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.

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

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Happy December, DC!

Embrace the holiday season this week at a number of new festivities as well as beloved seasonal events. From holiday boat parades at the Wharf and in Alexandria, to a new neighborhood-wide holiday concert in Georgetown, there are joyful experiences for everyone.

Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend

December 2–December 8

1. 1. Wharf Holiday Boat Parade & Party. Watch more than 60 decked-out boats parade across the Washington Channel. In addition to the shimmering fleet, there will be ornament decorating, letters to Santa, holiday karaoke, meet-and-greets with Santa, live music by Yani the Band, and a fireworks finale (Sat, free, Wharf).
   2. A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. If you’re a fan of iconic singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, you’ll enjoy this live narration of the rockstar’s rise to fame. The hit-packed jukebox musical arrives at National Theatre this week; viewers can clap along to popular songs like “Sweet Caroline” and “Cracklin Rosie” (Tues-Sun, $69+, National Theatre).
   3. European Union Film Showcase. The AFI’s annual showcase highlights new and contemporary films. This year’s lineup screens 54 flicks, including the Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton drama The Room Next Door, and the movie adaptation of the ’70s novel The Summer Book (Wed through December 22, $15, Silver Spring).
   4. Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. This vivid waterfront parade has been running for nearly 25 years. View the decorated sailboats and powerboats from any spot on the Old Town waterfront, or head to Waterfront Park for crafts and a Port City Brewing Company pop-up beer garden (Sat, free, Alexandria).
   5. Rigoletto. Opera admirers can see Verdi’s mid-career masterpiece as part of InSeries’ revival at the Goldman Theater DCJCC. The playful production is set under the big top, with a circus band, and a ribald new libretto by Bari Biern (Sat-sun, December 14-15, $42+, Northwest DC).
   6. Georgetown Jingle. Georgetown Glow isn’t returning this year, but there’s a new holiday event taking over the neighborhood this month. Georgetown Jingle debuts this weekend boasting 10 live holiday, jazz, pop, a cappella, and DJ music performances throughout the neighborhood. After the pop-up concerts, you can watch the St. Lucia Choir procession and sip non-alcoholic Glögg (Sat, free, Georgetown).
   7. Salaam Bombay! screening with Mira Nair. Veteran film director and activist Mira Nair delivers a lecture at National Gallery of Art ahead of a screening of her breakout Indian crime drama Salaam Bombay! (Sun, free, National Gallery of Art).

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture:

• Gilmore Girls’ Kelly Bishop chats with Dana Bash at Sixth & I about her memoir Third Gilmore Girl (Wed, $40+ for in-person ticket and book, $12 for virtual, $37 for virtual ticket and book, Downtown, virtual).
• Clear Harmonies Carolers, art, and wintry cocktails are highlights of Phillips after 5’s Winter Wonderland (Thurs, $20, Dupont).
• Find deals on your next read at the White House Historical Association’s Holiday Book Festival (Fri, free, Downtown).
• Author Jessica B. Harris of High on the Hog discusses her new Kwanzaa project at the Smithsonian (Sat, free, but registration required, Smithsonian NMAAHC).
• Browse jewelry, gourd art, and textiles at African Art Holiday Marketplace (Sat, free, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art).
• Attend the opening reception of “Journey to Self” to see visual art about self-discovery from seven artists at Homme Gallery (Sat, free, Downtown).
• Create a flower arrangement with fellow plant enthusiasts at MoCA Arlington (Sat, $45, Arlington).

Community and heritage:

• Delight in cultural cuisine, art, and goods from more than 50 embassies at The Winternational Embassy Showcase (Thurs, free, Downtown).
• Sip hot cocoa with neighbors at the Columbia Heights Tree Lighting (Fri, free, Columbia Heights).
• Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Community Day (Sat, free, but registration required, Smithsonian NMAAHC).
• Meet Native artists and browse their handmade jewelry and beadwork at Native Art Market (Sat-Sun, free, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian).

Theater and shows:

• Keegan Theatre’s An Irish Carol puts a modern Dublin twist on Dickens’s classic holiday tale (Wed through December 31, $64, Dupont).
• A Swingin’ Little Christmas is a comedy-cabaret packed with musical classics from the ’50s and ’60s (Wed, $28+, Bethesda).
• Philadelphia’s BalletX arrives in DC for a four-day contemporary dance showcase (Wed-Sat, $40+, Kennedy Center).
• Grammy Award-winner Patrick Page stars in All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain (Fri through December 29, $39+, Downtown).
• Join a live Hamilton Sing-Along at Penn Social (Sat, $17+, Penn Quarter).

Music and concerts:

• Don your ugly holiday sweater and listen to National Symphony Orchestra play seasonal tunes at the Anthem (Wed, $25+, Wharf).
• Veterans and service members can snag tickets to a complimentary holiday concert featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and Broadway’s Jessica Vosk (Thurs, free, Kennedy Center).
• EDM DJ Tiësto spins electric hits at Echostage (Thurs-Fri, $65+, Langdon).
• Underground Richmond rapper Nettspend brings his hype rhymes to the Fillmore (Fri, $41+, Silver Spring).
• The Folger Consort performs carols in A Mass for Christmas Eve (Fri through December 15, $20+, Capitol Hill).
• DC native Billy Woods raps live at Union Stage (Sun, $25+, Wharf).

Get involved:

• Shop books on DC housing at Solid State Books to help raise funds for Everyone Home DC (Tues, free, H Street Corridor).
• Put your barista skills to the test for a good cause. Proceeds from this latte art-making competition will support the Sexual Violence Protection Association (Tues, free to attend, $5 for participants, Columbia Heights).

Budget-friendly:

Things to do with kids:

• See outdoor illuminations and zoom down the eight-lane Penguin Plunge at Winter City Lights (through December 29, $27 for adults, $23 for seniors $18 for ages 4-12, Olney).
• Kids can take a train ride through Met Park, and capture memories with Santa at The Lodge (Sat, free, Arlington).
• Youngsters can play in a bounce house, drink hot chocolate, and decorate stockings at Jingle Bell Bash (Sat, free, Tysons).

If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.