A recent case heard by the Supreme Court of the Netherlands found that "a doctor had not acted improperly when he euthanized a 74-year-old woman with advanced dementia, even though the woman had to be repeatedly sedated and physically restrained during the procedure." The woman had previously set out in her advanced directives a request … Continue reading The “Perfect” System Would Eliminate Being Human
Mattias Joseph Scheeben's The Mysteries of Christianity begins with a reflection on the nature of Christian mystery. It can also be read as a commentary on the prooemium to the Summa contra Gentiles Book IV (which is itself an echo of the prooemium to the work as a whole, SCG I.1–8). At key points—either by … Continue reading The cosmos of Christian mystery
From Fr. Ronald Knox, a sermon entitled “The Risen Christ,” from Pastoral and Occasional Sermons. There is nothing new under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 1:9 Behold, I make all things new. — Apocalypse 31:5 When Easter comes, the Church delights to remind herself of that newness which is in the risen Christ. [...] We are beginning … Continue reading Something ever new under the sun
Over at Thomistica is my review of Fr. David Alcalde’s Cosmology Without God? Here’s a brief excerpt: In his monograph, Cosmology Without God? The Problematic Theology Inherent in Modern Cosmology—a revised version of his doctoral dissertation written under Michael Hanby at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of … Continue reading Review on Thomistica
Over at Thomistica.net one can find my short review of Edward Feser’s Aristotle’s Revenge. The review is overall very positive. I hope to elaborate on some points of criticism of particulars of the book and its approach in later blog-posts.
At Thomistica.net an essay of mine is now available: “Those Two Roads: How a Natural Philosophical Solution to a Difficulty about Motion Serves Thomistic Theology.” It was given at one of the Sacra Doctrina Project’s satellite sessions at the most recent conference of the American Catholic Philosophical Association. The essay discusses the Aristotelian idea that motion, … Continue reading “Those Two Roads” at Thomistica
The short essay, “Thomism for the New Evangelization,” by Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., is an illuminating and moving proposal that outlines how Thomism is necessary for the new evangelization. He proposes six touchstones so that “we who are all committed in some way to the evangelization of our culture can think about the truth not as … Continue reading A Thomism for the New Evangelization
Now available from Cluny Media, the fourth volume of the Thomist Tradition Series, is my translation of Fr. Édouard Hugon’s book Mary, Full of Grace. Order it on Amazon here, and it’s also available through Cluny’s website. From book’s back cover: Mary, Full of Grace is a summary Mariology—a comprehensive study of the Blessed Virgin Mary … Continue reading New translation of Hugon now available
In the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel, Jesus’ hearers react to his teaching on the Eucharist with the following words: “This saying is hard, and who can hear it?” (John 6:60) Remember that those murmurers were among his own disciples, not just members of the crowd. Eventually, they depart: “After this many of his … Continue reading It’s Still A Hard Saying
“In some real sense it is true to say: ignorance of ontology is ignorance of Christ,” argues a recent Christological treatise. If this is true, then by extension it is also true of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The harmony of faith and reason demand that our knowing Christ in the Sacrament … Continue reading The Eucharist and the Scandal of Particularity
