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.
23 July 2026
Summa Contra Gentiles, Book II: XXXI That It Is Not Necessary for Creatures To Have Been Always
From Contemplating History
What the Church Says About A.I.
In today’s homily, Fr Chris Alar, speaks about the moral and spiritual dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how Catholics must respond with wisdom, courage, and fidelity to the truth. As Pope Leo XIII once addressed the crisis caused by the Industrial Revolution with his landmark encyclical letter Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIV now warns that the age of Artificial Intelligence must be guided by the protection of human dignity. Technology must serve the human person, not reduce us to data, consumers, or objects of control.
Read the First Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xi...
Why Were the Tudors and Stuarts Afraid of This Woman? Who Was Lady Arbella Stuart?
From History Calling
The tragic life of Lady Arbella Stuart shows how being almost royal can ruin your life. A descendant of Henry VII through Princess Margaret Tudor and Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox, Lady Arbella (sometimes called Lady Arabella Stuart) was born in 1575, the granddaughter of Bess of Hardwick and Lady Margaret Douglas, the niece of Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, the cousin of James I of England and the cousin of Elizabeth I, yet this incredible royal pedigree made her a danger to those who sat on the throne and worried that she might try to take it from them. In this Tudor royal women documentary from History Calling, we look at the extraordinary tale of this forgotten heir to the throne, whose life was overshadowed by her more famous family members.
Orphaned in childhood and raised by her formidable grandmother, Bess, Arbella was a clever, well-educated Tudor woman and arguably second in line to the English throne after her cousin James. She ought to have been a catch on the marriage market, but the potential for her to rival Elizabeth then James meant she was never allowed to marry. Eventually she contracted a secret union with William Seymour, Lord Beauchamp, later Duke of Somerset, in June 1610. This led to their arrests and separate imprisonments on the orders of King James I. She attempted a daring escape to France to be with her husband in 1611, but was caught at the last minute and returned to England where she was thrown in the Tower of London and left to die there in 1615. She was buried in Westminster Abbey with her aunt, Queen Mary and many of the other Stuarts.
If you’re interested in Tudor history, the succession crisis after Elizabeth I, royal women, or forgotten figures of English history, this deep dive into Lady Arbella Stuart’s life will give you a powerful and unforgettable story that deserves to be remembered.
7 U.S. Sites To Visit for St Francis’ Jubilee Year
If you can make it to California, you could visit all of the California Missions as a not-so-mini pilgrimage. They were all founded by Franciscans.
From Aleteia
By Theresa Civantos Barber
If you’d like to obtain the Plenary Indulgence for this year's Franciscan Jubilee and visit one of the sites, check out these 7 in the U.S.
In a world that cries out for peace and justice, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a special Franciscan Jubilee Year running from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. This Jubilee marks 800 years since the death of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved saints of all time.
For this extraordinary occasion, there is the possibility of obtaining a Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions — detachment from all sin, going to Confession, receiving Communion, and praying for the Pope’s intentions — alongside a pilgrimage to a site dedicated to St. Francis’s order, meaning any Franciscan conventual church or sanctuary named after St. Francis. The sick, elderly, and homebound can also obtain the Plenary Indulgence by offering their prayers and sufferings to God spiritually.
St. Francis has been part of the American story since the first arrival of Europeans. Franciscans established a mission at the site of the first Thanksgiving Mass in Florida in the 1500s, while the Franciscan missionary, St. Junipero Serra, established missions on the West Coast in the 1700s.
If you’d like to obtain the Plenary Indulgence and visit one of the Franciscan sites, check out these 7 sites in the U.S. and read more about them here. You also might live near other possible sites not on this list, such as if you have a local parish named for St. Francis. Hopefully you can make it to at least one of them before the end of the Franciscan Jubilee Year!
The Franciscan Sites
1National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, San Francisco, CA
Founded in 1849 before California was even a state, this North Beach church survived the 1906 earthquake and now houses relics of Sts. Francis, Clare, and Anthony of Padua.
2Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, Washington, DC
Built in 1899 on "Mount Saint Sepulcher," this stunning site offers full-size replicas of Holy Land shrines, including the tomb of Christ, for pilgrims who can't make the trip to Jerusalem.
3Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe, NM
The mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe holds La Conquistadora, believed to be the oldest Marian image in the United States.
4The California Mission Churches
Franciscans established 21 missions along the California coast between 1769 and 1823, nine of them founded personally by St. Junípero Serra.
5The Franciscan Center, Tampa, FL
Founded on land donated by a local attorney in 1965, this riverside retreat center has offered spiritual refreshment under the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany since 1970.
6Graymoor: Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat, Garrison, NY
Founded in 1898 by Fr. Paul Wattson and Mother Lurana White, this hillside community is now the motherhouse of the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement and home to the largest outdoor shrine to St. Anthony in the country.
7Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine, FL
Marking the site of the first Catholic Mass offered in what is now the United States in 1565, this Franciscan mission, formally established in 1587, is anchored by a 208-foot steel cross visible for miles.
The history of the Jubilee
The Jubilee invites reflection on the core pillars of Franciscan spirituality: living simply, promoting peace, and caring for creation. It’s a chance to ask ourselves: “How can we live more like St. Francis?” Immediately following the Jubilee Year of Hope, this Jubilee Year of St. Francis invites all pilgrims to transform hope into action, following the example of St. Francis of Assisi to become models of holiness and witnesses of peace.
A number of events around the world were planned to honor his life. St. Francis’ relics were displayed in Assisi earlier this year and Franciscan communities around the world will mark the 800th anniversary of his death on October 3, 2026, with a traditional Transitus Commemoration.
This Jubilee Year calls on all of us to be peacemakers, bridge builders, heralds of the Gospel and messengers of Christ’s limitless love—in the footsteps of St. Francis.
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