Washington, D.C
Skull of St Thomas Aquinas arrives in US, offers rare chance to view first-class relic
The skull of St. Thomas Aquinas has begun a three-week tour of the eastern United States, offering a rare chance for Americans to view first-class relics of a 13th century saint.
“The visit of a major relic of St. Thomas Aquinas to the United States is a great blessing, and it is especially meaningful this year, when we are celebrating 750 years since the entrance of St. Thomas into heaven,” Fr. Ambrose Little, O.P., told Fox News Digital.
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Little, a Catholic priest and a Dominican friar, is the assistant director of the Thomistic Institute in Washington, D.C. The Thomistic Institute is “an academic institute of the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies,” according to its website.
The remains of St. Thomas Aquinas’ skull is housed in this special container, called a reliquary. (Courtesy Dominican Friars)
St. Thomas Aquinas was himself a member of the Dominican Order. He is revered in the Catholic Church as both a saint and as a Doctor of the Church, a special title given to those who have made major contributions to theology and doctrine.
Those who attend the events on the tour will have the chance to see Aquinas’ skull encased in a reliquary, a special container used for the storing and veneration of relics.
A first-class relic is a part of a saint’s body; a second-class relic is an item that a saint used during their life; and a third-class relic is an item that has been touched to a first- or second-class relic.
The relics are normally kept in Toulouse, France, but have been traveling through Europe for the last year as part of a celebration of milestone anniversaries in the life of the saint.
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Little acknowledged that the concept of relics might seem off-putting to some.
“For many who are not familiar with Catholic devotion to relics, (the tour of Aquinas’ skull) might seem like a macabre event,” said Little. “But it is important to remember that from the earliest days of Christianity, the bodies of the saints have been symbols of faith, hope and love.”
People had the chance to venerate a first-class relic of St. Thomas Aquinas on Nov. 29 at St. Dominic Church in Washington, D.C. (Christine Rousselle/Fox News Digital)
The bodily remains of a saint “are a reminder of life totally dedicated to the service and love of God, both physically as well as spiritually,” said Little.
“In particular, the visit of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas is also a reminder of the great gift of his saintly scholarship, which has enlightened the minds of countless millions [throughout],” he said.
Aquinas’ most famous work is the “Summa Theologica,” a complete guide to the theology of the Catholic Church.
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Those who visit the relics have a multitude of reasons for doing so, said Little, and they hope that Aquinas, “who now sees God face to face, will pray for us, and that those prayers may strengthen our own faith, hope, and love, so that we may join the Angelic Doctor in eternity among the choir of angels.”
One of the people who came to venerate the relics was Amy Sawka of Chantilly, Virginia, who visited St. Dominic Catholic Church on Nov. 29 with her family.
The skull of St. Thomas Aquinas will be on display in 10 cities in the eastern United States through Dec. 18. (Christine Rousselle/Fox News Digital)
Sawka, who told Fox News Digital she is a “homeschooling mom of five, expecting a sixth,” said she came to ask Aquinas for a spiritual boost.
“I came to ask St Thomas Aquinas for a little extra help to make the homeschool everything the children need,” she said.
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The tour began at St. Dominic Church in Washington, D.C., and continued at the Dominican House of Studies on Nov. 30. All the stops on this tour are locations administered by the Dominican friars.
The visit of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas is also a reminder of the great gift of his saintly scholarship.
After leaving D.C., the relics headed south to Charlottesville, Virginia, on Dec. 2, and then north to Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island, on Dec. 4.
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The remaining tour dates include:
Dec. 6: St. Gertrude Priory, Cincinnati
Dec. 7-8: St. Patrick Parish, Columbus, Ohio
Dec. 10: St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church, Louisville, Kentucky
Dec. 12: St. Rose Priory, Springfield, Kentucky
Dec. 14: St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church, New York City
Dec. 16: St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Philadelphia
Dec. 18: Sts. Philip and James Catholic Church, Baltimore
4 things to know about the weather:
- So Many Clouds
- Not Too Much Rain
- Milder For The Weekend
- Warmer Days Next Week
The dividing line between the 50s and the 70s is a cold front that has been wedged right down into our area by high pressure anchored over New England. East winds will bring our air off the ocean and Bay and both of those bodies of water are COLD this time of year.
Afternoon highs will stay in the 40s near the Bay, should reach the low/mid 50s near DC and could be near 60° west of Fredericksburg.
Very little sunshine today but not too much of a rain chance. Clouds, fog and 40s for all tonight.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
A developing storm over the Ohio Valley will finally begin to push that high pressure away tomorrow. Our afternoon highs will be dependent on how soon our wind can turn around to the Southwest.
Plan for a cloudy and chilly Saturday morning with a big jump in temperatures by mid-afternoon. Northern and Northeastern Maryland will remain cooler, but the rest of the area should pop above 70° for the first time this year.
The aforementioned storm will send a front through our area Saturday night. That front will bring a round of showers along with it. Showers will be likely Saturday evening and night.
The majority of that rain chance will be ending before noon on Sunday and the return of a little sun on Sunday afternoon should warm most areas to near 70° once again.
The first few days of next week will feel more like May than March. Highs on Monday should be near 75° and both Tuesday and Wednesday could top 80°. That warm pattern won’t last long, but it sure will feel good.
QuickCast
TODAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Coolest Along, East Of I-95
Isolated Showers
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 48° to 62°
TONIGHT:
Cloudy And Damp
Isolated Showers
Areas Of Fog
Wind: East 5-10 mph
Chance Of Rain: 20%
LOWS: 40° to 45°
SATURDAY:
Partly To Mostly Cloudy
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Showers
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 65° to 75°
SUNDAY:
Partly Sunny
AM: Showers Likely
PM: Dry For Most
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°
MONDAY:
Sun And Clouds
Nice And Mild
Light Breeze
Wind: Variable 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 66° to 72°
Sunrise: 6:33 Sunset: 6:06
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Grab the umbrella
- Big temperature ranges
- Thunder possible Thursday night
- Warmer days on the way
Heads up commuters! For Thursday morning, there will be some thick fog in spots with some rain possible, especially around the Mason-Dixon line. The fog should clear out by 10 a.m.
Throughout the day, some sunshine should develop with highs warming into the low 60s. Those in Northern Maryland could see some showers throughout the day but those near the D.C. area will stay relatively dry except for a stray shower or two.
Some rain and evening storms by 8 p.m. will impact the area Thursday night. Although it’s a bit unusual for this time of year, don’t be surprised if you hear thunder Thursday evening.
Warmer temperatures coming this weekend
These next few days will come with some major forecast challenges.
Much, much warmer air is just to our south and cold, high pressure is moving into New England. The front separating the 40s from the 70s will be laying right across our region for the next two to three days.
So keep in mind, when you’re looking at the forecast highs in the text below, that it will be warmest in Fredericksburg, VA and coolest in northern Maryland.
Friday’s weather will be similar as a front system remains just over the area, separating chilly air to the north and warmer air to the south. There might be a stray shower or two, too.
For the weekend, Saturday looks to be the warmer of the two days with highs in the low to mid 70s. Some rain overnight Saturday will lead to cooler temperatures on Sunday.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
THURSDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Stray Shower Possible
Big Temperature Range
Wind: Southeast 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 62° to 72°
THURSDAY NIGHT:
Cloudy And Chilly
Rain Likely
Some Thunder Possible
Wind: Northeast 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 70%
LOWS: 44° to 54°
FRIDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler For Most
Isolated Shower Or Two
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 52° to 68°
SATURDAY:
Partly Sunny
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Shower
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 66° to 78°
SUNDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler
Few Showers Possible
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°
Sunrise: 6:35 Sunset: 6:05
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. taxpayers may be confused by back-and-forth between the D.C. City Council and Congress over taxprovision. The city’s financial officer sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, that said the District’s tax laws will not change, despite recent actions by Congress.
7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy.
“The short answer is, nothing changes. Filing Season can continue as it has been, continue as planned, and according to the laws as we understood them in January,” said Husak.
“If you’ve already filed your taxes, you don’t have to change anything. And if you want to file your taxes, the rules are still the same as they were on the books before,” said Husak.
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Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s revenue estimate issued Friday does not include an estimated $180 million expected this fiscal year from the city’s decoupling law, “due to the uncertainty of the associated revenue as a result of Joint Resolution 142,” according to a released letter.
“The CFO was in a tough spot here. If he agreed with Congress, then businesses and overtime workers will get bigger refunds. But if he agreed with the Mayor and the Attorney General, then families with children and lower income workers would get bigger tax cuts,” said Husak.
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“We as District residents can’t control, you know what happens in the courts, what happens in, you know, what Congress does in the future,” said Husak. “But for now, the CFO has said, you know this is, this is a law as it stands, and the law that I’m going to enforce so, you know, file your legally obligated taxes, and maybe in the future, there’ll be a surprise.”
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW
7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy (7News).{ }
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