings continue to shape Catholic theology, and the relics offer a physical connection to his life and legacy, deepening the spiritual experience for the faithful.
A Sacred Encounter: The Relics and Their Journey
Among the relics is the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas, enshrined in a new reliquary at the Dominican Convent of Toulouse in 2023 to mark the 700th anniversary of his canonization. This extraordinary relic will be brought to Washington, providing an exceptional moment for reflection and prayer in the saint’s presence.
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“‘Get wisdom, get understanding’ (Proverbs 4:5). One way is to study, another way is to pray for it, but an exceptional way is to pray for it in the presence of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas,” said Fr. James Brent, OP, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Dominican House of Studies.
Schedule of Events
The relics will first be displayed at St. Dominic’s Church, 630 E St SW, Washington, DC, on Friday, November 29, 2024. Events begin with a solemn Mass at 12:10 pm, celebrated by Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington. Public veneration will follow from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm, accompanied by Solemn Vespers at 5:30 pm and Night Prayer at 6:45 pm, concluding with a Marian procession.
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the relics will move to the Dominican House of Studies. Solemn Lauds and a Votive Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas will start the day at 7:30 am, with veneration open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. At 3:00 pm, Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, will deliver a sermon to commemorate the occasion.
Born in 1225, St. Thomas Aquinas became a towering figure in Catholic theology, renowned for works such as the Summa Theologica. He died on March 7, 1274, and was canonized in 1323. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1567, his influence on faith and reason endures to this day.
Advertisement
The visit of his relics, particularly his skull, to Washington offers the Catholic faithful a profound opportunity to connect with his legacy, pray for wisdom, and reflect on his timeless teachings. After this event, the relics will also be shown at other churches in the eastern United States in December.
The major relics of St. Thomas Aquinas, including his skull, will be on display in Washington, D.C., from November 29 to November 30, 2024. Hosted by St. Dominic’s Church, the Dominican House of Studies, and the Thomistic Institute, this rare opportunity invites the faithful to venerate one of the medieval Catholic Church’s most revered theologians.
“In a time of renewed interest in the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas, the jubilees of his canonization (700 years in 2023), death (750 years in 2024), and birth (800 years in 2025) draw our attention to the masterwork of wisdom and sanctity which God wrought in him,” said Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, Assistant Director at the Thomistic Institute. “The opportunity that we have to receive and venerate his relics makes this grace all the more proximate and precious to us.”
The visit coincides with significant anniversaries that celebrate Aquinas’ intellectual and spiritual contributions. His teachings continue to shape Catholic theology, and the relics offer a physical connection to his life and legacy, deepening the spiritual experience for the faithful.
A Sacred Encounter: The Relics and Their Journey
Among the relics is the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas, enshrined in a new reliquary at the Dominican Convent of Toulouse in 2023 to mark the 700th anniversary of his canonization. This extraordinary relic will be brought to Washington, providing an exceptional moment for reflection and prayer in the saint’s presence.
“‘Get wisdom, get understanding’ (Proverbs 4:5). One way is to study, another way is to pray for it, but an exceptional way is to pray for it in the presence of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas,” said Fr. James Brent, OP, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Dominican House of Studies.
Schedule of Events
The relics will first be displayed at St. Dominic’s Church, 630 E St SW, Washington, DC, on Friday, November 29, 2024. Events begin with a solemn Mass at 12:10 pm, celebrated by Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington. Public veneration will follow from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm, accompanied by Solemn Vespers at 5:30 pm and Night Prayer at 6:45 pm, concluding with a Marian procession.
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the relics will move to the Dominican House of Studies. Solemn Lauds and a Votive Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas will start the day at 7:30 am, with veneration open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. At 3:00 pm, Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, will deliver a sermon to commemorate the occasion.
Born in 1225, St. Thomas Aquinas became a towering figure in Catholic theology, renowned for works such as the Summa Theologica. He died on March 7, 1274, and was canonized in 1323. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1567, his influence on faith and reason endures to this day.
The visit of his relics, particularly his skull, to Washington offers the Catholic faithful a profound opportunity to connect with his legacy, pray for wisdom, and reflect on his timeless teachings. After this event, the relics will also be shown at other churches in the eastern United States in December.
Top Image: Aquinas depicted in the altarpiece in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, by Carlo Crivelli (15th century)
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