In a letter written in Latin, Pope Francis has recalled the legacy of Saint Thomas Aquinas, describing him as “a man of the Church,” priest and doctor who shared his “great spiritual and human wisdom” through prayers and writings. Released on 11 July, the letter announces the appointment of Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, as the Pope’s special envoy to the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the canonization of Thomas Aquinas to be marked on 18 July at the Abbey of Fossanova, in the town of Priverno, in central Italy.
“Never having an air of superiority from his knowledge, but always edified by charity,” the Dominican friar whom contemporaries already called the “Angelic Doctor” was “full of astonishing culture,” the Pope points out in the letter, which bears the date 30 June and signature at Saint John Lateran. “He wrote many works and taught countless subjects, and was well qualified in the philosophical and theological disciplines. He manifested righteous intelligence and lucidity, and while reverently investigating the divine mysteries with reason, he contemplated them with fervent faith.”
Thomistic Triennium
As he wrote in a letter to the bishops of Latina, Sora and Frosinone, Italy, last 28 June, Pope Francis recalled the Thomistic triennium in which the 750th anniversary of his death in 2024 and the eighth centenary of his birth in 2025 will be commemorated in addition to the 700th anniversary of his canonization. “With great delight of soul and spiritual joy, we have accepted the various initiatives of the Church to honor worthily the zeal of the most illustrious Doctor of Holiness and study of sacred doctrine,” the Pope writes. He adds that he accepted the request of Bishops Mariano Crociata, pastor of Latina, Terracina, Sezze, Priverno; Gerardo Antonazzo, of Sora, Cassino, Aquino, Pontecorvo; and Ambrogio Spreafico, of Frosinone, Veroli, Ferentino, and Anagni-Alatri, that a cardinal preside over the July celebration in honor of Saint Thomas and offer “words of spiritual encouragement.”
Fossanova Abbey celebration
Cardinal Semeraro will celebrate the solemn Eucharist at Fossanova Abbey, the place where the saint “fell asleep in the Lord.” “All participants at this event,” the Pope writes, “will be encouraged to show their special love for Christ and his Gospel with renewed strength and new zeal through prayer,” as well as “be ardent with the zeal of faith in daily life.”
Other events
Bishops Crociata, Antonazzo and Spreafico have given news of other celebrations to be held in conjunction with honouring their patron saint They released the informtion with the publication of the Pope’s letter, circulated among their communities, along with an invitation to use the text for “attentive reflection and inspiration.” Meetings regarding the events will be held on 11 July in Latina, while a moment of prayer is scheduled at Fossanova Abbey on Friday afternoon, 14 July. Then on 18 July at 6:30 p.m. the solemn celebration will take place with Cardinal Semeraro presiding.
