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Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel

A Church that Teaches

• The Name
• The Blessings
• The Four Marks
• The Exterior
• The Nave
• The Dome
• The Transepts
• The Sanctuary
• The Tabernacle
• In Thanksgiving

The Name

	"The dedication of the Chapel to Our Lady acknowledges her essential role in God's plan for our salvation and the Church's filial love for her as our mother." - His Eminence Justin Caridnal Rigali Archbishop of Philadelphia February 2, 2009

The entire Thomas Aquinas College curriculum is ordered toward the queen of the sciences, theology, and in a special way to the works of the Church's premier theologian and Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas. Similarly, all of St. Thomas' theology aims ultimately at the highest object of contemplation, the Triune God, the study of Whom is among the last to be taken up by students at the College.

In this enterprise, the Blessed Mother is our model. As Pope John Paul II observed in his encyclical Fides et Ratio, Mary's life is a "true parable," illuminating the connection between faith and reason: "For between the vocation of the Blessed Virgin and the vocation of true philosophy there is a deep harmony."

So it is that the Chapel is dedicated to Our Lady in her unique relation to the Trinity - the perfect daughter of the Father, the most admirable mother of the Son, the dearest spouse of the Holy Spirit. The name Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel pays homage to the Triune God we worship and to the Blessed Mother whom we strive to emulate.

Presiding majestically over Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel is an 8-foot, marble statue of the Woman of the Apocalypse. The statue is held aloft by the Chapel's pediment, which, triangular in shape, suggests the Holy Trinity. The pediment bears a relief of the Thomas Aquinas College crest, supported on either side by angels. Etched just below is St. John's description of the Woman of the Apocalypse: et signum magnum apparuit in caelo mulier amicta sole et luna sub pedibus eius et in capite eius corona stellarum duodecim, "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Rev. 12:1). Above the archway appears, in Latin, the name of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel: domina nostra sanctissimae trinitatis.

The Blessings

In 2003, His Holiness Pope John Paul II blessed the architectural plans for Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, as did His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. Two years later, Pope Benedict also blessed the Chapel's cornerstone. These blessings, which took place at St. Peter's Basilica, signify Thomas Aquinas College's commitment to remaining loyal to the Holy Father and faithful to the teaching Church.

As an expression of gratitude, the College has inlaid the coat of arms of Pope John Paul II, under whose pontificate the building was designed, in the marble floor of the Chapel's central aisle, just inside the main entrance. At the other end of the nave, just outside the sanctuary, lies the coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI, under whose pontificate the Chapel was constructed.

"To have the Holy Father, the successor of St. Peter, bless the cornerstone of the College Chapel right there over the grave of St. Peter in Rome — and this stone will be brought back and inserted in a prominent place in the College Chapel building — this builds up our faith." — His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments September 3, 2008

Thomas Aquinas College President Dr. Thomas E. Dillon and his wife, Terri, present plans for Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel to Pope John Paul II on April 23, 2003.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI blesses the Chapel's cornerstone on September 3, 2008.

The coats of arms and papal mottos of the late Pope John Paul II (left) and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (right) are inlaid in the marble in the main aisle of the Chapel, one at each end.
The Latin inscription on the cornerstone translates as "For the Greater Glory of God and the Blessed Virgin Mary" and includes the year of its blessing, A.D. 2008. The bronze Thomas Aquinas College crest seals a compartment within the stone for holding scrolls listing the names of the College's benefactors, governors, students, faculty, alumni, and other friends. These scrolls, too, were blessed by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, as they were laid alongside the cornerstone at the blessing ceremony.

The Four Marks

From its inception, the vision for Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel has been predicated upon four distinguishing marks: beauty, which disposes us to what is true and good; grandeur, which lifts the mind to contemplate God's transcendence; permanence, which reminds us that God's word is everlasting; and tradition, which connects us to the wisdom of the past.

Beauty: Inspired by the flooring in several of Europe's most magnificent churches, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's marble floor is exquisitely arrayed in an intricate pattern.

Grandeur: From the sanctuary one can see the clerestory, where the arched windows fill the building with warm, natural light.

Permanence: Concealed within the Chapel's marble columns are 31-foot-high steel beams, and behind its limestone façade is a skeleton of steel, concrete, and rebar strong enough to stand up to California's seismic uncertainties. Yet the marble and limestone are themselves also enduring materials, meant to demonstrate, albeit beautifully, that this is a building constructed to withstand the wear of ages.

Tradition: Drawing upon two millennia of Catholic architecture, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel embraces the Church's Early Christian, Renaissance, and Spanish Mission heritage. The quatrefoil window in the Chapel's façade, for example, is a common element in Mission architecture.

The Exterior

The Chapel's cruciform shape resembles the crucified Christ. The sanctuary represents Our Lord's sacred head, the transept His arms outstretched on the cross, and the nave His body.

Positioned at the head of the academic quadrangle, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel reflects the vital role that faith plays in Thomas Aquinas College's primary activity — the pursuit of wisdom. As a sign that the Chapel is the most important building on campus, the Chapel is larger and taller than any other structure, and incorporates more elaborate architectural features as well as finer construction materials.

Our Lady of New York (below) is a gift of the Honorable William P. Clark, a longtime friend of the College who has served as co-chairman of its Comprehensive Campaign. The statue is a replica of one that appears in Manhattan's St. Patrick's Cathedral and is a fitting reminder of Thomas Aquinas College's warm, longstanding relationship with the Archdiocese of New York. The late John Cardinal O'Connor was the College's Commencement Speaker in 1989 and the Keynote Speaker at its 25^th Anniversary Dinner in 1996. Two of the College's alumni now serve as priests in the Archdiocese of New York, which is also home to many of Thomas Aquinas College's students and governors, both past and present.

For 12 years, Our Lady of New York has watched over the site of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel after the Chapel grounds were blessed in 1996.

The location of the Chapel and its arcade allows for a series of adjoining, terraced gardens, which provide quiet places for students to pray, study, or relax.

	Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's 135-foot-high bell tower rings out the Angelus three times each day, evoking California's Mission history. It has three tiers that house three bells, symbolic of the Triune God. At the top of the tower rests an iron cross, a sign to all of the sacred place that lies below. As Providence would have it, the top-most tier and the cross were hoisted into place on September 14, 2007 — the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
	"Its bell tower will be an exclamation point or a kind of lighthouse for the entire campus, indicating that the search for wisdom is basic to this academic community." - His Eminence J. Francis Cardinal Stafford Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Peneitentiary Thomas Aquinas College Commencement Address May 17, 2008

The dome, rising 89 feet above the crossing of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's transept and nave, symbolizes continuity with Rome. It is capped by a 16-foot lantern, atop which rests a 10-foot gilded cross. The dome's 12 windows represent the 12 Apostles.

The Chapel's front façade is seen as a porta coeli, or "gate of heaven," with a triumphal archway through which the faithful enter. The porta coeli is a gift of Thomas Aquinas College parents, past and present.

The Doctors

Flanking the Chapel's central archway are niches with two saintly mentors, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. These sculptures call to mind the College's classical curriculum, which culminates in the works of the Church's two greatest theologians, who are called "doctors" from the Latin verb docere, to teach.

St. Augustine's teaching pose represents the active life, with his right hand clutching a book and his left pointing outward. St. Thomas' pose, conversely, represents the contemplative life, with his gaze lifted heavenward and rosary beads hanging by his left side. Since both doctors were active as well as contemplative, their respective poses could easily have been reversed. Taken together, they speak to the need for both good works and contemplation in the life of the Christian.

Left: St. Augustine is shown with a bishop's mitre at his feet and a burning heart on his chest, symbolizing his ardent love of God. He stands atop a pedestal bearing the words doctor gratiae (Doctor of Grace). Appearing above St. Augustine's statue is a marble tondo, or circular relief, with a white dove representing the Holy Spirit's inspiration. Right: St. Thomas Aquinas is depicted holding an open book, with a quill in his right hand, signifying the transmission of his wisdom through his writings. On his chest is the sun, to which Pope Leo XIII once likened St. Thomas because "he heated the world with the warmth of his virtues and filled it with the splendor of his teaching." Below, the inscription reads doctor communis (Common Doctor), referring to his role as the premier and universal teacher of the Church. The tondo above St. Thomas features a gold solar monstrance, reflecting his great devotion to our Eucharistic Lord.

The Loggia

The barrel-vaulted loggia is located between the stone arch of the front façade and the great bronze doors of the Chapel. A buffer between the hustle and bustle of the academic quadrangle and the solemn quiet within the Chapel, the loggia will house a plaque commemorating the many generous benefactors who have helped to make Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel a reality.

Passing from the loggia into the nave, one sees above the Chapel's bronze doors a bas relief of Our Lady at her Coronation, surrounded by the three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity.

The relief also depicts four saints known for their devotion to Our Lady: On the far left, St. Dominic prays beside a lily, symbolizing his chastity. Beside him stands St. Bernard of Clairvaux with a beehive at his feet, signifying his eloquence. (St. Bernard's words, tradition tells us, were sweeter than honey.) To the right of God the Father is St. Cyril of Alexandria, a Doctor of the Church, depicted with his papal mitre and a Bible. (At the Council of Ephesus in 431, St. Cyril passionately and successfully defended the use of the title Theotokos, or Mother of God, for Our Lady.) On the far right kneels St. Louis de Montfort, holding a cross as a symbol of his devotion to the Lord.

Just below the relief is the inscription hic domus dei est et porta coeli - "This is a house of God and gate of heaven," the words that Jacob uttered upon awaking from his heavenly dream, when he vowed to build a temple to God on the very spot where he had slept (Gen. 28:17).

The Nave

Modeled after those in early Christian basilicas, the nave of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel is relatively narrow yet dramatically high. This configuration emphasizes the prominence of the altar and tabernacle and the transcendence of God. On either side of the nave are seven arches, which symbolize the seven sacraments, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven dolors of the Blessed Mother, her seven joys, and the three theological and four natural virtues.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's vaulted ceiling magnifies the elevation of the nave and represents the vault of heaven. The Chapel's windows are translucent, allowing the building to be filled with the sun's radiance, reminding us of the light of heaven. A wide blue, marbleized band, honoring the Blessed Mother, lines the clerestory.

Above the interior of the Chapel's main doors is a statue of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, flanked by two angels. Below is the inscription quodcumque dixerit vobis facite, the instruction the Blessed Mother gave to the wedding servers in Cana: "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5).

The seven arches on each side of the nave together provide ideal framing for the 14 travertine Stations of the Cross that line the Chapel's side aisles. Each Station is an ornate, rectangular relief vividly recounting a scene from Our Lord's passion and death. Member Emeritus of the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors Ed Mills rescued these 90-year-old Stations in 1996 from a decommissioned church in Milwaukee. The church's name - "St. Thomas Aquinas."

The Chapel's confessionals are made from the same mahogany as its pews and ambo. Above the north confessional is the inscription quorum remiseritis peccata remittuntur eis, "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them" (John 20:23). The inscription above the south confessional reads venite ad me omnes et ego reficiam vos, "Come to me all you (who labor and are burdened), and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28).

Like those in many of the great churches of Europe, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's pews lack the heavy ends that are more common in American churches. They also have an open back, giving greater visibility to the Chapel's marble floor.

The Dome

	"The faculty, staff and students, as well as the benefactors of the College, should be justifiably proud of the magnificent edifce that has been built for the glory of God, and as an enduring symbol of the heart and soul of Thomas Aquinas College." - His Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino President of the Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace February 4, 2009

The Evangelists

"In front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. . . . Day and night without ceasing they sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.'"

Christian tradition has long associated the four evangelists with the four "living creatures" that surround God's throne in the Book of Revelation. In Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, each of the four Gospel writers is depicted with his traditional symbol on the pendentives that sustain the dome, just as the four Gospels sustain the Church.

St. Mark is shown as a lion, as his Gospel begins with St. John the Baptist, whose booming voice in the wilderness was like that of a roaring lion (Mark 1:2-8). Often regarded as a symbol of monarchy and courage, the lion also represents Christ's kingship as well as His bold command at the conclusion of St. Mark's Gospel to "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15).

St. Luke is shown as an ox, as his Gospel both begins and ends in the Temple of Jerusalem, where the priest would sacrifice oxen and other animals. The symbol also speaks to the sacrifice of Christ and His royal priesthood.

St. Matthew is shown with a human face, as his Gospel begins with Christ's human genealogy (Matt. 1:1-17), representing both Our Lord's Incarnation and His human nature.

St. John is shown as an eagle, as His Gospel begins with a soaring hymn to Christ, the Incarnate Logos (John 1:1-18). The eagle also represents Our Lord's Ascension and His divine nature.

Encircling the interior of the dome are the words the Archangel Gabriel spoke to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation: spiritus sanctus superveniet in te et virtus altissimi obumbrabit tibi quod enim ex te nascetur sanctum vocabitur filius dei, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

The Transepts

The pilasters that encase the northern and southern shrines in the transepts of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel are made from Turkish Rosso Laguna marble. This is the same kind of stone from which the altar in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles was fashioned, signifying Thomas Aquinas College's loyalty to the seat of the Archdiocese and its bishop.

The transepts' four shrines contain replicas of classical paintings of key moments in Salvation or Church History. (See photos on the following page.) In the two shrines beside the sanctuary are paintings that either portray or symbolize the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. To the south is the Annunciation, with the infant Jesus descending from God the Father in the presence of a dove, representative of the Holy Spirit. To the north is St. John's baptism of the Lord, with "the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him," and the Father's voice coming down from above (Mark 1:9-11).

The painting in the northernmost shrine recounts the temptation of St. Thomas Aquinas and is located on the side of the building that, appropriately, faces St. Thomas Hall. The painting recalls the story of how Thomas' brothers, angry over his entering the Dominican Order, hired a temptress in an effort to defile his purity. She is shown fleeing after St. Thomas has rebuked her, while angels bind him with the girdle of chastity.

Finally, the art in the Chapel's southernmost shrine depicts St. Teresa of Avila - a Doctor of the Church known for her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament - receiving Holy Communion. It hangs on the wall that separates the Chapel from the prayer garden outside, where there stands a statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who chose St. Teresa as her patroness and namesake.

The Shrines
	"The Annunciation with God the Father" (1615-1620) by Jacopo Palma il Giovane (1548-1628)		"Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist" (1698) by Carlo Maratta (1625-1713)
	"The Temptation of St. Thomas Aquinas." (1631-1632) by Diego Velázquez (1599-1660)		"Teresa of Avila Receiving Communion" (1683) by Livio Mehus (1630-1691)

The Sanctuary

"The completion of the Chapel marks an important moment in the life of the College, and I am confident that it will become a true spiritual home for students and faculty." - His Eminence William J. Cardinal Levada Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith January 21, 2009

A baldacchino is a permanent canopy made of wood, stone, or metal that rises over free-standing altars to show their importance. While medieval in origin, the notion of a baldacchino harkens back to the tent that Yahweh commanded the Israelites to erect over the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25-27). The baldacchino's bronze, Solomonic columns reference the Temple of Jerusalem and are reminiscent of Bernini's Baroque masterpiece in St. Peter's Basilica, thus testifying to the College's fidelity to Rome.

Like the Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's baldacchino is surmounted by golden cherubim (Ex. 25: 18-21), who are depicted bearing grapes and wheat, symbols of the Holy Eucharist. Above the structure is an exalted gold crucifix - an image of the Crucified King, Who is made present in the sacrifice that takes place on the altar below. The baldacchino is a gift of the alumni of Thomas Aquinas College.

Extending around the sanctuary is a white, marble altar rail supported with coral-hued, marble balusters. The rail will be separated at the transept by a bronze gate bearing the Greek signs of the Alpha and the Omega, which together represent the eternal God.

When lighted, a sanctuary lamp is the outward sign of a church's holiness, announcing to all who enter that the Eucharistic Lord is present in the tabernacle, and as such, these are sacred grounds.

Adjacent to the sanctuary is the sacristy of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, where a replica of "Abraham's Sacrifice of Isaac" (1636) by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606 - 1669) hangs above a small altar. The painting portrays an angel of the Lord staying Abraham's hand, thus preventing the patriarch from giving up his only begotten son, a prefiguring of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary (Gen. 22:1-18).

Inlaid in the sanctuary's marble floor between the altar and the tabernacle is a compass rose, a medieval navigational tool which takes its name from the flower it resembles, the rose - a symbol of the Blessed Mother.

	Five crosses have been carved into the top of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's marble altar and then finished with gold leaf. The back of the altar contains a compartment built to house a first-class relic of the College's patron, St. Thomas Aquinas.

The Tabernacle

The tabernacle is the heart and soul of a Catholic church. It is the dwelling place of the Blessed Sacrament, where Our Lord abides, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

In light of the tabernacle's extraordinary purpose, it shares with the altar the most honored location in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. Situated on the Chapel's central axis, the tabernacle rests atop a five-foot-high, ornate, marble pedestal so as to be visible above the altar. Its gold edging and dome, topped with a foot-high statue of the Risen Christ, make it stand out against the sanctuary's white wall.

The tabernacle's gold arched door, measuring 8 inches wide by 12 inches high, depicts six scenes from the life of Christ. Inscribed below the dome, in gold, are Our Lord's words of consecration: hoc est enim corpus meum, "This is My Body" (Matt. 26:26).

The tabernacle's interior is fittingly august, with gold walls. Engraved on the inside of the door is an angel bearing a scroll that contains the opening lines of St. Thomas Aquinas' paean to the Holy Eucharist, Panis Angelicus. With mirrors for a floor and ceiling, the inside of the tabernacle creates the impression of an eternal, gold shaft uniting heaven and earth, just as the Eucharistic Lord bridges the eternal gap between God and man.

Longtime friends of the College Carol and John Saeman donated the funds for the tabernacle in honor of a dear friend of theirs - and of the College - Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Cardinal Arinze was Thomas Aquinas College's Commencement speaker in 2004.

In Thanksigiving

We give thanks to God always for all of you,
making mention of you in our prayers;
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith
and labor of love and steadfastness of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ
in the presence of our God and Father.

The design and construction of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel would never have been possible without God's abundant grace, which has been made manifest through the many generous benefactors who have contributed to the building of this magnificent Domus Dei.

No words could ever suffice to express the gratitude of the governors, faculty, staff, and students of Thomas Aquinas College to the nearly 2,500 individuals and foundations who, for the greater glory of God, have thus far contributed to the Chapel project. Perhaps, then, it is best to repay these works of charity through works of the two other theological virtues: faith and hope.

In this building, through God's grace, the faith of thousands of Thomas Aquinas College students will be nurtured for generations, even centuries, to come. Here, conversions, baptisms, and confirmations will take place; sins will be forgiven; souls will be nourished with Christ's Precious Body and Blood.

Here, young people will discern their vocations and dedicate their lives to the service of Christ and His Church. Some will hear the call to the religious life or the priesthood. Others will answer the call to marriage, and some even will stand before the Chapel's marble altar and unite in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

This gives us hope. The young people who worship at Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel at Thomas Aquinas College will, like the alumni before them, help to build up the Body of Christ. Their good works, passed along through the souls to whom they minister and the families they raise, will be the fruits of our benefactors' prayers, penances, and contributions offered for the completion of this chapel.

In thanksgiving, the College will keep its benefactors in its prayers, especially during the four Masses that will be offered daily in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. May God reward richly these selfless and generous patrons, both in this world and in the world to come.