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 June 2026
Summa Contra Gentiles, Book II: I Connection of the Foregoing With the Sequel
From Contemplating History
AI and the Transhumanist Vision of the Body | Paul Scherz, MTS, PhD
From
Join Benedictine College for an evening lecture by Dr. Paul Scherz, sponsored by the college’s Center for Technology and Human Dignity, Theology Department and Center for Integral Ecology.
Paul Scherz is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. His work examines the intersection of theology, science, medicine, and technology. His interests in ethics center on the role of virtue ethics, especially Stoic virtue ethics, in moral theology. He has published articles on many topics in bioethics, such as human enhancement, genetic technology, and end of life ethics. His books analyze issues like the moral formation of scientists, the role of risk in contemporary practical reason, the ethics of precision medicine, and the ethics of artificial intelligence.
He began his career in science with a BA in molecular and cell biology from UC Berkeley (2001), a PhD in genetics from Harvard (2005), and a postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF. He then received an MTS and a PhD in moral theology from the University of Notre Dame (2010, 2014). His previous teaching positions were at the Catholic University of America and the University of Virginia. He is currently working on projects on the ethics of artificial intelligence and the historical influence of Stoicism on moral theology.
How Did Charles II Escape Oliver Cromwell?
From
Discover the remarkable true story of King Charles II’s desperate escape after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. With Oliver Cromwell’s forces closing in and a huge bounty on his head, the young king was forced to flee across the English countryside, relying on loyal supporters, Catholic safe houses, disguises, priest holes, and one very famous oak tree at Boscobel.
This video follows Charles from the execution of his father, Charles I, through his Scottish coronation, the disastrous Royalist defeat at Worcester, and the six-week flight that eventually carried him to safety in France. Along the way, we explore the bravery of the Penderell brothers, the hiding places of White Ladies Priory, Boscobel House and Moseley Hall, and the origins of the Royal Oak legend and Oak Apple Day. If you enjoy stories from the English Civil War, royal history, hidden houses, dramatic escapes and forgotten traditions, make sure to like the video, leave a comment, and subscribe for more history.
Topics covered: King Charles II, the Battle of Worcester, Oliver Cromwell, the English Civil War, Boscobel House, White Ladies Priory, the Penderell brothers, the Royal Oak, Oak Apple Day, and the Restoration of the monarchy.
The Unexpected Discovery Inside a Friar’s Habit
I'm quite certain the Patron Saint of animals would have approved of the decision of his spiritual descendant to leave the little mother alone.
From Aleteia
From Aleteia
By Cerith Gardiner
A simple household task led to a discovery that has captured hearts far beyond southern India.A small bird in southern India recently made a housing decision that St. Francis of Assisi would almost certainly have approved of.
Faced with all the trees, ledges, branches, and hiding places available around a Capuchin monastery in Kerala, a bulbul bird carefully selected the hood of a friar's habit as the ideal place to raise her family. And you have to admire her taste.
The discovery was made by Fr. Jinu Mandiyil after he hung his habit out to dry and returned a few days later expecting to find a clean robe. Instead, he found a nest tucked inside the hood, complete with tiny chicks waiting for their next meal.
Apparently, while the friar had been going about his daily business, a mother bird had been busy conducting a property search. And it seems she had very particular tastes.
Rather than evict his unexpected tenants, Fr. Jinu decided to leave the habit exactly where it was. The Capuchin community watched as the mother bird returned again and again to feed her young, disappearing into the folds of the garment before darting away once more.
At Aleteia we found it difficult not to smile at the image. Of all the places a bird could have chosen, it picked the hood of a Franciscan friar.Yet, the timing makes the story even sweeter.
This year marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, whose love of creation remains one of the most charming aspects of his legacy. Francis saw every creature as a brother or sister, spoke of Brother Sun and Sister Moon, and famously preached to birds. So if the beloved saint was watching, he was probably delighted, and no doubt encouraging his feathered friend!
After Shalom World News shared the story online, one commenter immediately thought of a verse from Psalm 84:
"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young."
We can't help but smile at the comparison. Somewhere in Kerala, a mother bird spent her days searching for the perfect place to raise a family and eventually settled on the hood of a Franciscan friar. It was an unconventional choice, but let's not forget, house-hunting is not easy these days.
Now the chicks have grown, the mother bird has moved on, and Fr. Jinu will finally be reunited with his habit. Yet it is difficult not to feel that St. Francis would have wholeheartedly approved of the arrangement. After all, if a bird was looking for shelter, why not choose the wardrobe of one of his spiritual sons?
Cardinal McElroy Heretically Blathers About Accepting Sin at Depraved Gathering
Cardinal McElroy's address to James Martin's OUTREACH 'Catholic' conference is the perfect expression of synodality. Meanwhile, the Cardinals and Bishops gather in Rome to discuss Synodality and to bury Just War Theory forever.
The Real Reason Modern Lumber Is So Bad (Medieval Builders Knew Better)
From
Ancient wood construction techniques allowed a church in England to stand for 1,000 years. Learn why this split oak has survived so long.
This video explores the remarkable durability of ancient building materials compared to the lumber available today. If you are interested in woodworking history or the lost secrets of ancient craftsmanship, this breakdown examines how carpenters forty generations ago built structures that refused to rot or crumble.
We analyze the stark contrast between modern timber quality and the enduring strength of the oldest wooden church in England. By looking at how these split oak logs were prepared, you will gain a new perspective on why ancient wood construction remains superior to much of what we buy in hardware stores today.
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.
Medicine Cannot Become Servant of Death, Says Pope
How about placing all those countries that have "assisted suicide" (and US States) under interdict? Start with Canada, which is about to legalise the murder of the mentally ill.
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From Aleteia
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From Aleteia
By I. Media
Marking the 100th birthday of Jérôme Lejeune, the French geneticist who discovered the cause of Down syndrome, Pope Leo made a passionate defense of life.A doctor should never allow himself "to decide the fate of a particular embryo or an elderly person! Medicine can never become the servant of programmed death!" This was the warning issued by Leo XIV, who received members of the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation on June 22, 2026, at the Vatican to mark the centenary of the French geneticist’s birth (June 13, 1926– April 3, 1994).
During the audience, the Pope praised the work of this doctor who pioneered research into Down syndrome. Reading his speech in French, he encouraged healthcare professionals to follow Dr. Lejeune's example and choose “the courage of truth.”
In front of an audience of 80 people, including Professor Jérôme Lejeune’s children, the head of the Catholic Church paid tribute to this “man of science and wisdom” who became “the forerunner of modern genetics” through his discovery of the chromosomal abnormality responsible for trisomy 21. He emphasized Lejeune’s compassion for children with disabilities, whom he called “the poorest of the poor,” as well as his fight for “the life and dignity of the most vulnerable, even at the cost of his career.”
Indeed, realizing that his scientific discovery “would be used to eliminate people with trisomy 21 before their birth,” Jérôme Lejeune became their advocate, “denouncing the violation of the Hippocratic Oath and this new form of eugenics, which he described as ‘chromosomal racism.’” He added that his defense of “the life of every human person” before “institutions and sovereigns throughout the world” led to him “being treated harshly in certain scientific circles.”
“A person’s worth does not depend on what they produce”
The Pope warned against the danger of using technology “against medicine” when it “escapes all essential ethical control and is governed by considerations of efficiency, profitability or utility.” “The value of a person does not depend on what they achieve or produce,” he emphasized.
Ahead of his apostolic journey to France, and while the law on end-of-life care — establishing a ‘right to die’ — is currently being debated in France's National Assembly, Leo XIV affirmed that “medicine can never become the servant of planned death.”
“No doctor should ever allow themselves, on the basis of laboratory algorithms, to decide on the life of a particular embryo or an elderly person,” he insisted.
Among the delegation, which included people with Down syndrome and their carers, these words evoked a strong emotional response. Marion, the Foundation’s advocacy officer, praised the speech as “magnificently well prepared.” She expressed the hope that the Pope’s words would carry weight in the context of the “terrible debates” resuming this Monday at the Palais Bourbon, which could lead to the legalization of euthanasia.
To healthcare professionals: Reject the “lie”
Throughout his address, Léon XIV also recalled that Professor Lejeune had been honoured by several popes: Paul VI appointed him a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences; and the Frenchman was instrumental in the creation of the Pontifical Academy for Life during the pontificate of John Paul II, with whom he formed a friendship.
The Pope encouraged the Lejeune Foundation to continue its commitment to research, care, and “the unconditional defense of the human person.” He praised the institution’s initiatives in research into genetically-based intellectual disabilities, in the field of training, and its work with public authorities.
Finally, Leo XIV expressed the hope that Jérôme Lejeune, whose cause for beatification is currently underway at the Vatican – he has been recognized as ‘Venerable’ since 2021 – would inspire "the courage to speak the truth in the many young people and professionals seeking coherence." He urged them to unite, “without rigidity, reason and faith, words and deeds, non-judgement of others and the rejection of falsehood.”
[Note: A full, official Vatican translation of the French text into English will be added to this article when available. For now, quotes are an Aleteia translation.]
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