The Darkness of Faith and the Mind's Encounter with God (Aquinas 101)

If faith is a light, why does it leave our minds in obscurity – or even in darkness?

The Darkness of Faith and the Mind's Encounter with God (Aquinas 101) - Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P.

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This video was made possible through the support of grant #61944 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

[gwenechotaylor]

I believe in God, as the blind man believes in the sun, not because he does not see it, but he feels the warmth of His presence.

[jonathanw]

Thank you Father! The Thomistic Institute is a wonderful blessing in my life. May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

[DavidMatias]

Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.

[tgrt]

I cant stress enough how important these videos have been in my faith life. Thank you Thomistic Institute

[criticalbruv]

A friend once asked me from one to ten how confident I was that God existed. I said ten! But only because it was clear to me that the measure of ten was not "absolute certainty" (which would be to say I was God), but ten was rather the best a human could possibly be justified in believing anything. Seeing as it was so apparent to me that in all my faculties as a human there just is no justifiable conclusion against God's presence, I was really as certain as I could be about anything, (even my own faculties), and so my answer was ten, if ten is as confident as a human can really be about anything.

[winstonbarquez]

We walk by faith, not by sight (II Cor. 5:7).

[Wenuraa]

Animations are insane..😍
God Bless Father.❤️

[hillrunner]

Inlighten to think in a rational manner and feel the truth with compassion and humility towards others.

[roisinpatriciagaffney]

Beautiful teaching about the illumination of the intellect, and inspiration of the will by the Triune God.
Thank you, Father Legge.
Pax Christi.

[irene_irenaeus_ihs]

Little reflection I made after watching the video: Guess we will be restless until meeting God (God willing). Gives some comfort to the intellect, as we understand we cannot get everything in this life. Truly, Christ is the way that has to be walked!

[amaraheising]

I so appreciate your gift of teaching/preaching Father Legge. Illuminating, guiding, educating is so different from blaming, shaming and moralizing in texture and tone. I am so grateful for the Aquinas Series and the Dominicans who bring this to us. My prayers of gratitude for your ministry are winging their way out of my heart.

[Lerian_V]

I have cherished most of your videos but this takes the cake. By far the most useful teaching in my life. It has answered a lot of questions buried in my mind. Thank you Jesus. Thank you the Angelic Doctor (please pray for me). Thank you Thomistic Institute.

[NYCZ]

This is a video worth coming back to every once in awhile

[ronniedoyle]

That was very refreshing, especially the last sentence, where you pointed out the congruity between faith and hope.

[b.felicisimo]

It's quite simple...I see a Dominican in the thumbnail, I click on the video. Thank you Thomistic Institute.

[brentgarner]

Wow way over my head but, I like to listen and watch these videos thank you.

[joolz]

Yes and contact with God is from the heart…
So faith has to go from the intellect into the heart…yes? We know God as our heart connects with His heart. Love is the igniter I believe. 🙏

[byron]

God is Love God is light, Evil is defined as the absence of Good, just like Darkness is defined as the absence of Light! K

[johanfrancis]

"Turned back by God's initiative, towards the divine light who is God Himself and the mind is flooded with light." I have not been able to put into words what I experienced at the age of 17. This puts it perfect. All I know is that I felt God so close and from that point forward my whole life was facing a different direction. Something deep within me reoriented towards seeking God, and it was because He sought me first. How amazing is the love of God that He is the one that initiates, and draws us. Even the love I feel for Him is His love poured out into me. This channel is amazing. Thank you.

[ryanleclaire]

Simple and beautiful. Thank you Father.