The Abbey of Fossa Nova, consecrated in 1209, is one of the greatest examples of Italian Cistercian Gothic architecture. Located 120 kilometers south of Rome, today it is the heart of a parish entrusted by the Diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno to the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word.
In this locality the Dominican theologian born approximately in 1224 in the Italian city of Roccasecca, who astonished Europe and the Sorbonne -and still does- for his brilliant theology, "stayed at the request of the abbot, spending his last moments when he was on his way to a council in the city of Lion", explained to Omnes one of the priests assigned there, Marcelo Navarro.
At the beginning of the Mass, Cardinal Parolin said: "I bring you the greetings and blessing of Pope Francis who joins us in prayer on this particular occasion". Therefore, after the celebration OMNES had the opportunity to ask the Vatican's number two about this wish of the Successor of Peter.
"He had already written - the purpurate explained - a beautiful letter on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the canonization, expressing all his admiration for this great saint, for his wisdom, for his defense and promotion of doctrine and for his capacity for evangelization."
The Italian cardinal added that "the Pope, in line with the Evangelii Gaudium and with the issue of Church on the way outHe feels particularly close to St. Thomas Aquinas".
The Mass was concelebrated by Cardinal Peter Turkson, Bishop Mariano Crociata of the diocese and about 75 priests with the participation of the Polyphonic Choir of Cisterna.
In his homily Cardinal Parolin defined as "truly formidable the legacy that St. Thomas Aquinas has left us", because it is "a philosophical, theological, spiritual and pastoral legacy, the legacy of an entirely holy existence, a living and fruitful patrimony".
"We are all called," the cardinal urged, "even if in different ways, to be disciples of Master Thomas and followers of his path of holiness, because, as Pope Francis emphasized in the letter already cited, his legacy is his holiness.
The Vatican Secretary of State concluded his homily by considering that: "the holy person is not simply one who does things according to the rules, but a person in love with God, and transported by that love becomes like the Lord". The choir of the "Associazione Polifonica Pontina" sang 'Adoro te devote' at the end of the celebration, one of the five Eucharistic hymns composed in 1264 by Doctor Angelico, on the occasion of Corpus Domine, commissioned by Pope Urban IV.
"If I may make a confession," said Cardinal Parolin addressing the audience in an out of program, "during this whole celebration I felt very small, small inside before the majesty and beauty and simplicity of this temple, small inside because of the holiness and wisdom of Thomas Aquinas," urging those present to "receive this legacy and make it bear fruit.
As part of the commemoration, the day before at the Santa Maria Annunziata co-cathedral, Bishop Mariano Crociata had celebrated a Mass followed by a procession with the relics of the saint through the streets of the center of the city of Priverno.
For its part, the Municipality of Priverno, together with the diocese and the Cultural Assets, organized a series of initiatives from March 1, such as the paintings and sculptures of Armando Giordani on the life of the saint, or two pilgrimages between art and nature from the castle of Maenza to the Abbey of Fossanova - the last road traveled by St. Thomas - guided by the association "Sentiere Nord Sud" and "Il Gruppo dei Dodici".
