The Thomistic Institute

Professor Keith Kozminski explains the cellular mechanisms of light interaction, detailing the process of photosynthesis in plant chloroplasts and the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. He then transitions to discussing photoreception in the human eye, describing the structure of the retina and the function of rod and cone cells. The lecture emphasizes the importance of light in biol...

Professor John Boyer explores how St. Thomas Aquinas differentiated himself from Aristotle through arguing that light is not a body or spiritual entity, but an active quality of transparent mediums, enabling vision and color perception. This lecture was given on July 18th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies . For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming...

Sister Catherine Joseph Droste explores St. Catherine of Siena's teaching on the "cell of self-knowledge," emphasizing its importance for spiritual growth and virtue. She explains that this cell is an interior, spiritual space where one gains knowledge of both self and God, highlighting the necessity of entering this cell regularly through prayer and reflection. She also touches on the challenges...

Fr. Dominic Verner discusses the significance of glorifying God through prayer, particularly the "Glory Be" and Eucharistic adoration. He emphasizes that God desires glory not for His own sake, but for our benefit and joy in knowing Him. The talk concludes by highlighting the importance of recognizing Christ's presence in others and acting in His name, thereby participating in God's mission and gl...

Fr. Jordan Schmidt discusses the biblical analysis of angels and demons, exploring their roles in God's providential plan and their portrayal in both the Old and New Testaments. This lecture was given on January 22nd, 2024, at Regent University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Fr. Jordan Schmidt graduated with a BA in E...

Fr. Stephen Ryan discusses the biblical foundations and spiritual significance of Lectio Divina, a practice of prayerful reading and meditation on Scripture. He outlines the components of Lectio Divina, including reading (lectio), meditation (meditatio), prayer (oratio) and contemplation (contemplatio), highlighting their interconnectedness and spiritual benefits. He also provides practical guidan...

Professors Josh Hochschild and Jane Sloan Peters participate in a two-person panel. First Professor Hochschild examines Aristotle’s concept of piety and its apparent absence in his writing, suggesting that Aristotle may talk about piety indirectly and in a more embodied way through discussion of contemplation of God. Then Professor Peters moves the discussion from the philosophical to the theologi...

Father Thomas Davenport explores how electromagnetic radiation fits into a Thomistic view of nature, discussing the unique properties of light, Aquinas' misconceptions, and the complexities of light-matter interactions from both classical and quantum perspectives. This lecture was given on July 19th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies . This publication was made possible through the support o...

Professor David Elliot examines the concept of admiratio (wonder or awe) as a species of fear in Thomas Aquinas' philosophy, explaining its taxonomy and relation to other passions. He explores how wonder contributes to moral formation, education, and appreciation of art and culture. The talk concludes by connecting wonder to the gift of fear of the Lord, emphasizing its role in fostering humility...

Fr. Andrew Hofer discusses the theology of joy in the context of Christian life and suffering. He explains how it relates to both natural and supernatural experiences of goodness. He outlines five key points, including joy as an awareness of present good, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, a means to embrace suffering, a connection to the Virgin Mary, and a foretaste of eternal happiness. Finally, he emp...

Fr. Jordan Schmidt examines how light is used in Scripture to represent God's revelation, starting with the Old Testament's portrayal of God's creative power and wisdom. He then traces the development of this imagery in the New Testament, where light becomes associated with Jesus Christ as the fullness of God's revelation. Finally, he discusses how this light imagery relates to the ultimate union...

Professor Catherine Peters discusses the sun's role as a universal cause in Aristotelian-Thomistic philosophy, emphasizing its importance in understanding causality, universal causes, and creation. She examines the four causes in Aristotelian tradition and how the sun exemplifies universal causality. The lecture also delves into Thomas Aquinas's understanding of the sun's attributes and its relati...

Fr. Andrew Hofer explores St. Augustine’s City of God where he presents a comprehensive view of human history and destiny, contrasting the earthly city driven by self-love with the heavenly city founded on love of God. He argues that true peace and happiness can only be achieved through faith, humility, and divine grace, rather than human efforts to create happiness. Augustine also discusses just...

Dr. Gregory Reichberg examines the viewpoint of Jacques Maritain, a Catholic philosopher, on the concept of just war and Christian engagement in the temporal world. Maritain proposed a hierarchy of means for Christians to effect change, ranging from spiritual practices to carnal warfare, emphasizing the importance of coordinating these approaches. Maritain argued against the notion of holy war, pa...

Professor George Corbett presents a comprehensive overview of Thomas Aquinas's approach to ethics and the good life, emphasizing its centrality, goal-oriented nature, and focus on human nature and happiness. He explains how Aquinas's approach combines virtue ethics with an understanding of law and grace, emphasizing the pursuit of happiness through friendship with God. Corbett also highlights...

Sister Catherine Joseph Droste discusses St. Catherine of Siena's teachings on virtue, focusing on charity, humility, patience, and prudence within the context of Catherine's life and writings. This lecture was given on July 11th, 2024, at Stonyhurst College. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Sister Catherine Joseph Drost...

Professor George Corbett examines St. Thomas Aquinas as an exemplary model of holiness, focusing on his intellectual gifts, indomitable will, and dedication to God. It explores Aquinas' life, from his childhood to his academic career, highlighting his vast scholarly output in theology, philosophy, and biblical studies. The talk also touches on Aquinas' personal virtues, including his humility, cha...

Professor Joshua Benson explores the historical development doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, tracing its origins from early liturgical practices to its formal definition in 1854. It examines the theological arguments of influential figures such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Duns Scotus, highlighting their varying perspectives on Mary's sanctification....

Are you becoming a moral zombie? Join Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. of Aquinas 101, Godsplaining, and Pints with Aquinas for an off-campus conversation with Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P. about artificial intelligence, why ChatGPT is damaging personal relationships in the classroom, how AI could be destroying virtue, and the eschatological implications of artificial intelligence. You can watch this interview o...

Professor Vicenzo Tamma delves into the fascinating world of quantum optics, explaining key concepts such as wave-particle duality, quantum superposition, and interference through experiments like the double-slit and beam splitter. He discusses how these quantum phenomena challenge classical physics and lead to intriguing effects like photon bunching and quantum beats. The lecture also touches on...

Sister Jane Dominic Laurel explores the concept of vocation, highlighting its connection to holiness and the cross. She discusses the cruciform nature of marriage, using the example of a Croatian village with a zero percent divorce rate, and outlines pitfalls in discerning one's vocation. This lecture was given on June 28th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies . For more information on upcomin...

This panel discussion between Fr. Ambrose Little and Professor Jonathan Lunine explores the relationship between science and faith. They specifically highlight the historical contributions of religious scientists, challenging the mistaken notion that there is intrinsic conflict between the Catholic faith and science. They emphasize the importance of philosophy as a bridge between theology and scie...

Dr. Jennifer Frey discusses St. Thomas Aquinas's understanding of sin as a privation of good and a failure to achieve one's proper end. Aquinas attributes the causes of sin to human nature's fallen state, resulting in a darkened intellect, disturbed passions, and a disordered will, which can lead to sins of ignorance, weakness, or malice. This lecture was given on February 15th, 2024, at The Unive...

This lecture was given on February 3rd, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies . For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Michael Root is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Earlier in life, he was a Lutheran, teaching at various Lutheran seminaries and serving ten ye...

Dr. R. Jared Staudt argues that the problem of our time is acedia, a spiritual sloth manifested through frenetic activity and distraction. He proposes leisure, defined as the freedom to engage in our highest human actions, as the solution to this problem. The talk explores the nature of leisure, its relationship to contemplation, and how it can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves, reali...