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.
19 July 2026
Summa Contra Gentiles, Book II: XXVII That the Divine Will Is Not Confined to Certain Effects
From Contemplating History
The Vatican, Silicon Valley, and Magnifica Humanitas
From a secular source.
The podcast on Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” published in May 2026, explains the encyclical’s main themes and discusses reactions and press coverage. Stay curious, stay human.
Every Scottish Monarch from Kenneth I MacAlpin to James VI | A brief history of the Scottish monarch 848-1625
From History Calling
Discover the LEGENDARY RULERS of Scotland before the Union of the Crowns; every Scottish king and queen from Kenneth MacAlpin to James VI, in 750 years of royal power, war, and intrigue.
This Scottish royal history documentary from History Calling showcases the complete history of Scottish monarchs from 848 to 1625 (the Union of the Crowns had occurred in 1603 when James VI became James I of England). It explores the reigns of every king and queen to sit on the throne of Scotland, including the famous, the forgotten, and the controversial. You’ll hear about the lives and legacies of Scotland’s most iconic rulers like Macbeth, the real king behind Shakespeare’s legend, Margaret, Maid of Norway, whose tragic death sparked a succession crisis, James IV whose marriage to Margaret Tudor set the scene for the ultimate joining of the English and Scottish crowns, the tragic Mary, Queen of Scots and her son James VI. You’ll also uncover the stories of lesser-known rulers who shaped Scotland through war, alliance, betrayal, and political intrigue.
Each monarch’s biography includes key facts: birth and death dates (where known), years of reign, major events, battles, successions, and legacies. Whether they ruled for decades or mere months, every Scottish king and queen left their mark on the Kingdom of Alba and later the Kingdom of Scotland.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a student, or just curious about the real lives behind the legends, this video offers a detailed and engaging journey through one of Europe’s most fascinating royal lineages.
This video is perfect for history lovers, students, researchers, and anyone curious about the royal bloodline of Scotland. Explore how the Scottish crown evolved from the early medieval period to the dawn of the British monarchy.
What Precisely Is a Mortal Sin in the Catholic Church?
Pride is the root of all sin. It is pride that convinces us that we know better than God, and that our actions aren't really sinful. Pride is our downfall.
From Aleteia
From Aleteia
By Philip Kosloski
The concept of a mortal sin is a biblical one, as well as something that appeals to natural reason.Sin is not an easy topic to discuss, as we don't like to admit our many faults and failings. However, if we do not examine ourselves and probe deeper into our sins and sin itself, we may not ever find true happiness in this life or the life to come.
Among the many facets in the topic of sin is the recognition of mortal sins. This is a classification that encompasses sins that sever our relationship with God.
Grave violation
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines mortal sin as "a grave violation of God's law;" adding that such a sin "turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him"(CCC 1855).
Furthermore, "When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object ... whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery" (CCC 1856).
This concept of types of sin that are more grave than others is a biblical one and can be found in the First Letter to John:
There is sin which is mortal .... All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal. (1 John 5:16-17)
We might consider that Jesus also pointed his listeners to distinctions in "levels" of sin. He spoke about the sins of the heart that "defile" as something distinct from the various rules the Pharisees enjoined on their followers:
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. (Matthew 15:18-20)
Before any further discussion of sin, however, we should take a moment to speak of God's readiness to forgive. Pope Francis likes to say that God never gets tired of forgiving:
The problem is that we ourselves tire, we do not want to ask, we grow weary of asking for forgiveness. He never tires of forgiving, but at times we get tired of asking for forgiveness.
Let us never tire, let us never tire! He is the loving Father who always pardons, who has that heart of mercy for us all. And let us too learn to be merciful to everyone. Let us invoke the intercession of Our Lady who held in her arms the Mercy of God made man.
Mortal sin may be serious, but if we turn to God with a sincere heart, we can be forgiven.
Now, to understand mortal sin further, we must also consider that in addition to the objective component to mortal sin (the sin itself), there is also a subjective element that must be taken into consideration (factors in the person committing the sin).
In order for a sin to be mortal, to sever our relationship with God, it must meet three specific qualifications as laid out by the Catechism:
Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God's law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin. (CCC 1859)
To summarize the three qualifications, a mortal sin must be grave matter, committed with full knowledge and the person must have complete consent.
This means that "unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense" (CCC 1860). Also, when a person is forced to commit a grave offense, the sin is no longer mortal in nature.
Common sense of sin
The concept of a mortal sin is one that is in accord with natural reason , since we seem to know within our hearts there exists certain offenses that are greater than others. Stealing a candy bar from a store is bad, but stealing bread from a homeless person is something even worse.
If we find that we have committed mortal sin, the important part is to go to confession. In this sacrament, our sins, even if they are mortal, can be wiped clean by the mercy of God, who is already ready to receive us back into his fold and restore our relationship with him.
Pictured: An allegorical image depicting the human heart subject to the seven deadly sins, each represented by an animal (clockwise: toad = avarice; snake = envy; lion = wrath; snail = sloth; pig = gluttony; goat = lust; peacock = pride)
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