The Thomistic Institute
Religion & Spirituality
About
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.
Episodes
- Mary's Necessary Role in the Spiritual Life – Fr. John Mark Solitario, O.P.
Fr. John Mark Solitario, O.P. delivered a lecture on Mary's essential role in the spiritual life at Vanderbilt University. He shares his background, education, and inspiration from the Dominican ideal of contemplation and sharing the fruit…
- How to Marry Your Best Friend: Thomas Aquinas on Friendship, Marriage, and Children – Dr. Nathaniel Peters
This episode features a lecture by Dr. Nathaniel Peters given at Universidad Panamericana. The lecture focuses on Thomas Aquinas's views on friendship, marriage, and children.
- 'I Cannot Tell a Lie': Thomas Aquinas on the Moral Permissibility of Lying – Prof. Christopher Tomaszewski
Professor Christopher Tomaszewski presented a lecture on Thomas Aquinas's perspective regarding the moral permissibility of lying. The event took place at the University of Toronto.
- Newman on the Dangers of Liberal Education – Prof. Thomas Hibbs
Professor Thomas Hibbs discusses Newman on the dangers of liberal education. The lecture was given at Dominican House of Studies. Thomas Hibbs is current J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy at Baylor where he is also Dean Emeritus…
- To Live is to Change: Newman on Cognitive, Moral, and Spiritual Development – Prof. Thomas Hibbs
Professor Thomas Hibbs presented a lecture on John Henry Newman's concepts of cognitive, moral, and spiritual development. The event took place at the Dominican House of Studies.
- After Death Comes Life...to the Soul in the Grace of Jesus Christ – Fr. Gabriel O'Donnell, O.P.
Fr. Gabriel O'Donnell, O.P. delivered a lecture on the topic of life after death and the soul in relation to the grace of Jesus Christ. The lecture was presented at the Dominican House of Studies.
- Order and Disorder among the Capital Vices – Dr. Carl Vennerstrom
Dr. Carl Vennerstrom explores the capital vices, viewing them as disordered desires that Christ addresses and heals. He identifies pride as the primary vice and humility as its solution.
- Death Comes to the Soul: The Vulnerable Christian in Distress – Fr. Gabriel O'Donnell
In this episode, Fr. Gabriel O'Donnell argues that Christian life is about becoming a whole, Godward person through self-knowledge, acceptance, and relationship with Christ. This lecture was given on March 14th, 2026, at the Dominican Hous…
- The Devil's Unveiling in the Temptation of Christ: A 'Perfect' Temptation – Dr. Carl Vennerstrom
In this episode of The Thomistic Institute, Dr. Carl Vennerstrom argues that Christ’s temptation in the desert is a perfect temptation, revealing various forms of temptation and the devil's weakness. He posits that this event serves as a m…
- An Image of an Image (of God): Athens, Jerusalem, and Artificial Intelligence – Dr. Kevin Kambo
Dr. Kevin Kambo argues that artificial intelligence should be understood as a sophisticated form of simulated intelligence. This lecture was given at Southern Methodist University on March 10th, 2026.
- John Henry Newman on Following Your Conscience – Dr. Christopher Mooney
Dr. Christopher Mooney presents on John Henry Newman's views on conscience. He argues that Newman understood conscience as the practical application of divine moral law.
- The Gift of Disability and the Hope for Healing – Prof. Paul Gondreau
Professor Paul Gondreau argues that disability can be a profound gift, deepening participation in Christ’s suffering and pointing toward healing in the resurrection. He delivered this lecture at the University of Oxford, focusing on themes…
- Thomas Aquinas and the Philosophy of Punishment – Dr. Peter Koritansky
Dr. Peter Koritansky presents Thomas Aquinas's views on punishment, emphasizing natural law and retributive justice. The lecture explores how punishment upholds the moral order and the common good.
- The Roots of the Church in the Old and New Testament – Prof. Nina Sophie Heereman
Professor Nina Sophie Heereman argues that the Church is divinely founded and rooted in Scripture, with Israel's story, the Eucharist, and Pentecost revealing Christ's intention to gather a new people of God. This lecture was given at Loui…
- Becoming a Good Conversationalist: How Not to Bore, Boast, or Otherwise Blather . . . and More! – Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.
In this episode, Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. discusses good conversation as a moral and spiritual practice, highlighting the importance of listening, welcoming contributions, and sharing life. He argues against using conversation to win or domi…
- St. John Henry Newman’s Idea of the Saint – Dr. Rebekah Lamb
Dr. Rebekah Lamb argues that St. John Henry Newman's idea of the saint is deeply relational, emphasizing friendship, prayer, hidden service, and ordinary fidelity. This lecture was given at Queen's University, Belfast.
- I Want to Live a Good Life, Where Do I Start? – Dr. Wes Siscoe
Dr. Wes Siscoe discusses the concept of a good life, arguing that true happiness is found in human flourishing and union with God, not pleasure, wealth, fame, or health. This lecture was delivered at Indiana University.
- Is Abortion Morally Acceptable to Save the Life of the Mother? – Prof. Steven Jensen
In this episode, Prof. Steven Jensen discusses the moral permissibility of abortion to save a mother's life. He presents arguments for the intrinsic human dignity of a fetus, concluding that intentionally killing a fetus to save a mother's…
- The Savonarola Option: Why We Should Elect Christ as King – Dr. John-Paul Heil
Dr. John-Paul Heil, in "The Savonarola Option," argues that Christians should evaluate political institutions based on their ability to guide people toward holiness, the common good, and heaven. He delivered this lecture at Virginia Tech o…
- The Lost Art of Dying – Dr. Lydia Dugdale
In this episode, Dr. Lydia Dugdale argues for the recovery of the "lost art of dying" by reviving older practices. She emphasizes mortality awareness, community, reconciliation, and hope over medicalized dying.
- Anscombe vs. Miscamble on Truman: Catholic Disagreement over Honoring a President – Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P.
Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau explores the Catholic disagreement over honoring President Truman, specifically addressing issues of just war, innocent life, and the atomic bomb. This lecture was delivered at the Dominican House of Studies.
- Applying Just War Principles in Contemporary Warfare – Prof. Michael Krom
Professor Michael Krom argues that just war principles remain relevant in contemporary warfare, specifically in drone warfare and with autonomous weapons. He asserts that moral judgment should not be superseded by technology or legal conve…
- Making War Moral: The Enduring Relevance of Just War Theory – Prof. Michael Krom
Professor Michael Krom argues for the moral necessity of just war theory, emphasizing its role in judging conflict by justice, right intention, and the common good. He contrasts this with evaluations based on realpolitik, legal minimalism,…
- Stoicism and Christianity, with a Focus on Boethius - Prof. Thomas Ward
Professor Thomas Ward explores Stoicism and Christianity, with a focus on Boethius. He discusses how Christianity deepens Stoic concepts like detachment and moral discipline through reordering the human person toward friendship, hope, and…
- Making Sense of Physician Assisted Suicide – Dr. Lydia Dugdale
Dr. Lydia Dugdale argues that physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia are morally and medically dangerous. She discusses how these practices may normalize suicide, undermine the physician-patient covenant, and put vulnerable people at ri…
- The Cross is a Marriage Feast – Prof. Nina Sophie Heereman
Professor Nina Sophie Heereman explores the concept of the Cross as a marriage feast. She analyzes the Paschal Mystery through Old Testament nuptial imagery and the Gospel of John's portrayal of Christ as the divine Bridegroom.
- Thomas Aquinas and the Theological Virtue of Hope in Times of Quiet Despair – Prof. Rik Van Nieuwenhove
Prof. Rik Van Nieuwenhove discusses how the theology of Thomas Aquinas on hope provides a response to quiet despair by focusing on God and the Paschal Mystery. This lecture was delivered at the University of Edinburgh in March 2026.
- The Promises and Pitfalls of Stoicism – Prof. Christopher Frey
Prof. Christopher Frey examines Stoicism, discussing its perspectives on freedom and detachment alongside potential limitations regarding human emotion and grace. This lecture was recorded at the United States Military Academy on November…
- Why So Sad? The Sorrows that Kill and the Sorrows that Save – Sr. Anna Wray, O.P.
Sr. Anna Wray discusses the nature of sorrow, distinguishing between sorrow that leads to acedia and sorrow that can save the soul. Drawing on Thomistic psychology, she explores how friendship with God and spiritual practices provide remed…
- Wisdom from the Old Testament on Prayer and the Spiritual Life – Fr. Stephen Ryan, O.P.
Fr. Stephen Ryan, O.P. discusses the relevance of the Old Testament for prayer and the spiritual life. This lecture examines how Scripture reveals friendship with God, sanctifies time, and informs practices like almsgiving and fasting.
- Why Modern Christians Need the Eucharist – Prof. Michael Dauphinais
Prof. Michael Dauphinais discusses how the Eucharist addresses the challenges posed to modern Christians by empiricism and individualism. This lecture explores how the sacrament facilitates participation in Trinitarian communion and the pa…
- Catholic Doctrine and Judaism – Prof. Gavin D'Costa
Prof. Gavin D'Costa discusses the Catholic Church's evolving relationship with Judaism following Vatican II, focusing on theological questions regarding the covenant, mission, and ecclesiology. The lecture was delivered at the University o…
- Justified by Grace, Works, or Faith? – Prof. Michael Root
Prof. Michael Root discusses the Catholic theological perspective on justification, examining how grace, faith, and works contribute to salvation. This lecture explores the concept of eternal life as both a divine gift and a merited destin…
- Why the Catholic Church Has Priests – Fr. Dominic Langevin, O.P.
Fr. Dominic Langevin, O.P., discusses the Catholic priesthood, explaining its role as a sacramental system of mediation configured to Christ the High Priest. This lecture, delivered at West Virginia University, explores the theological pur…
- Aquinas on Predestination: The Main Issues – Fr. John Baptist Ku, O.P.
Fr. John Baptist Ku, O.P. explores St. Thomas Aquinas’s doctrine of predestination. The lecture examines the relationship between God’s salvific will, grace, and human freedom.
- Immortality and Immateriality – Prof. Thomas Osborne
Prof. Thomas Osborne discusses how Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas use the immateriality of human intellectual knowledge to argue for the immortality of the soul. This lecture was delivered at the University of Connecticut on October 16,…
- Beyond Work and Play: Aristotle on Friendship, Contemplation, and The Value of Human Activity – Prof. Marshall Bierson
Prof. Marshall Bierson examines Aristotle’s perspectives on work, play, and contemplation, and how Thomas Aquinas further develops these ideas in the context of friendship with God. This lecture was recorded at Cornell University on Novemb…
- St. Thomas Aquinas on Pleasure and the Good Life – Dr. Erik Dempsey
Dr. Erik Dempsey discusses St. Thomas Aquinas's perspective on the role of pleasure within a good life. The lecture explores how pleasure relates to human ends and the necessity of temperance in a fallen world.
- Suffering and the Communion of Saints – Prof. Timothy O'Connor
Professor Timothy O'Connor discusses the problem of evil and how horrendous suffering can be integrated into the communion of saints and eternal union with God. This lecture was delivered in December 2025 at the University of Scranton.
- Friendship: The Art of Striving and Thriving Together – Sr. Mary Madeline Todd, O.P.
Sr. Mary Madeline Todd, O.P. explores the nature of virtuous friendship through the teachings of Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the example of Christ. This lecture discusses how mutual self-gift and sharing a common life foster deeper…
- Burnout Society – Dr. R.J. Snell
Dr. R.J. Snell discusses the concept of a burnout society, examining how an obsession with achievement and self-optimization contributes to anxiety and exhaustion. He explores the loss of leisure and contemplation in modern culture.
- From the Dictatorship of Relativism to the Tyranny of Pathos – Dr. Kevin Kambo
Dr. Kevin Kambo discusses the cultural shift from a dictatorship of relativism to a tyranny of pathos, where empathy and feelings often replace reasoned discourse. This lecture, delivered at Fordham University, explores the implications fo…
- Are Right and Wrong Just a Matter of Opinion? – Prof. Steven Jensen
Prof. Steven Jensen examines moral realism and relativism, arguing that moral truths are rooted in human nature and goals rather than personal opinion. This lecture was delivered at Fordham University in November 2025.
- Is the Church Anti-Capitalist? – Fr. Jacques-Benoît Rauscher, O.P.
Fr. Jacques-Benoît Rauscher, O.P. examines the relationship between Catholic social doctrine and capitalism. The lecture explores how to navigate contemporary economic systems from a Thomistic perspective.
- Dante and Aquinas – Prof. George Corbett
Prof. George Corbett discusses the relationship between Dante’s work and the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas and the Leonine Thomistic revival. He addresses the perspective that Dante’s vision is in harmony with Thomistic thought, challenging…
- Catholic Scientists – Prof. Jonathan I. Lunine
Professor Jonathan I. Lunine, a planetary scientist and Catholic convert, discusses the compatibility of faith and science. He further explores the contributions of priest-scientists Georges Lemaître and Gregor Mendel to modern science.
- Catholic Faith and Medicine: In Harmony or in Conflict? – Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan, MD
Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan, M.D., discusses the harmony between Catholic faith and medicine. He explores how a culture of life can be maintained within modern healthcare systems, particularly when navigating ethical challenges.
- The War That Never Was: Science vs. Faith – Prof. Lawrence M. Principe
Prof. Lawrence M. Principe discusses the origins of the perceived conflict between science and faith, arguing it is a modern myth established in the late 19th century. This lecture explores the historical and intellectual factors that cont…
- The Making of Another Catholic Scientist – Prof. Jonathan Lunine
In this lecture from the Dominican House of Studies, planetary scientist Prof. Jonathan Lunine discusses his personal journey from a Jewish upbringing to conversion to Catholicism. He examines the compatibility of scientific research and f…
- Is Religion Really an Enemy of Science? – Prof. Carlos A. Casanova
Prof. Carlos A. Casanova argues that a theological worldview is a historical and structural ally of science, tracing how religious cultures fostered the development of scientific methods and institutions. This lecture was delivered at Purd…