Thomistic Institute

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Who is Thomas Aquinas?
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) was a Dominican friar, Catholic priest, and one of the greatest theologians and philosophers in the history of the Church. Known as the Angelic Doctor, he united faith and reason in a profound way, showing how the truths of divine revelation and the discoveries of human reason work together in harmony. His most famous work, the Summa Theologiae, remains a cornerstone of Catholic theology and philosophy. Aquinas’ thought continues to guide the Church’s teaching and provides a powerful foundation for exploring truth, morality, and the nature of God. The Thomistic Institute takes its name from him and seeks to carry forward his legacy of intellectual and spiritual wisdom.
Who is Welcome?
Everyone is welcome at the Thomistic Institute, regardless of background, beliefs, or field of study. Whether you’re Catholic, of another faith, or simply curious, you are warmly invited to attend our events, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversations about truth, reason, and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Our events are open to all students, faculty, and members of the wider community who are interested in exploring life’s deepest questions through philosophy, theology, and culture.
What is the Thomistic Institute?
The Thomistic Institute at Maynooth University is part of an international network of university chapters that promote Catholic truth and intellectual formation in the tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas. Founded by the Dominican friars of the Province of St. Joseph, the Institute brings the riches of the Catholic intellectual tradition into dialogue with contemporary university life. Through lectures, discussions, and special events, the Maynooth chapter invites students and faculty to explore the deepest questions of philosophy, theology, ethics, science, and culture in the light of faith and reason. Inspired by the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, the Institute seeks to cultivate a love for truth and the pursuit of wisdom, especially as it is found in the person of Jesus Christ. All are welcome to attend events, regardless of background or beliefs.

All Thomistic Institute News Posted

St. Thomas Aquinas on the Beatitudes

Posted 30th Jan 2026
Author DEAN CHAPMAN (Treasurer)

The Thomistic Institute at Maynooth University warmly invites you to a public lecture entitled “St. Thomas Aquinas on the Beatitudes: Reading, Disputing, & Preaching.” In a culture that often reduces “happiness” to comfort, success, or self-expression, the Beatitudes remain Christ’s striking proclamation of true blessedness, one that begins in humility and purity of heart and culminates in the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven. This evening will offer a rich introduction to how St. Thomas Aquinas receives the Beatitudes not merely as inspiring sayings, but as a unified vision of the Christian life, illuminating the path of holiness through grace, virtue, and spiritual transformation.

Our speaker, Fr. Anton ten Klooster of Tilburg University, will guide attendees through Aquinas’s approach to the Beatitudes as a theologian and teacher who unites the love of Scripture with intellectual clarity and pastoral purpose. Aquinas reads the Beatitudes closely in the light of the whole Gospel, asks careful questions about how they relate to the virtues and the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and shows how this wisdom is meant to be preached for the renewal of minds and hearts. The result is a compelling picture of theology at its best: faithful to Christ’s words, serious about truth, and ordered to the flourishing of Christian life.

The lecture takes place on Thursday, 5th February at 19:30, in First Divinity, St Patrick’s Pontifical University. Admission is free and the event is open to the public, so students, faculty, and all interested in Catholic theology, philosophy, and the spiritual life are very welcome. Come and discover how Aquinas can help us hear the Beatitudes anew, not as distant ideals, but as the Lord’s concrete invitation to blessedness here and now.

Thomistic Institute Launches in Maynooth

Posted 17th Oct 2025
Author DEAN CHAPMAN (Treasurer)

We’re delighted to announce the founding of the Thomistic Institute at Maynooth University! As a newly established society, our mission is to foster thoughtful dialogue on campus through the rich Catholic intellectual tradition inspired by St. Thomas Aquinas.

Throughout the year, we’ll be hosting public lectures, reading groups, and other events that explore big questions in philosophy, theology, ethics, and culture, all in the spirit of faith and reason.

Everyone is welcome, and we can’t wait to get started. Keep an eye out for our first event announcements coming soon!

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