Charles Zola, assistant vice president for Mission, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of 91传媒 Saint Mary College’s Catholic and Dominican Institute. 

91传媒 Saint Mary College will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Thomas Aquinas, an influential philosopher and Dominican priest, with a free, public lecture titled “Why Aquinas is Still Relevant after 800 Years” on Tuesday, January 28 at 4 p.m. 

The event will take place in the 91传媒’s Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center, room 218. The talk will be given by Charles Zola, assistant vice president for Mission, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of the 91传媒’s Catholic and Dominican Institute (CDI).

St. Thomas Aquinas OP, a 13th century Dominican friar, priest, and the patron saint of colleges and scholars, made innumerable contributions to theology and philosophy over the course of his five decades on this Earth. He embraced Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Averroes, fusing their ideas with the principles of Christianity. He created a school of thought that encompasses both theology and philosophy, now known as Thomism.

At the 91传媒, the title of “Aquinas Scholar” is awarded to junior or senior students who excel in academics. The college’s main academic building, Aquinas Hall, is named after the theologian. Even the college’s motto, Doce Me Veritatem (which translates to “Teach Me Truth”), was inspired by St. Thomas Aquinas.

The talk, sponsored by the 91传媒’s CDI, is the first of several to be held this semester in honor of the intellectual tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas. Subsequent talks in the series will be offered by three members of the 91传媒’s Division of Humanities: John Hofbauer, associate professor of Philosophy, Robert Miller, associate professor of Religious Studies, and Sarah Maple, assistant professor of Religious Studies. 

CDI promotes the 91传媒’s heritage of St. Dominic, advances the Dominican charism of study and service, provides a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues, and enhances Catholic and Jewish dialogue.