Creation: Mercy Beyond Justice | Prof. John O'Callaghan
Jan 29, 2025
auto_awesome
In this discussion, John O'Callaghan, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Notre Dame University and a member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, explores the intricate relationship between divine mercy and justice from a Thomistic perspective. He delves into Aquinas’s views on creation from nothing, emphasizing the philosophical nuances of being versus non-being. O'Callaghan also examines how metaphors shape our understanding of existence and the transformative power of divine forgiveness in the Christian narrative, highlighting pivotal connections between mercy and justice.
The podcast underscores the importance of actively sharing God's mercy as essential for eternal life, deepening one's faith and compassion.
It explores how God's justice and mercy are intricately linked in creation, inviting a metaphysical reconsideration of divine interactions with all creatures.
Deep dives
The Importance of Proclaiming Divine Mercy
The podcast emphasizes the vital message conveyed by Jesus to St. Faustina, which underscores that those who proclaim God's mercy will experience eternal life. It argues for the necessity of actively sharing this divine mercy with others, framing it as essential to the journey toward eternal blessedness. This message is presented as a key takeaway, encouraging listeners to engage deeply with their faith and the compassion inherent in the Catholic tradition. By stressing this principle, the podcast positions the act of sharing mercy as central to one's spiritual life and connection to the divine.
Understanding Justice and Mercy in Creation
The discussion elaborates on how God's justice is demonstrated in creation through a metaphorical framework, which emphasizes that God's essence harmonizes with the principles of justice and goodness. It explains how, subsequent to creation, distributive justice becomes evident in God's fairness towards creatures based on their inherent natures. The exploration reveals that the concepts of mercy and justice are more than just moral reflections; they are tied to profound metaphysical understandings that characterize God's relationship with His creation. This dual perspective invites listeners to rethink conventional moral interpretations of justice and mercy, instead relating them to a broader and deeper divine reality.
Aquinas's Insights on Divine Mercy
Aquinas's treatment of mercy presents it as a heartfelt compassion that compels alleviating the suffering of others. Even though God is seen as impassable and does not experience emotions, Aquinas argues that divine mercy can still be ascribed to God through His acts of creation and providence. Remarkably, he asserts that God's mercy extends even to the damned, showcasing the depth and breadth of divine compassion. This notion challenges listeners to reconcile human understandings of mercy with a divine perspective, drawing attention to the ways God interacts with both the blessed and those suffering in a state of eternal separation.
The Role of Metaphor in Divine Creatorship
The conversation delves into the complexities of using metaphor in discussing God's act of creation, particularly as it relates to mercy. It outlines Aquinas's assertion that creation itself entails a shift from non-being to being, which may be interpreted metaphorically to illustrate God's mercy. Importantly, this metaphor does not suggest a prior existing subject suffering from a defect; rather, it emphasizes the divine initiative in bestowing existence where none was. This framing highlights how creation reflects God's mercy as the act brings creatures into being, establishing a relationship rooted in divine goodness and inviting contemplation of the nature of existence itself.
Professor John O'Callaghan delves into St. Thomas Aquinas's understanding of God's mercy in creation, addressing the apparent paradox of extending mercy to non-existent beings by examining the transition from non-being to being.
This lecture was given on October 19th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies.
Dr. John Callaghan is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Notre Dame University. He is a permanent member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas and he was the President of the American Catholic Philosophical Association (2012-2013). He is the author of Thomistic Realism and the Linguistic Turn: Toward a More Perfect Form of Existence and the editor, with Prof. Thomas Hibbs, of Recovering Nature: Essays in Honor of Ralph McInerny.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode