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 I begins with general questions of truth and natural reason, and from chapter 10 investigates the concept of a monotheistic God. Chapters 10 to 13 are concerned with the existence of God, followed by a detailed investigation of God's properties (chapters 14 to 102). When demonstrating a Truth about God which can be known through reason, St. Thomas gives multiple arguments, each proving the same Truth in a different way.
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.
18 June 2026
What is Transhumanism? With Fr Michael Baggot
From Matt Fradd
With the constant emergence of new technologies and their growing integration with the human person, many are beginning to worry about "Transhumanism". The question must be asked then: What even is it? What do they believe, and what are their goals? This small segment of Matt Fradd's longer discussion on the topic begins to answer that question.
Is This Anne Boleyn or Elizabeth I? New Theory About Famous Anne Boleyn Portrait in NGP
From History Calling
Is the most famous portrait of Anne Boleyn actually a picture of her daughter, Elizabeth I? That’s the explosive new theory from Dr Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey in their book, Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn, released through Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, in February 2026.
The argument is that while this portrait, which is held in the National Portrait Gallery in London, was always intended to be used to represent Anne Boleyn (she is wearing a B pendant in it after all) the face pattern was modelled on Elizabeth I, and so the question of what did Anne Bolyen look like, is still much more up in the air than previously thought. The painting has been dated to 1584 or later using dendrochronology and Emmerson and McCaffrey argue that for political reasons, at a time when Elizabeth’s throne was under increasing attack at home and abroad, her legitimacy was in doubt and she was past childbearing, it was deemed politic to make her look like her mother as well as like other members of her family, like her half-sister and paternal great grandfather, Edward IV and as such, the same face pattern (that of Elizabeth) was used to create portraits of her extended family in the 1580s, all by the same artist. Does this intriguing theory hold water though? Join me in this episode of History Calling as I delve into the evidence presented in this book and explain whether or not I find it convincing and why. If true, this theory would completely reshape how we see Anne Boleyn and her portraiture and leave us with even fewer images of her which we can trust. That said, the book also claims to have identified a previously unknown image of Anne Boleyn from her lifetime, a claim which I’ll also examine.
In addition, I’ll examine how the National Portrait Gallery painting of Anne Boleyn compare to others we have of Henry VIII’s second wife, including the famous Moost Happi medal, created in 1534 (until now the only contemporary image we have of Anne Boleyn and still the best), the Chequer’s Ring, made in c. 1575 and depicting her alongside her daughter and Hever Castle’s Anne Boleyn rose portrait, so called because she holds a red rose in it and now properly dated for the first time using dendrochronology.
If you love Tudor art history, the history of the Tudor royal family or stories about the life of Anne Boleyn, this is the video for you.
When Did Sacrifice Become Such an Unpopular Idea?
The rise of the "me generation" spelt the death knell of sacrifice and the Catholic concept of "offering it up". We are all the poorer for it.
The word sacrifice sounds grim. So why does it sit behind so many of life's happiest moments?
From Aleteia
By Cerith Gardiner
A few days ago, I found myself standing on a busy Paris metro trying very hard not to become annoyed, which, for anyone who regularly uses the Paris metro, is already something of a spiritual achievement.
A heavily pregnant woman had boarded the carriage and was standing in the aisle, anxiously swaying as the train lurched from side to side. Around her sat a collection of apparently healthy adults who seemed suddenly fascinated by their phones, their shoes, the route map, and just about anything else that would prevent them from making eye contact.
Now, perhaps there were invisible injuries involved. Perhaps every passenger was suffering from a bad back, a twisted knee, or a heroic sports injury. Yet as the journey continued, I found myself wondering whether the issue was not simply a lack of manners but a changing attitude towards sacrifice itself.
Not the grand, dramatic sort that fills history books. The smaller variety. The kind that asks us to be slightly less comfortable so somebody else can be a little more comfortable. The sort that costs us very little but still requires us to look up from our own concerns for a moment.
The thought returned a few days later while I was reading a discussion on social media. Several mothers were debating whether they would be willing to give up certain luxuries so their children could participate in courses, activities, or opportunities that the family might not otherwise be able to afford.
Sacrifice and its image problem
What struck me was not the specific choices being discussed, but how many people spoke about sacrifice as though it were automatically a bad thing, rather like root canal treatment or an unexpected visit from the tax office. And that made me wonder whether sacrifice has developed something of an image problem.
The word itself seems to have fallen spectacularly out of fashion. Mention sacrifice and many people immediately picture hair shirts, joyless self-denial, and individuals grimly refusing to enjoy themselves on principle. It sounds faintly medieval, slightly suspicious, and about as appealing as voluntarily spending a weekend assembling flat-pack furniture.
Modern culture, by contrast, is much more comfortable talking about self-care. We are encouraged to protect our time, preserve our energy, prioritize our needs, and establish healthy boundaries. Much of that is sensible. Nobody should spend their life allowing others to walk all over them, and there is certainly no virtue in exhaustion for exhaustion's sake.
Yet somewhere along the way, it feels as though we have started viewing sacrifice and happiness as natural enemies. Which is rather strange when you think about it, because most of the things we value most in life require sacrifice of one kind or another.
Parents sacrifice sleep with a generosity that would be considered deeply concerning in any other context. Friends sacrifice time they could easily spend elsewhere. Good teachers sacrifice evenings. Loving spouses sacrifice independence. Anyone who has trained for a marathon, learned an instrument, cared for an elderly parent, built a business, or raised a child knows that worthwhile things rarely arrive without asking something from us in return.
The funny thing is that we rarely resent those sacrifices afterwards. In fact, many of our happiest memories are tied to them. Parents do not spend decades reminiscing about a particularly memorable facial they enjoyed in 2024. They talk about watching their children flourish. Grandparents do not gather their families together to recount the story of a wonderful afternoon spent protecting their personal boundaries. They talk about the people they loved, helped, encouraged, and occasionally inconvenienced themselves for.
When sacrifice becomes an active choice
Perhaps that is because sacrifice is not simply about giving something up. More often, it is about choosing something else instead.
The parent chooses a child's opportunity over a personal luxury. A friend chooses somebody else's need over a quiet evening. The passenger who offers a seat chooses another person's comfort over their own convenience. And when you look it at that way, sacrifice begins to look less like a punishment and more like a declaration of value. It reveals what matters to us.
Watching De Gaulle: Tilting Iron recently brought this home in a very different way. The sacrifices made during the Second World War are almost impossible for most of us to imagine. Men and women gave up careers, homes, freedom, comfort, and often their lives because they believed certain things were worth more than their own immediate happiness. What struck me was not simply their courage, but their certainty. They seemed remarkably clear about what mattered.
Today, we often begin from the opposite direction. Before agreeing to anything, we instinctively ask what it will cost us. Previous generations were perhaps more inclined to ask what something was worth.
Of course, most of us are not being asked to save France, liberate Europe, or lead a resistance movement before breakfast. The sacrifices that present themselves in daily life are generally much less dramatic. They usually involve patience, generosity, time, money, comfort, or convenience. Yet the principle remains surprisingly similar.
Christianity has always understood this. At the heart of the faith stands Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, yet Christians do not reflect upon it because suffering is somehow admirable in itself. There is nothing particularly holy about pain. What makes the Crucifixion extraordinary is the love behind it.
In fact, the Christian story suggests something rather unfashionable: that love and sacrifice are not opposites. Very often, they are inseparable. The people we love most are usually the people for whom we are willing to sacrifice the most, whether that means losing sleep over a newborn baby, caring for an aging parent, supporting a struggling friend, or putting somebody else's needs ahead of our own plans.
Perhaps that is why sacrifice feels so much richer than the caricature we often give it. It is not about becoming miserable. It is not about collecting hardships like merit badges. It is about deciding that something — or someone — matters enough for us to give a little of ourselves.
Which brings me back to the pregnant woman on the metro.
Offering her a seat would not have changed the world. It would not have cured disease, ended a war, or earned anyone a place in the history books. Yet for a few stops at least, it would have communicated something increasingly rare and deeply reassuring: that another person's wellbeing mattered more than our own convenience.
And perhaps that is where sacrifice usually begins. Not in dramatic acts of heroism, but in the quiet, everyday moments when we choose "you first" instead of "me first."
New Details Leaked About Leo's Big Meeting With The Cardinals
It's all synodality all the time. Plus: the bishop of Detroit publicly apostatises and sells himself out to enemies of the Cross.
How the Normans Saw Their Viking Origins
From Studium Historiae
When most people think of medieval Normans and Normandy, they tend to think of French knights, the conquest of England and Southern Italy in the 11th century, and maybe mercenaries in the Byzantine Empire. But the Normans were a little different from most French knights. They originated as Vikings, raiding and eventually settling in the region, and adopting Frankish culture alongside Christianity. That culture tended to be hostile to Vikings, though, so then what did later Normans think of their own Viking origins?
Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | June
Traditional Catholic morning prayers to help start your day in a godly way! The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. May our devotion to the mystery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus increase more and more each day. We've included the Memorare of the Sacred Heart and litany of the Sacred Heart. Begin your June 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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)