A Pilgrimage to Monte Cassino and Aquino

On Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, following the annual celebration of St. Thomas Aquinas 28^th February—patron of our Faculty of Theology—the theology seminarians, together with the entire faculty, embarked on a meaningful pilgrimage to two places deeply connected to the life of the Angelic Doctor: the town of Aquino and the Abbey of Monte Cassino.

Our first stop was the Church of Santa Maria della Libera, where we had the grace of venerating the relics of St. Thomas. Shortly afterward, we celebrated the Holy Mass and visited the family home traditionally regarded as his birthplace. Joined by the mayor, we invoked the intercession of St. Thomas and prayed the Angelus, concluding the visit with a joyful group photo. The pilgrimage then continued to the historic Abbey of Monte Cassino. There, alongside the monks, we prayed the Liturgy of the Hours near the tombs of Saints Benedict and Scholastica. The day concluded with a guided visit of the Cell of St. Benedict, the ancient areas of the monastery, and the abbey museum. This pilgrimage offered us not only a deeper encounter with the spiritual heritage of St. Thomas Aquinas, but also a renewed appreciation for the monastic roots that shaped his life and thought.