St. Thomas Aquinas’ Relic (his skull!) Carried in Procession for 750th Anniversary of His Death; The medieval philosopher and theologian widely considered one of the greatest thinkers in Western civilization died on March 7, 1274.

National Catholic Register ^ | March 7, 2024 | Courtney Mares

[DoodleBob]

On the eve of the 750th anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas’ death, a skull revered as a relic of St. Thomas Aquinas was carried in a solemn procession through the cobblestone streets of the southern Italian town of Priverno.

Bishop Mariano Crociata led the procession to honor the medieval philosopher and theologian widely considered one of the greatest thinkers in Western civilization, who died in the nearby Fossanova Abbey on March 7, 1274.

The procession of the purported skull of St. Thomas Aquinas in Priverno, Italy, March 7. | Daniel Ibanez/CNA

The relic has been venerated in the town’s 12th-century cathedral since it was found in the altar of nearby Fossanova Abbey in 1585 with notarized documents indicating that it was the skull of the “Angelic Doctor.”

….

Three months before he died, Aquinas experienced an intense revelation while offering Mass when he was nearly finished with his most significant work, the Summa Theologiae or “Summary of Theology.” After experiencing this revelation, Aquinas told his friend and secretary, Brother Reginald of Priverno: “The end of my labors has come. All that I have written appears to be as so much straw after the things that have been revealed to me,” and he never wrote again.

Aquinas’ body was kept in Fossanova Abbey until 1369, when his relics were moved to Toulouse, France, where the Order of Preachers was founded and where Aquinas’ tomb can be venerated today in the Church of the Jacobins.

The skull in Priverno is one of two skulls currently claimed by Church officials as the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas.

[Cold_Red_Steel]

I’m going to curse anyone who digs me up and parades me around.

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I want my skull held up on a stick so I can see everything!

[StAnDeliver]

"It's more than a little grotesque. They should be resting in peace in their proper place, not paraded about.

I'm not anti-Catholic but this kind of thing really mystifies me."

Mostly an Italian thing. Keep in mind the Papal States at one point was a state of conquest, a mid-Italy kingdom. Ceremonies like this kept the people reminded of what they were fighting for ie, don't let Aquinas fall into the hands of the barbarians. Priverno was a fairly important 'southern' city in the Papal states.

[Texas_Guy]

That’s bilocation. It’s a documented miracle that some saints are granted.

As for relics here is why they are important:

https://www.catholic.com/qa/is-veneration-of-relics-condemned-by-the-bible

[Bayard]

Catholics have a strong understanding of sacraments and sacramentals. When a person has been baptized we believe that person is a living temple of the Holy Spirit. Ergo, the remains of such individuals are consecrated and therefore the remains of a holy person. We don’t believe in a kind of duelistic mindset as if spirit and body are distinctly complete in themselves.

A Saint is especially venerated as holy, since even though their spirit exists in heaven, they are still also present in their remains. Hence what is venerated is not a shell but the corrupted elements which will become the resurrected saint one day.

[ealgeone]

They believe these dead bones can heal people.