Summa Contra Gentiles, Book II: XVIII How To Solve the Objections Against Creation

From Contemplating History

From Contemplating History

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 7 March 1274), was a Doctor of the Church, Philosopher, Theologian, Jurist, Dominican Friar, and Priest. Known as Doctor Angelicus "Angelic Doctor," and the Doctor Communis "Universal Doctor" his writings serve as a defense and proof of the validity of Christ's authority over all. The Summa contra Gentiles (also known as Liber de veritate catholicae fidei contra errores infidelium, "Book on the truth of the Catholic faith against the errors of the unbelievers"). The Summa contra Gentiles consists of four books. The structure of Saint Thomas's work is designed to proceed from general philosophical arguments for monotheism, to which Muslims and Jews are likely to consent even within their own respective religious traditions, before progressing to the discussion of specifically Christian doctrine. Book II is dedicated to the Creation (in other words, the physical universe, everything which exists). Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student of religion, or simply curious about the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on the world, this playlist is designed to provide an informative and engaging journey through its captivating past. Subscribe to the Contemplating History channel for more educational content and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of history.

Transhumanism: Satan's Deception to Become God

Fr Altier emphasizes the importance of faith, using Abraham and the Israelites as examples. He highlights the Israelites’ struggle with faith, despite witnessing God’s miracles. He then introduces transhumanism and brain-computer interfaces as a modern challenge to faith, urging listeners to remain faithful and question these technologies.

He warns against the dangers of implanting AI technology directly into the brain, likening it to a lie promising to make us like God. This technology, which could be used for deception and manipulation, threatens human free will and faith. Fr. Altier emphasises the importance of choosing between serving God and Satan, urging people to reject Satan’s lies and embrace God’s promises.

The Holy Rosary

Thursday, the Joyful Mysteries, in Latin with Cardinal Burke.

How Queen Victoria Spread Haemophilia Through Europe’s Royal Families | What Was the Royal Disease?

From History Calling

What was wrong with Queen Victoria’s blood, why did it make her a genetic time bomb and what was the royal disease she unwittingly caused? This is the tragic story of how Queen Victoria spread haemophilia through Europe’s royal families. Haemophilia is an inherited blood disorder; a rare genetic condition that prevents blood from clotting properly, leading to excessive bleeding from even minor injuries. Today it is treatable, but in the 1800s it was often a death sentence. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom is widely believed to have been a carrier of haemophilia B, likely caused by a spontaneous genetic mutation and not linked to the fact that she married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Although she herself showed no symptoms, every time she became pregnant with one of their nine children, she risked passing the gene to them. A third of Victoria and Albert’s offspring got this piece of damaged royal DNA. Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, suffered from haemophilia and died at the age of 30 after a fall. Two of her daughters, Princess Alice and Princess Beatrice, were carriers. Through them, the disorder entered the royal houses of Germany, Spain, and Russia as royal strategic marriages allowed it to spread deeper into the descendants of the grandmother of Europe (which was Queen Victoria’s nickname). One of the most famous cases was Tsarevich Alexei of Russia, the only son of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra, Victoria’s granddaughter. Alexei’s haemophilia caused constant fear for the future of the Romanov dynasty and led Alexandra to rely on the mystic Rasputin, whose perceived ability to ease Alexei’s suffering damaged the credibility of the Russian monarchy and contributed to growing political unrest. This British royal history documentary from History Calling explores the science behind haemophilia, Queen Victoria’s pivotal role, how a single faulty gene left a lasting mark on European history and why the royals of Europe don’t have haemophilia anymore.

"Extraterrestrial Life and Catholic Theology," Christopher T. Baglow, PhD

From The Society of Catholic Scientists

How an Angel Helped St Veronica Giuliani With Her Chores

My Guardian Angel stays busy just keeping me alive and out of trouble!

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Veronica Giuliani had a special relationship with her Guardian Angel, who often helped her with chores in the kitchen.

Catholics believe that each person is appointed by God a Guardian Angel, who is an invisible spiritual guide that accompanies us throughout our lives. While we may not be able to see them, their presence is often felt and their inner promptings can lead us along the path of virtue.

St. Veronica Guiliani, however, was well aware of her Guardian Angel and daily conversed with him and saw him frequently. Even her godmother saw Veronica's Guardian Angel when she received the sacrament of Confirmation at age seven.

It is also written that St. Veronica was protected from assaults of the devil by her Guardian Angel and because she was frequently attacked by a demon, the Virgin Mary sent another angel to protect her from these vicious attacks.

Veronica also experienced several mystical visions of Hell. Each time she was accompanied by her Guardian Angel, who acted as a guide and protector.

Help with chores

At the same time, while she was aided by her Guardian Angel during these extraordinary supernatural events, she also received help with more menial tasks. At the convent Veronica received the help of her Guardian Angel while in the kitchen, assisting her with the basic chores of cooking and washing the dishes.

Veronica had a deep and abiding love of God and daily grew closer to him in prayer. This opened her up to countless graces, including the ability to see her Guardian Angel. It was a great gift, one that was meant for her sanctification.

The many encounters Veronica had with her Guardian Angel are a reminder to us that our Guardian Angel is right there, with us, at this very moment. We may not be able to see him, but he is there and wants to help us.

This doesn't mean that our Guardian Angel is there to help us as a personal "butler," but will aid us if we are open to God's will and trust fully in his care and protection. If God sees that it would be beneficial for us to receive a little extra help, than he will allow our Guardian Angel to help us.

Sometimes all we have to do is ask with a firm trust in God's divine power. While he may not help us wash the dishes or put the kids to bed, he is there as a spiritual guide, ready to help us follow God's will.

Weird Bishop Demands We Abandon Fossil Fuels in the Name of the Gospel

The SSPX Respond to Accusations of Schism

According to the SSPX, everyone is ignoring what Popes and Doctors of the Church have actually taught about what schism truly is. The SSPX, they say, doesn't fit the bill.

How Medieval Builders Built Castles No Modern Architect Could Replicate

From Medieval Way

Medieval Way explores the sophisticated engineering techniques used to construct enduring stone fortresses without modern tools. By examining construction logistics, material science, and the organizational structure of masons, this analysis reveals the hidden design principles and chemical processes that allowed medieval structures to survive for centuries.

In 1078, a monk began a castle that still has not fallen. His name was Gundulf, the Bishop of Rochester, and he was the best builder of his age. The castle was the great white keep at the heart of the Tower of London. Gundulf had no steel, no power tools, and no engineering degree. He had cut stone, burnt lime, a length of rope, and a craft passed from hand to hand. Nine and a half centuries later, his walls have never shifted, still square, still standing, still carrying their own weight without complaint.

Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | July

Traditional Catholic morning prayers to help start your day in a godly way! The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. May our devotion to the salvific action of the Precious Blood of Christ increase more fervently this month. We've included the Memorare of the Sacred Heart and litany of the Sacred Heart. Begin your July with daily morning prayer. This video is a compilation of many traditional morning prayers Catholics say, and should not be considered a replacement for those who have an obligation to pray the Divine Office morning prayers.

Padre Pio Saw What Was Coming for the Church, and He Told Us Exactly What To Do

From Totus Catholica

Padre Pio died in 1968, and almost the moment he was gone, the internet filled with prophecies attributed to him. Long, tidy lists of world events he supposedly foresaw, each one fulfilled right on schedule. Here is the problem: most of it is fabricated. His own Capuchin order and the local church authorities denounced one of his most famous prophecies as an outright forgery, and Padre Pio himself denied writing it. Most people think he was a prophet of doom, a man who read the future like a calendar. He was not reading a calendar. He was reading souls. What he actually saw coming, he described using something ancient Israel knew intimately: the slow loss of a true sense of sin. This video traces that single thread from the temple, to the Day of Atonement, to Christ breathing on the apostles, to the confessional you could walk into this week. Because Padre Pio not only warned you. He told you exactly what to do about it: go to confession, pray the Rosary, and approach the Eucharist with awe. In this video: • Why the famous Padre Pio prophecies, including the 3 days of darkness, were rejected as forgeries • How the Day of Atonement and the Dead Sea Scrolls point straight to Catholic confession • Why John 20;23 hands real men the authority to forgive sin in Christ's name • The four concrete things Padre Pio actually told souls to do • How we answer our Protestant and Jewish brothers and sisters honestly ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 The Padre Pio Prophecies That Were Forged 0:41 What Padre Pio Actually Saw Coming 2:25 The Day of Atonement in Ancient Israel 3:06 John 20:23 and the Birth of Confession 4:24 The Thanksgiving Offering and the Eucharist 5:05 Four Things Padre Pio Told You to Do 7:00 The Protestant and Jewish Objections Answered 📖 SCRIPTURE REFERENCED • John 20:23: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven," Christ handing real authority to the apostles. • 1 Corinthians 11: whoever eats the bread unworthily sins against the body of the Lord. • Isaiah 53: the suffering servant who suffers innocently for the sins of others. • Daniel 3: the prayer of Azariah, a contrite heart and humble spirit offered as sacrifice. ⛪ FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS & THE CATECHISM • Tertullian (around the year 200): describes the church's practice of public penance by its Greek name, exomologesis, confessing sin and doing penance to be reconciled. • Cyprian of Carthage (around the year 250, Bishop in North Africa): urged sinners to confess while their confession could still be received. • CCC 1468: teaches that this reconciliation restores us to grace and to friendship with God. 📜 SOURCES & FURTHER READING • The Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran: the community's own rule describes members confessing their iniquities as they entered the covenant. • Pope Pius XII (1946): the true source of the famous line about the world losing its sense of sin, often misattributed to Padre Pio. • The 3 days of darkness prophecy: rejected as a fabrication by Padre Pio's own Capuchin order. 🔗 EXPLORE MORE 🌍 Website: https://totuscatholica.org/ Rosary Guide: https://totuscatholica.org/rosary ✉️ Contact: https://totuscatholica.org/contact 🔍 Examination of Conscience: https://catholicexaminationofconscien... 📚 Free eBooks: https://buymeacoffee.com/totuscatholi... 👥 Become a Totus Insider: https://buymeacoffee.com/totuscatholi...

5 Saints Who Were Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

One of them was St Veronica Giuliani, whose Feast is today.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

St Margaret Mary was only one of many who found consolation in the Heart of the Saviour.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a pious custom that can be traced back to at least the 12th century. However, it wasn't until the heavenly visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century that the devotion spread like wild fire.

It is a devotion, according to the Directory on Popular Piety, that "denotes the entire mystery of Christ, the totality of his being, and his person considered in its most intimate essential: Son of God, uncreated wisdom; infinite charity, principal of salvation and sanctification of mankind. The ‘Sacred Heart’ is Christ, the Word Incarnate, Savior, intrinsically containing, in the Spirit, an infinite divine-human love for the Father and for his brothers."

Over the centuries countless saints have found consolation in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and made it the "heart" of their own spiritual life.

Here are five saints who dedicated their lives to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and who did what they could to promote the praiseworthy devotion in the Church and in the world.

St. Lutgardis of Aywières

Born in the 12th century, Lutgardis ended up in a Benedictine monastery not because she felt a call to religious life, but because her dowry was lost. This appeared to be a good alternative at the time to maintain her dignity. However, while her intentions for entering were not ideal, she eventually became very devout and started to receive visions of Jesus and his pierced heart.

In one of her visions she experienced an "exchange of hearts," where Jesus asked her: "What, then, do you want?" She said, "I want Thy Heart." In response, Jesus said, "You want My Heart? Well, I too want your heart." Lutgardis then proclaimed: "Take it, dear Lord. But take it in such a way that the love of Your Heart may be so mingled and united with my own heart that I may possess my heart in Thee, and that it may always remain there secure in Your protection."

St. Gertrude the Great

At an early age Gertrude was entrusted to a monastic community, and by age 25 she began receiving heavenly visions. This 13th-century saint wrote down her visions, which helped elaborate this new devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

She also wrote a prayer to the Sacred Heart that is a favorite of many: "O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary. O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart with the burning fire with which Yours is aflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions."

St. Veronica Giuliani

A Poor Clare nun in the 17th century, Veronica chose the name because of its association with Jesus' sacred Passion. She worked humbly in the convent, but eventually received the gift of the stigmata, bearing the physical wounds of Christ on her body.

During a General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about her life and devotion to the Sacred Heart, "In every page of her writings Veronica commends someone to the Lord, reinforcing her prayers of intercession with the offering of herself in every form of suffering. Her heart dilated to embrace all 'the needs of the Holy Church,' living anxiously the desire for the salvation of 'the whole world'... Veronica cried: 'O sinners... all men and all women, come to Jesus’ heart; come to be cleansed by his most precious blood.... He awaits you with open arms to embrace you.'"

St. Michael Garicoïts

Born in the 19th century, Michael Garicoïts grew up during the French Revolution and saw his family shelter priests during the persecution. He eventually felt a desire to become a priest and while in charge of a Marian shrine, was inspired to start his own religious congregation dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

The priests of his congregation would evangelize through missions and in teaching the young. John Paul II, in a letter to the institute St. Michael founded, praised the source of their spirituality, "Today, by living the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus 'consumed by love for us,' the priests of your institute are following an admirable school for their personal life and for their missions. They will let themselves be led by the Spirit, in order to serve the Church according to the heart of God, by giving themselves totally, through love, for their brothers and sisters’ salvation."

St. Peter Julian Eymard

A humble French priest during the 19th century, Eymard sought above all things to promote devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Connected to this devotion was a love of the Sacred Heart.

He wrote a series of reflections on the Sacred Heart, where he explained, "Devotion to the Sacred Heart has a twofold object: it honors first with adoration and public worship the Heart of flesh of Jesus Christ, and secondly the infinite love with which this Heart has burned for us since its creation, and with which it is still consumed in the Sacrament of our altars."