Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy, OP, a dynamic Coordinator for Campus Outreach at the Thomistic Institute, dives deep into loving God with our minds. He unpacks St. Thomas Aquinas's insights on the greatest commandment, discussing the connection between ignorance and original sin. Fr. Irenaeus emphasizes the integration of faith and reason, critiquing modern education's fragmentation. He advocates for a contemplative approach to learning, revealing how sacred study deepens our love for God and enriches everyday life.
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insights INSIGHT
Wounds of Original Sin Explained
Original sin wounds our will, emotions, and intellect, leaving us ignorant of God.
This ignorance is the greatest affliction and deprives us of knowing and loving God properly.
insights INSIGHT
Degrees of Loving God with Mind
Loving God with the mind means subjecting our understanding to Him and believing His revealed truths.
Aquinas describes three degrees of love: God's self-love, the beatific love of saints, and the imperfect love of earthly believers.
insights INSIGHT
Submitting Understanding to Faith
To love God with the mind is to submit our understanding to Christ and accept divine revelation.
Articles of faith are foundational principles in theology and must be believed for supernatural knowledge of God.
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Written in Latin between AD 397 and 400, 'Confessions' is a blend of autobiography, philosophy, theology, and critical exegesis of the Christian Bible. The first nine books are autobiographical, tracing Augustine's life from his birth to his conversion to Catholicism. He recounts his sinful youth, his involvement with Manicheism and Neoplatonism, and his eventual conversion in a Milanese garden. The last four books focus on philosophical and theological issues, including memory, time, eternity, and the interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The work is structured as a series of prayers to God, reflecting Augustine's journey of redemption and his understanding of God's grace and providence[2][4][5].
Summa theologica
Thomas Aquinas
The Summa Theologica is a comprehensive work divided into three parts. The first part deals with God, the creation of the world, angels, and the nature of man. The second part is subdivided into two sections: the first part of the second part discusses general principles of morality and law, while the second part of the second part addresses morality in particular, including individual virtues and vices. The third part, left unfinished by Aquinas, focuses on the person and work of Christ and the sacraments. The work also includes a posthumous supplement that concludes the third part and discusses Christian eschatology. Aquinas drew on Aristotelian and Augustinian influences and aimed to integrate faith and reason in his theological arguments[1][2][4].
Ex corde ecclesiae
Alice Gallin
Fides et Ratio
Fides et Ratio
None
Pope St. John Paul II
Fides et Ratio, an encyclical letter by Pope John Paul II, explores the intricate relationship between faith and reason. It emphasizes the importance of both as complementary paths to truth, highlighting their interconnectedness in the pursuit of knowledge. The encyclical addresses concerns about the perceived conflict between faith and reason, arguing for their harmonious coexistence. It calls for a renewed commitment to philosophical inquiry within the context of Christian faith. Fides et Ratio serves as a significant contribution to contemporary theological and philosophical discourse.
Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy explores the meaning of loving God with all our minds, drawing from St. Thomas Aquinas's interpretation of the greatest commandment.
This lecture was given on April 9th, 2024, at the University of Pennsylvania.
For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events
About the Speaker:
Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy, OP is a Coordinator for Campus Outreach at the Thomistic Institute in Washington, DC. He has served as a parochial vicar at St. Pius V Church in Providence, RI, as well as an adjunct professor and assistant chaplain at Providence College. He originates from Columbus, OH, studied architecture in Virginia and Switzerland, and practiced in the DC area before entering the Order of Preachers in 2013. He was ordained a priest in 2020 at the Dominican House of Studies during the quarantine. In his work with the Thomistic Institute, he has given talks on the virtue of penance and the use of metaphor in Scripture. He often travels the country visiting Thomistic Institute Campus Chapters, leading seminars that help students grasp Thomistic concepts. Additionally, he coordinates the TI's intellectual retreat programming, which affords students time to pray and integrate into their lives Thomistic theology and philosophy.
Keywords: Analogical Predication, Articles of Faith, Deposit of Faith, Ignorance, Love of God, Saint Paul, Sacred Study, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Wounds of Original Sin
The Thomistic Institute 
