Summa Contra Gentiles, Book II: XXIII That God Does Not Act of Natural Necessity

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.

Catholic Priest Eloquently Explains What It Means To Be Human | Bishop Barron

The Holy Rosary

Wednesday, the Glorious Mysteries, in Latin with Cardinal Burke.

Charles II’s Secret Queen? Who Was Lucy Walter? England’s Secret Queen | Who Did Charles II Marry?

From History Calling

Who was LUCY WALTER and was she Charles II’s secret wife and the woman who should have been Queen of England? If so, that would mean that Charles II’s son by her, James, Duke of Monmouth, was legitimate and the rightful heir to the throne after his father’s death in 1685, rather than his uncle, James II. The question of whether these two ever wed is therefore of critical importance. Born in around 1630, Lucy was a Welshwoman who had made her way to France by 1648 where she became the mistress of Charles, Prince of Wales (as he was then). In 1649 she gave birth to their only child together. That same year Charles became the titular King of England, after the Parliamentarians executed his father, Charles I and abolished the monarchy. Over the next nine years the new King Charles and Lucy (who also went under the aliases Lucy Barlow and Lucy Barlo) had a fraught relationship as their romantic entanglement ended and Lucy became the mistress of several other men and moved around Europe, even ending up a prisoner in the Tower of London at one point. The King eventually removed their son from her care in 1658 and Lucy was dead by the end of the year, having supposedly confessed just before her end that she had married Charles. Less than two years later Charles regained the throne in 1660, brought his illegitimate son to England and married Catherine of Braganza in 1662, but the couple had no children. This left his brother, James, Duke of York, as heir to the throne. He had converted to Catholicism however and there was therefore great interest in making the Protestant Duke of Monmouth heir in his place. This could only be accomplished if the boy was legitimate and for that, Charles and Lucy would need to have been wed before his birth. Charles however, always denied that he had married Lucy, despite the fact that it would have solved his problem of having no legitimate children. Was he telling the truth though? What evidence is there that he and Lucy married and was there really evidence of this secret royal wedding in a mysterious black box? In today’s Stuart history documentary from History Calling, we find out.

"Earthquakes, their Consequences, and the Jesuit Pioneers of Seismology," Natasha Toghramadjian. PhD (HarvardUniversity)

From The Society of Catholic Scientists

Why Catholics Should Support England in the World Cup!

OK, my full disclosure! I've been a Three Lions fan since my teen years. My Mum and Gran were English women, and England is a monarchy.

From Aleteia

By Cerith Gardiner

With England one match away from the World Cup final, here's a rather lovely reason Catholics might want to cheer on the Three Lions.

Ishould probably begin with a tiny declaration of interest. I grew up in England, which means I've had years of practice in the particular blend of hope, heartache, and blind optimism required to support its national soccer team. So, when the Three Lions face Argentina in tomorrow's World Cup semifinal, I will inevitably be yelling at the television and willing them towards the final.

But that is absolutely not why I think you should support them, too. Honestly!

You see, behind the goals, the drama, and the increasingly alarming effect England games have on my blood pressure lies a rather wonderful tradition that many soccer fans outside the country may not know about. England's players donate their international match fees to charity. All of them. And they have been doing this since 2007.

When I first discovered this, I was delighted. Here was my completely selfless reason for recruiting new England fans: every win meant another match, another appearance fee, and more money for charity. Perfect! Except, annoyingly, the losing semifinalists also play in the third-place playoff, so England are guaranteed another game whatever happens tomorrow. Great news for the charities. A little inconvenient for my argument.

A tradition started by England greats

Nearly two decades ago, a group of senior England players formed a committee that established the England Footballers Foundation. Among them were some of the biggest names in English soccer: the newly knighted Sir David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, John Terry, David James, and Michael Owen.

The idea was wonderfully simple. These were professional players earning substantial salaries through their clubs, and they decided the money they received for playing for England could do more good elsewhere.

Since then, generations of England players have continued the tradition, donating their international match fees through the foundation. By 2018, more than £5 million had already been raised, supporting charities including UNICEF, WellChild, Together for Short Lives, Help for Heroes, and the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.

What I particularly love is the continuity of it all. New players arrive, famous names retire, managers come and go, and England fans endure the usual cycle of hope, anguish, and an extraordinary ability to believe that this time really might be different. Yet the tradition continues.

And for Catholics, this kind of generosity feels especially worth celebrating. Giving is not simply about parting with money; it is a way of recognizing that what we have can be placed at the service of others. England’s players have quietly turned the honor of representing their country into an opportunity to do exactly that.

Generosity beyond England

England's players are certainly not alone in using soccer to help others, and the World Cup has given us some wonderful examples of generosity over the years.

France star Kylian Mbappé famously donated his match fees and 2018 World Cup earnings to Premiers de Cordée, an organization that brings sports to hospitalized children and young people with disabilities. Players across the soccer world have also created foundations, funded community projects, and supported causes close to their hearts.

But England's tradition feels particularly special because it isn't dependent on one exceptionally generous superstar. It has become a collective habit, passed from one generation of the national team to the next for almost 20 years.

And, as a mom, I love the idea of sporting heroes who inspire millions of young people to think of others in need.

So, about tomorrow...

England now faces Argentina in a World Cup semifinal carrying all the usual weight of history, expectation, and the hopes of millions of fans who would very much like to see the country lift its first men's World Cup trophy since 1966. The match in Atlanta will also pit England against Lionel Messi's defending champions, so nobody could accuse them of choosing the easy route to the final.

Having grown up with three brothers, I never had much choice about being invested in soccer, but this tournament has taken things to another level. Every time thousands of England fans burst into “Hey Jude” or “Wonderwall,” I'm joining in at the top of my voice. In fact, that's a reminder to buy a few vats of honey in preparation for tomorrow because my voice needs to be ready. England may need me.

And yet, beneath all the noise, nerves, and singing, there is another reason to cheer them on. When Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and their teammates step onto the field tomorrow, they will be continuing a charitable tradition that has quietly accompanied England internationals for years. Every appearance has meant more than another cap, another anthem, or another chance at glory, because the players collectively decided that the money attached to representing their country could be put to work elsewhere.

So if you're an American wondering who to support now that the USMNT has left the tournament, may I humbly suggest England?

Cheer for the charitable tradition. Cheer for the causes that have benefited. Cheer for a group of players continuing something begun by David Beckham and his teammates nearly two decades ago.

And yes, I know England will play another match regardless of tomorrow's result. But surely a World Cup final appearance would be better for morale. The charities' morale, obviously!

Good News! Corrupt Catholic NGO on the Verge of Collapse

Pope Leo Declares That His Job Is To Be Political

On July 4, Pope Leo met with Ambassador Brian Burch from the USA. The ambassador implied the meeting was less political than Leo makes it sound.

What Is the Bayeux Tapestry Really About?

From Studium Historiae

Everyone knows that the Bayeux Tepaestry is about the Norman Conquest of England, right? Well, although the tapestry does depict the conquest, its story actually has more to it than that. You can view the Bayeux Tapestry in its entirety at the Bayeux Museum's website: https://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/the-b... Support me on Patreon:   / studiumhistoriae1215   Follow me on Instagram:   / studium.historiae   Sources and Recommendations for further reading: -Musset, Lucien. The Bayeux Tapestry. (Boydell Press, 2005). -Otter, Monika. “Baudri of Bourgueil, ‘To Countess Adela.’” The Journal of Medieval Latin 11 (2001): 60–141. [On the poem by Baldric of Dol (a.k.a. Baudri of Bourgueil) in which he describes a fictional narrative embroidery similar to, and likely inspired by, the Bayeux Tapestry] -Pastan, Elizabeth Carson, Stephen R. Reimer, and Kate Gilbert, eds. The Bayeux Tapestry and Its Contexts: A Reassessment. (Boydell and Brewer, 2024).

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.