Giuseppe Maria Tomasi
Saint Giuseppe Maria Tomasi Roman Catholic Church | |
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Beatified | 29 September 1803 by Pope Pius VII |
Canonized | 12 October 1986 by Pope John Paul II |
Attributes | Cardinal's attire |
Patronage | Catholic liturgy |
Shrines | Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle, Rome, Italy |
Joseph Mary Tomasi
Tomasi was
Life
Early life
Tomasi was born at
But Tomasi's own spirit aspired, even from youth, to be small in the Kingdom of God, and to serve not the kings of the earth but the King of heaven. He cultivated his pious desire in his heart until he obtained the consent of his father to follow his vocation to religious life.
Theatine
After having renounced, by means of a
Tomasi then studied philosophy, first at
Urged on by his particular love for the ancient documents of the Church and for sound
Reformer
Tomasi's efforts at reform were directed not to the introduction of the new, but to the restoration and maintenance of the old. He was not always upheld and was sometimes rebuked for his zeal.
Tomasi taught catechism to the children of the poor in his titular church, also introducing its congregants to the use of Gregorian chant. He died in 1713, mourned by all, especially by Pope Clement, who so admired his sanctity that he had consulted him before accepting the papacy. He was buried in his titular church. The relics of his body, transferred in 1971 from the Basilica of his title of Ss. Silvestro e Martini ai Monti, are presently exposed for the veneration of the faithful in the Basilica of San Andrea della Valle of the Theatine Fathers, in Rome.
Works
Tomasi's many publications on liturgical subjects, in which piety was united with scholarship, motivated the titles which some of his contemporaries gave to him, those of "the Prince of the Roman Liturgists" and of "Liturgists" and of "Liturgical Doctor".
In truth, not a few of the norms, established by the authority of the Roman Pontiffs and by the documents of the Second Vatican Council and today in use in the Church, were already proposed and ardently desired by Tomasi, among which it is sufficient to recall:
- the present-day form of the Liturgy of the Hours
- the distinction and use of the Missal and of the Lectionary in the celebration of the Eucharist
- various norms contained in the Roman Pontifical and in the Roman Ritual
- the use of the vernacular instead of Latin outside of the sacred liturgy, which he himself recommended for private devotions and for the prayers made in common by the faithful outside.
All these were intended to promote a more intimate and personal participation of the people in the celebration of the liturgy.[1]
Tomasi's works (Codici Tommasiani), published chiefly from ancient codices in the Vatican and Vallicellian Libraries and the Library of
Under the same pen-name, Tomasi wrote Responsalia et Antiphonaria Rom. Eccl., etc. (Rome, 1686); Sacrorum Bibliorum Tituli, sive capitula (Rome, 1688); Antiqui libri Missarum Rom. Eccl. or the antiphonary of Pope Gregory I, entitled "Comes", written by Alcuin at the order of Charlemagne (Rome, 1691); Officium Domicinae Passionis, used by the Greek Orthodox Church on Good Friday, translated into Latin (Rome, 1695).
Under his own name Tomasi published Speculum (Rome, 1679); Exercitium Fidei, Spei et Caritatis (Rome, 1683); Breviarium psalterii (Rome, 1683); Vera norma di glorificar Dio (Rome, 1687); Fermentum (Rome, 1688); Psalterium cum canticis (Rome, 1697); Indiculus institutionum theologicarum veterurn Patrum ( 3 vols., Rome, 1709, 1710; 1712), an exposition of theological theory and practice, derived from original patristic sources.
Tomasi also wrote numerous opuscula, the last four published by G. Mercati (Rome, 1905). In 1753 Antonio Francesco Vezzosi published his works in 11 quarto volumes.
Notes
- ^ a b Joseph Mary Tomasi (1649-1713) Cardinal, of the Order of Clerics Regular Theatine – Biography of Giuseppe Maria Tomasi
- ^ Also as J. M. Carus.
References
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Bl. Giuseppe Maria Tommasi". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- Biography at The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church