Christendom College Lectures

Christendom College welcomed St. Thomas Aquinas expert Dr. Steven Baldner to campus for the latest event in its Collegiate Lecture Series. Baldner, a professor at St. Francis Xavier University, presented the college’s annual St. Thomas Aquinas lecture as part of the series, speaking on “Aquinas and Descartes on Creation.”

Dr. Timothy O’Donnell reflects on the significance of the Incarnation, exploring the world’s longing for a Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy, and Mary’s unique role as the Mother of God. He discusses the expectations of the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecies, and the cultural readiness for Christ's arrival. He also highlights Our Lady of Guadalupe, explaining how her appearance brought Chri...

Fr. Gregory Pine highlights the importance of the incarnation, showcasing God's generosity and the need to recognize His work in our lives. Fr. Pine encourages all to a deeper understanding of how God's love and grace are evident in our experiences, urging a response of gratitude and acknowledgment of His presence in our lives.

In the lecture, Christendom College Philosophy Professor Dr. John Cuddeback examines St. Joseph's life, highlighting the importance of fatherhood, marriage, and hiddenness. The saint's unwavering righteousness and chastity serve as lessons in integrity and mercy. The lecture explores the deeper meaning of marital love and the challenges of living virtuously in a society that values external valida...

Christendom College welcomed Dr. Clint Brand, Associate Professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, for the latest installment of its Collegiate Lecture Series. In his talk, “Anglican Patrimony in Catholic Communion: Problem, Gift, Challenge, Mission,” Dr. Brand explored the spiritual and literary richness of the Anglican tradition within the Catholic Church. Known for his sch...

In the wake of an election, we regularly discuss whether the victorious candidate and party won a “mandate” and what that mandate entails. This lecture considers the relationship between the Constitution and the way we talk about electoral mandates. Dr. German is an assistant professor in the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Previously, he was an assistant pr...

Christendom’s Department of History welcomed professor and author Nadya Williams on September 10, 2025. Williams presented a talk based on her recently published book Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic.  Williams, who holds her Ph. D. in Classics from Princeton University, is a mother, writer, and editor based in Ashland, Ohio, where she is interim director of the MFA in Creative Writing at A...

Christendom College welcomed acclaimed poet James Matthew Wilson on September 24, 2025. Wilson, professor of creative writing at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, delivered an address titled “The Part the Muses Give Us: Poetry as First Art.” The lecture was part of the Collegiate Lecture Series.

Dr. Miriam Byers delivered this lecture at the annual Senior-Faculty Dinner on September 22, 2025, at Christendom College. Byers is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Christendom College, where she has taught since 2001, initially as an adjunct before transitioning to full-time in 2015, with the establishment of Christendom’s Mathematics major. During her eight-year tenure as chair of the Ma...

Sr. Deirdre Byrne, POSC, hosted a viewing and spoke with theology professor Dr. R.J. Matava about the documentary she helped to produce called "No Mercy: The Catholic Culture of Death" which covers the abuse of vulnerable patients and palliative care. Sr. Dede is a practicing physician, retired US Army Colonel, and courageous pro-life witness on the front lines of the defense of human life.

Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Rice reveals compelling evidence that the great Bard, William Shakespeare, was Catholic.

In this second part, Christendom College theology professor Eric Jenislawski deepens the conversation by examining the historical development of natural language AI and its often-overlooked ethical and cultural implications. Beginning with early precursors like Eliza and Dissociated Press , Jenislawski traces the evolution of AI language tools up to today’s neural networks, explaining key concepts...

In part one of this thought-provoking lecture, Christendom College theology professor Eric Jenislawski offers an explanation of ChatGPT and its natural language predecessors for a non-technical audience. He explores the nature, development, and implications of artificial intelligence, especially large language models like ChatGPT. With clarity and philosophical depth, Jenislawski guides listeners...

Christendom College hosted a thought-provoking discussion on the nature and significance of art, featuring philosophy professor Dr. Daniel McInerny alongside College President George A. Harne, Ph. D. The event, part of the college’s major speaker series, explored the question: “What is Art, and Why Does It Matter?” Dr. McInerny is a passionate speaker and writer on art and beauty, as evidenced in...

Join us for the 2025S St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture featuring Dr. David C. Schindler from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C. Delivered on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, this lecture explores “Beauty as the Well-Spring of Action in the Thought of Thomas Aquinas.” Dr. Schindler, an expert in metaphysics and anthropology, delves into Aquinas’s understandi...

What role does patience play in the search for truth and understanding? In this captivating lecture, Prof. Daniel Spiotta, Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature at Christendom College, explores the profound connection between patience and human knowing as revealed in two of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale. Drawing on his expertise in classical and mediev...

What can a humble Christmas gift reveal about the depth of a father’s love? In this lecture, Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, a literature professor at Christendom College, explores the timeless themes of generosity, love, and sacrifice in Anne of Green Gables . Focusing on Matthew Cuthbert’s tender gesture to Anne, Dr. Sullivan illuminates the spiritual and emotional significance of his Christmas gift, inv...

In this heartwarming lecture from the Christmas at Christendom event, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, invites listeners to journey reflecting on the wonder and humility of the Nativity. Drawing on St. Francis’s creation of the first Nativity scene and God's loving plan in his own life, Fr. Mark-Mary reveals a powerful message for our modern lives. With engaging insights and practical applications, this t...

Professor Ferenc Hörcher is a Hungarian political philosopher and historian of political thought, specializing in conservatism, liberalism, and early modern political ideas. He directs the Research Institute of Politics and Government at Hungary’s University of Public Service and is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy of the Eötvös Loránd Research Network. An author of several...

Do you want to learn more about the complementarity of faith and reason and how Catholics should approach the sciences? Listend to this lecture to learn what Pope St. John Paul II and other Catholic teachings have to say on the subject.

Chris Carstens unpacks the "ars celebrandi" called for by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. A proper ars celebrandi 1) sees God as the proper subject of the liturgical "masterpiece," 2) encourages liturgical ministers to depict this great, divine beauty through docility to the Holy Spirit's inspiration and the Church's rites, and 3) forms the baptized to see God's glory revea...

With his distinguished background as a leader in both Catholic education and public policy and as a Christendom parent, Dr. Kevin Roberts offers a unique perspective on the role and relevance of Christendom’s education in modern American society.