The Thomistic Institute Flannery O'Connor and St. Thomas Aquinas on the Future of Catholic Fiction | Prof. Patrick Callahan
Oct 28, 2024
Patrick Callahan, Director of the Newman Institute for Catholic Thought & Culture, discusses Flannery O'Connor's unique literary path influenced by her Southern upbringing and struggles with lupus. He reveals her dual identity as a 'hillbilly Thomist,' highlighting the impact of St. Thomas Aquinas on her beliefs and writing. The conversation dives into Aquinas's philosophy of beauty and the practical intellect, as well as O'Connor's complex style that challenges idealism, offering a rich examination of authenticity in art.
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Aquinas over Social Media
- Read St. Thomas Aquinas for 30 minutes daily.
- Replace social media with Aquinas's wisdom.
O'Connor's Aquinas Anecdotes
- Flannery O'Connor loved St. Thomas Aquinas and saw God in his works.
- She humorously cited Aquinas in letters and conversations.
Art as Practical Intellect
- O'Connor valued prudence as a virtue, influenced by Aquinas.
- Aquinas defines art as a virtue of the practical intellect, impacting O'Connor's art.