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At Christendom College, we believe education is more than gaining knowledge—it’s about pursuing true wisdom. As a Catholic liberal arts college, our mission is to guide students on the path to Christian wisdom, grounded in the love and contemplation of both natural and divinely revealed truth. This journey doesn’t happen in the classroom alone. Through vibrant campus life, community events, and spiritual opportunities, students are encouraged to cultivate the moral virtues and habits of Christian living. These virtues prepare them to properly order the material and spiritual goods of life, equipping them for a higher purpose. To enrich this formation, the college regularly hosts speakers who inspire and challenge our students to grow in mind, heart, and soul. We invite you to be part of this journey by joining us for these thought-provoking lectures. These talks provide a chance to engage with the ideas shaping our students and to explore how faith and reason together lead to truth. Come listen, learn, and grow with us.
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In the wake of an election, we regularly discuss whether the victorious candidate and party won a “mandate” and what that mandate entails. This lecture considers the relationship between the Constitution and the way we talk about electoral mandates. Dr. German is an assistant professor in the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Previously, he was an assistant professor in the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL) at Arizona State University.
Christendom’s Department of History welcomed professor and author Nadya Williams on September 10, 2025. Williams presented a talk based on her recently published book Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic. Williams, who holds her Ph.D. in Classics from Princeton University, is a mother, writer, and editor based in Ashland, Ohio, where she is interim director of the MFA in Creative Writing at Ashland University and books editor at Mere Orthodoxy, where she also hosts the Christians Reading Classics podcast.
Christendom College welcomed acclaimed poet James Matthew Wilson on September 24, 2025. Wilson, professor of creative writing at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, delivered an address titled “The Part the Muses Give Us: Poetry as First Art.” The lecture was part of the Collegiate Lecture Series.
Dr. Miriam Byers delivered this lecture at the annual Senior-Faculty Dinner on September 22, 2025, at Christendom College. Byers is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Christendom College, where she has taught since 2001, initially as an adjunct before transitioning to full-time in 2015, with the establishment of Christendom’s Mathematics major. During her eight-year tenure as chair of the Mathematics and Natural Science Department, she oversaw the development and approval of the Natural Science major. Dr. Byers holds a B.S. from Purdue University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Northwestern University.
Sr. Deirdre Byrne, POSC, hosted a viewing and spoke with theology professor Dr. R.J. Matava about the documentary she helped to produce called "No Mercy: The Catholic Culture of Death" which covers the abuse of vulnerable patients and palliative care. Sr. Dede is a practicing physician, retired US Army Colonel, and courageous pro-life witness on the front lines of the defense of human life.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Rice reveals compelling evidence that the great Bard, William Shakespeare, was Catholic.
In this second part, Christendom College theology professor Eric Jenislawski deepens the conversation by examining the historical development of natural language AI and its often-overlooked ethical and cultural implications. Beginning with early precursors like Eliza and Dissociated Press, Jenislawski traces the evolution of AI language tools up to today’s neural networks, explaining key concepts like embeddings, dataset bias, and the structure of modern models in a clear and accessible way.
In part one of this thought-provoking lecture, Christendom College theology professor Eric Jenislawski offers an explanation of ChatGPT and its natural language predecessors for a non-technical audience. He explores the nature, development, and implications of artificial intelligence, especially large language models like ChatGPT. With clarity and philosophical depth, Jenislawski guides listeners through key concepts—from how AI models are trained to what it means for machines to simulate human reasoning. Along the way, he considers the challenges of alignment, the moral concerns surrounding AI-generated content, and the phenomenon of “AI confabulation.”
Christendom College hosted a thought-provoking discussion on the nature and significance of art, featuring philosophy professor Dr. Daniel McInerny alongside College President George A. Harne, Ph.D. The event, part of the college’s major speaker series, explored the question: “What is Art, and Why Does It Matter?”Dr. McInerny is a passionate speaker and writer on art and beauty, as evidenced in his recent book, "Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts." When he is not teaching and mentoring his students, McInerny has been writing fiction, nonfiction, drama, and screenplays for years, including his adult fiction novel "The Good Death of Kate Montclair," and his Kingdom of Patria series for middle-grade readers (now available on Amazon).McInerny's links:https://danielmcinerny.substack.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Way-Beauty-Philosophical-Reflection/dp/1685789854https://www.amazon.com/Good-Death-Kate-Montclair/dp/1946531464/💻 Social Media: Facebook: / christendomcollege Instagram: / christendomcollege X: https://x.com/ChristendomVALearn more about Christendom College at: https://www.christendom.edu
Join us for the 2025S St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture featuring Dr. David C. Schindler from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C. Delivered on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, this lecture explores “Beauty as the Well-Spring of Action in the Thought of Thomas Aquinas.” Dr. Schindler, an expert in metaphysics and anthropology, delves into Aquinas’s understanding of beauty—not merely as something to be admired, but as a dynamic force that moves the intellect and will. How does beauty shape our moral and spiritual lives? Why is it central to action and human flourishing? Tune in for a profound reflection on the Thomistic vision of beauty and its relevance to contemporary thought.
What role does patience play in the search for truth and understanding? In this captivating lecture, Prof. Daniel Spiotta, Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature at Christendom College, explores the profound connection between patience and human knowing as revealed in two of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale. Drawing on his expertise in classical and medieval influences on early modern literature, Prof. Spiotta illuminates how Shakespeare’s characters wrestle with time, truth, and redemption, offering insights that remain deeply relevant today.This lecture was part of Christendom College’s Beato Fra Angelico Fine Arts Series, dedicated to showcasing the intersection of faith and art in the Catholic intellectual tradition.
In this heartwarming lecture from the Christmas at Christendom event, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, invites listeners to journey reflecting on the wonder and humility of the Nativity. Drawing on St. Francis’s creation of the first Nativity scene and God's loving plan in his own life, Fr. Mark-Mary reveals a powerful message for our modern lives. With engaging insights and practical applications, this talk challenges us to embrace simplicity, wonder, and a deeper connection to Christ, who became flesh for our salvation. A perfect reflection for the Christmas season!
What can a humble Christmas gift reveal about the depth of a father’s love? In this lecture, Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, a literature professor at Christendom College, explores the timeless themes of generosity, love, and sacrifice in Anne of Green Gables. Focusing on Matthew Cuthbert’s tender gesture to Anne, Dr. Sullivan illuminates the spiritual and emotional significance of his Christmas gift, inviting listeners to reflect on the quiet yet profound ways love is expressed in our lives. Perfect for fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel and those seeking to uncover the deeper meanings of the Christmas season. Learn more about Dr. Kathleen Sullivan and her work here.
Professor Ferenc Hörcher is a Hungarian political philosopher and historian of political thought, specializing in conservatism, liberalism, and early modern political ideas. He directs the Research Institute of Politics and Government at Hungary’s University of Public Service and is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy of the Eötvös Loránd Research Network. An author of several books, including A Political Philosophy of Conservatism (2020), he has held visiting positions at renowned universities and conducted research internationally.
Do you want to learn more about the complementarity of faith and reason and how Catholics should approach the sciences? Listend to this lecture to learn what Pope St. John Paul II and other Catholic teachings have to say on the subject.
Chris Carstens unpacks the "ars celebrandi" called for by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. A proper ars celebrandi 1) sees God as the proper subject of the liturgical "masterpiece," 2) encourages liturgical ministers to depict this great, divine beauty through docility to the Holy Spirit's inspiration and the Church's rites, and 3) forms the baptized to see God's glory revealed in the liturgical rite through a mystagogical catechesis. In short, when a liturgy centers on God, celebrates the rite in such a way that God's glory appears (as on Mt. Tabor), and trains the people to encounter Christ in the rite--true beauty appears in our midst and in our world. The Institute for Liturgical Formation will focus on these three aspects: 1) theology of the liturgy (the Trinity's presence and action in the liturgy), 2) the ritual celebration of the liturgy (how the Church's ministers understand and execute the liturgy), and 3) the participation and spirituality of the liturgy (how God's people engage and pray the liturgy).
With his distinguished background as a leader in both Catholic education and public policy and as a Christendom parent, Dr. Kevin Roberts offers a unique perspective on the role and relevance of Christendom’s education in modern American society.
What does it mean to say that the Mass “makes Calvary present”? How does the Church participate in the priestly work of Christ? Are you looking to enter more profoundly into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? If so, this is the lecture for you.
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