Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel
The Exterior
At Thomas Aquinas College, young men and women engage with
their teachers in the pursuit of Christian Wisdom, prior to
commencing their life's work. The College is, therefore, focused
inward upon that common life of mind and spirit which has
as its center the academic quadrangle. Continuity is fundamental
to that common life-continuity with the intellectual and spiritual
heritage of our civilization. The student at Thomas Aquinas
College claims his inheritance from the inside by reading,
analyzing and discussing the works which both produced that
civilization and were produced by it.
The architecture of the campus, and particularly that of
the buildings on the academic quadrangle, reflects this continuity
with the whole of western, Christian civilization. Not only
do the buildings harmonize with each other, they spring from
the architectural traditions of that civilization. The Chapel,
in particular, draws upon the California Missions as well
as many of the great Romanesque churches of Christendom. It
provides, therefore, an appropriate setting for the spiritual
and sacramental life of the College.
In its tower, three great bells are hung to ring out the
Angelus each day. At the top of the tower gleams a golden
cross, a sign to all of the sacred place that lies below.
The dome, rising above the crossing of the transept and the
nave, symbolizes continuity with the Mother Church, St. Peter's
Basilica in Rome.
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