The Thomistic Institute

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Christianity
**The Thomistic Institute**

The Thomistic Institute exists to promote Catholic truth in our contemporary world by strengthening the intellectual formation of Christians at universities, in the Church, and in the wider public square. The thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Universal Doctor of the Church, is our touchstone.

The Thomistic Institute Podcast features the lectures and talks from our conferences, campus chapters events, intellectual retreats, livestream events, and much more.

Founded in 2009, the Thomistic Institute is part of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.

Latest Episodes:

Thomas Aquinas on Peace: Part One | Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

This lecture was given on Jun 11th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies.

For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events

About the Speaker:

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P., is a priest of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. He serves as the general editor of the Thomist Tradition Series, and he is co-author of Thomas and the Thomists: The Achievement of St. Thomas Aquinas and His Interpreters. He has written for numerous publications on the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Thomist Tradition.

Light in Biology: A Molecular Perspective | Prof. Matthew Wohlever Oct 11, 2024

Show notes

This lecture was given on July 20th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies.

For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events

About the Speaker:

A native of the buckeye state, Matt received his B.S. in biochemistry from the Ohio State University where he spent three years working with Richard Swenson and a summer with Maria Vanoni at the University of Milan. During his graduate studies at MIT, Matt worked with Bob Sauer and Tania Baker on AAA+ proteases in bacteria. As a postdoc at the University of Chicago with Bob Keenan, he used structural biology to study quality control of membrane proteins.

Outside of lab, Matt enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with his wife, three children, and two dogs. He can often be found backpacking, running, or working in his garden.

The Importance of Play and Leisure w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. & Dr. R.J. Snell Oct 10, 2024

Show notes

Join Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. of Aquinas 101, Godsplaining, and Pints with Aquinas for an off-campus conversation with Dr. R.J. Snell about the importance of play and leisure, work and contemplation, and the communal nature of leisure.

You can watch this interview on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f32wLgFkvcw.

About the speaker:

R. J. Snell is Editor-in-Chief of Public Discourse and Director of Academic Programs at the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, NJ. Prior to his appointment at the Witherspoon Institute, he was Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Philosophy Program at Eastern University and the Templeton Honors College, where he founded and directed the Agora Institute for Civic Virtue and the Common Good. He has been visiting instructor at Princeton University, where he is also executive director of the Aquinas Institute for Catholic Life. He's written books and articles on natural law, education, Bernard Lonergan, boredom, subjectivity, and sexual ethics for a variety of publications.

This project/publication was made possible through the support of Grant 63391 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

On the History and Philosophy of Light | Prof. Richard F. Hassing Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

Professor Richard F. Hassing discusses the history and philosophy of light, contrasting Aristotle's and Descartes' views on light and perception, and exploring the development of light theories from Huygens to Einstein, including the rise and fall of the ether concept.

This episode includes a special hand-out which can be found here. The 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-events

About the Speaker:

Prof. Dick Hassing is a Research Associate Professor in the School of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America. His work has focused on the History of physics and philosophy of nature, Early modern philosophy, and Political philosophy.

He is the author of Cartesian Psychophysics and the Whole Nature of Man: On Descartes's Passions of the Soul and Modern Turns in Mathematics and Physics.

Richard F. Hassing is a Research Associate Professor at the School of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America.

Light and Life: Cellular responses to light | Prof. Keith Kozminski Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

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 biological processes and the complex molecular interactions involved in light sensing and energy conversion.

This lecture was given on July 20th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies.

For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events

About the Speaker:

Keith Kozminski is an Associate Professor of Biology and Cell Biology at the University of Virginia, where he studies polarized cell growth, in particular the role of lipid transfer proteins in intracellular membrane trafficking and secretion. In addition, he conducts research in the field of synthetic biology, as applied to health and environmental sustainability. He leads the Mid-Atlantic Synthetic Biology Network comprised of academic, private sector, and government researchers from Georgia to Delaware, in addition to being the senior Features editor of Molecular Biology of the Cell, the research journal of the American Society of Cell Biology. He also co-founded the biotech company Ourobio in 2020.

Dr. Kozminski holds a PhD in Biology (cell biology) from Yale University and completed his post-doctoral training in molecular genetics at UC-Berkeley. He has undergraduate degrees in Biology and History from SUNY-Buffalo.

The Ontological Status of Light and Color in St. Thomas Aquinas | Prof. John Boyer Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

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-events

About the Speaker:

John Boyer's training is in the History of Philosophy, specifically medieval Aristotelian scholasticism. His philosophical interests include issues in philosophy of science and philosophy of nature (e.g. causality, explanation, time, quantum physics), with an emphasis on their treatment in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition.

His current research focuses on Aristotle's philosophy of science (especially his theory of causal explanation) and how it was built upon by scholastic thinkers such as Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas.

John is a Ph.D. Candidate in Philosophy at the Center for Thomistic Studies, University of St. Thomas (Houston). Prior to coming to Loyola, he taught philosophy at the University of St. Thomas (Houston). He earned an MA in philosophy at the Center for Thomistic Studies and a BA in liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College (California).

St. Catherine and the Cell of Self-Knowledge | Sr. Catherine Joseph Droste, OP Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

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 of self-knowledge and the importance of perseverance.

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 Droste, O.P. is a Professor Straordinaria of theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where she has also served as Vice Dean, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, and Director of Collaboration. Her areas of research include virtues and the moral life, the ecclesiology of religious life, and the theology of St. Catherine of Siena. She is a native of Iowa and a member of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, Nashville, Tennessee. Her studies include an MA (history – Middle Tennessee State University), M.Ed (Administration – Marymount University), STB, STL, STD (Angelicum).

Thomas Proposes a Toast: The Festive Joy of Honoring God | Fr. Dominic Verner, O.P. Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

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 glorifying Him through our actions.

This lecture was given on March 9th, 2024, at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center.

For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events

About the Speaker:

After earning a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an M.A. in philosophical studies from Mount St. Mary's University, Fr. Dominic Verner, O.P. entered the Order of Preachers and was ordained to the priesthood in 2016. He has an S.T.L. from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception and a Ph.D. in moral theology/Christian ethics from the University of Notre Dame, where he wrote his dissertation "Saving Honor: A Thomistic Ethics of Honor." He joined the Theology Faculty at Providence College as an Assistant Professor in the Fall of 2022. His research and teaching interests especially concern Thomistic moral theory and the role that honor, friendship, and glory play in practical reason and the quest for beatitude. Fr. Verner is Assistant Professor of Theology at Providence College in Providence, RI.

Angels and Demons: A Biblical Analysis | Fr. Jordan Schmidt, O.P. Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

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 English and Philosophy from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN in 2002. He entered the Order of Preachers in 2005 and after completing his theological studies (STL and Mdiv), he was ordained a priest in 2012. Fr. Jordan initially served as associate pastor of St Mary’s parish in New Haven, CT, and subsequently returned to the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC to pursue doctoral studies at CUA, ultimately earning his PhD in biblical studies in 2018. He is currently an assistant professor of Sacred Scripture at the PFIC where he teaches various Old Testament courses, including survey courses on the Pentateuch, Prophets, and Wisdom literature as well as seminar courses on biblical inspiration, eschatology and apocalyptic literature, theological history, and creation theology.

Holding Fast to the Word of Life: The Biblical Roots of Lectio Divina | Fr. Stephen Ryan O.P Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

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 guidance for incorporating Lectio Divina into daily spiritual life, emphasizing its role in fostering a personal encounter with Christ.

This lecture was given on March 14th, 2024, at University of Virginia.

For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events

About the Speaker:

Fr. Stephen Ryan was born and raised in Boston and entered the Order of Preachers in 1987. He was ordained a priest in 1993 and, on completion of doctoral studies in Scripture, was assigned to the Dominican House of Studies in 2000. He teaches Scripture and the biblical languages.

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