The Thomistic Institute

Fr. Thomas Joseph White explores whether philosophical skepticism can be overcome by examining Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, and Nietzsche on metaphysical knowledge, emphasizing foundational principles like non-contradiction and identity. This lecture was given on February 5th, 2024, at Yale University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About...

Prof. Michael Gorman explains Aquinas’ doctrine that in God, essence and existence are identical, highlighting how this principle underpins divine simplicity and distinguishes God from all created beings. This lecture was given on June 1st, 2024, at Mount Saint Mary College. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker: Michael Gor...

Dr. Edmund Lazzari defends the coherence and relevance of the Trinity by addressing Thomas Jefferson’s objections through Thomistic philosophy, emphasizing divine revelation’s role in understanding God’s triune nature. This lecture was given on March 3rd, 2025, at College of William and Mary. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Sp...

Professor Michael Gorman explores philosophical arguments for God's existence through Aquinas' approach of reasoning from effect to ultimate uncaused cause rather than from definition to existence. This lecture was given on February 22nd, 2025, at University of Rochester. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker: Michael Gorman...

Prof. Patrick Callahan analyzes the poetic genius of Saint Thomas Aquinas in the hymns and sequence of Corpus Christi, highlighting Aquinas’ understanding of beauty, proportion, clarity, and sublimity as essential to both art and spiritual contemplation. This lecture was given on October 26th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstit...

Prof. Patrick Callahan reveals how poetry, as the most Christ-like form of speech and a reflection of human mimesis, plays a vital role in the Christian life by fostering conformity to Christ and deepening the contemplative experience. This lecture was given on October 26th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-ev...

Prof. Alexander Pruss explores the unique certainty, mystery, and beauty of mathematics, examining philosophical perspectives from Plato to modern logicism, and considers how mathematical beauty points toward deeper realities, including the existence of God. This lecture was given on October 1st, 2024, at University of North Texas. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinst...

Prof. Patrick Callahan explores how art, through beauty and the sublime, can lead the soul toward God, drawing on insights from Joseph Pieper, Aristotle, and Christian philosophy to reveal the contemplative power of poetry, music, and the fine arts. This lecture was given on November 19th, 2024, at East Carolina University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.or...

Fr. Philip-Neri Reese explores the relationship between logic and truth as they manifest in God, the natural world, and artificial constructs, emphasizing the distinct ways in which logic operates within divine, natural, and human-made realities. This lecture was given on November 6th, 2023, at Oxford University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-...

Prof. Chad Pecknold analyzes John Henry Newman’s theological legacy, focusing on doctrinal development, conscience as a divine imperative, and his impact on the Second Vatican Council and modern Catholic-Protestant dialogue. This lecture was given on April 25th, 2024, at Hillsdale College. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speak...

Fr. Gregory Pine explores the theological necessity of Marian apparitions through the lens of Catholic doctrine, explaining how they relate to the central mystery of the Incarnation and the proper hierarchy of truths in Christian faith. This lecture was given on April 25th, 2024, at Trinity College Dublin. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events...

Prof. Lewis Ayres examines how the Nicene Creed functions as a generative and interpretive “cipher” within Christian tradition, tracing its roots to the adaptation of Second Temple Jewish imaginative worlds and the development of early rules of faith to highlight the creed’s ongoing role in shaping theological reflection. This lecture was given on February 7th, 2025, at Dominican House of Studies....

Sr. Albert Marie Surmanski, O.P., explores how creation sacramentally reflects God’s glory, particularly investigating how metaphysics, scripture, poetry, and ultimately every aspect of existence—from cosmic order to human relationships—reveals divine truths. This lecture was given on November 18th, 2024, at University of Michigan. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinst...

Prof. Michael Wahl explores the theological virtue of hope as essential for Christian pilgrimage, distinguishing it from mere passion by examining how hope directs us toward God as our ultimate, difficult yet attainable good. This lecture was given on February 29th, 2024, at Cornell University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . Donate to...

Fr. Isaac Morales explores the relationship between the historical Jesus and Church's knowledge of Jesus, cautioning against relying too heavily on ever-changing historical reconstructions while emphasizing recurrent themes to discover the authentic characteristics of Jesus. This lecture was given on March 5th, 2024, at Brown University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomist...

Fr. Dominic Langevin explores the Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, explaining transubstantiation, its scriptural basis, historical development, and the significance for Christian life. This lecture was given on October 24th, 2024, at Clemson University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker:...

Fr. Gregory Pine explores the extent of demonic influence on human life, distinguishing between physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions to clarify the limits of their power, particularly concerning the direct access to one's spiritual life, which remains exclusive to God. This lecture was given on March 2nd, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming...

Prof. Roger Nutt explores the theological significance of the sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick as healing encounters that address both sin and its temporal consequences, emphasizing the Christian's journey toward a good death in light of Christ's redemptive act. This lecture was given on February 9th, 2025, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For more information on upcoming e...

Fr. Timothy Bellamah explores divine providence as God's vision and causation of all things fulfilled in Christ, explaining that Christ's incarnation, passion, death, and resurrection serve as God's ultimate response to the problem of evil, particularly the suffering of the innocent. This lecture was given on February 22nd, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming even...

Fr. Jordan Schmidt explores biblical creation accounts, emphasizing their theological depth and historical context to reveal how the created world serves as a pathway to knowing God and understanding divine revelation. This lecture was given on December 1st, 2023, at New York University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker...

Dr. William Hurlbut examines the profound ethical and philosophical challenges posed by advancing biotechnologies, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of human nature, dignity, and purpose in light of developments like genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and transhumanist aspirations. This lecture was given on March 3rd, 2025, at Indiana University. For more information on up...

Prof. Karin Öberg explores the interplay between theology and science, focusing on Thomas Aquinas' view of creation as a relational dependency on God and how Big Bang cosmology aligns with theological insights into the universe's origins. This lecture was given on February 15th, 2025, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcomin...

Fr. John Harris discusses the Catholic approach to secular politics, emphasizing Thomistic principles, the role of lay Catholics, and the balance between natural and supernatural ends in governance. This lecture was given on October 10th, 2024, at Trinity College Dublin. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker: Fr. John Harris...

Dr. Paul LaPenna reflects on the integration of ancient virtues, Christian ethics, and self-sacrificial love in medical practice, emphasizing human dignity and compassionate care. This lecture was given on February 4th, 2025, at University of South Carolina. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker: Dr. Paul LaPenna is a neurol...

Prof. Marshall Bierson explores Aquinas's and Anscombe's moral absolutes, particularly concerning theft, arguing that in cases of extreme need, taking another's property may not constitute theft, suggesting a nuanced approach to absolutist moral frameworks. This lecture was given on March 3rd, 2025, at Yale University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upc...