Toulouse, France: Tomb of Saint Thomas Aquinas
About Saint Thomas Aquinas:
There are probably not enough superlatives to describe Saint Thomas Aquinas. He was the father of Thomism, which argued that reason is found in God. Certainly he was one of the great thinkers of the Catholic faith (he is a Doctor of the Church), sometimes called “the Aristotle of Christianity”.
About the tomb of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Toulouse:
That his tomb is here in Toulouse comes as a surprise to many and, for some reason, does not seem to be well known. His tomb is here in the Jacobin Church, because he was a member of the Dominican Order and their home was here in Toulouse.
Although somewhat plain on the outside, when you are inside you will notice the magnificent pillars in the form of palm trees. They even have mirrors on the floor, so that you can look up without straining your neck.
The skull of St. Thomas Aquinas is in a new reliquary in January 2023. The new reliquary was created by Augustin Frison-Roche and was blessed during a Mass on Jan. 27 in the church of the convent. It was then transferred to the Jacobin Convent of Toulouse for the opening Mass of the seventh centenary of the canonization of the Italian saint, theologian, and philosopher on Saturday, Jan. 28, the saint’s feast day. A procession of the relics followed the Mass.
In addition to these architectural masterpieces, the church has some beautiful stained glass windows that add even more beauty to the interior. And, of course the tomb itself is beautiful in its simplicity.
The church is constructed of red brick, which is local to the area. Over the years some damage has occurred and the city is in the process of helping to restore it, so you will find a bit of construction activity going on…..still it is well worth the visit.
The church is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The cloister (small admission fee) is one of the city’s best venues both for the aesthetics and sound. Many concerts are hosted here in the summer months.
Formerly, the Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas was celebrated on March 7, the day of his death. In 1969, Pope Paul VI issued a reformed calendar of saints’ feasts and moved that of Saint Thomas to allow Lent to retain a more penitential tone without being interrupted by the celebration of so important a Doctor of the Church. Saint Thmas Aquinas’ Feast Day was moved to January 28, the date when his relics were transferred from the Cistercian monastery of Fossanova in Italy, to the Dominican convent in here in Toulouse, France
On January 28, the Feast Day of Saint Thomas Aquinas, special celebrations are held here.
Traveling to Toulouse:
Toulouse, of course, is a major city with an international airport as well as excellent train service. Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here.
Address: Rue Lakanal, 31000 Toulouse, France
GPS coordinates: 43° 36′ 12.0924” N, 1° 26′ 27.0708” E
Tel: + 33 05 61 22 39 52
e-mail: use the contact form on their website
Click here for the official website of the Jacobin Convent in Toulouse.
