Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal at the Apostolic Signatura, celebrated the 2011 Baccalaureate mass at Franciscan University of Steubenville. In his homily, the Cardinal reflects on the conversion of St. Paul, the witness of love presented by St. Francis, and the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the believers, letting us pour out springs of living water into a thirsting world. “Our Lord truly continues to meet us in the Church as he met Saul on the road to Damascus, and he gives us a mission in the world,” said the cardinal. “Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into our souls by means of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, and through the healing and strengthening of the grace of the Holy Spirit within us by means of the forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of penance, and the nourishment of the life of the Holy Spirit within our souls with the heavenly food of his true Body, Blood, soul and divinity in the sacrament of the holy Eucharist, our risen Lord, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father, is also truly with us.”
Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville delivers his response to Dr. Benjamin Wiker’s presentation, “Can Science Demonstrate the Existence of God? What’s a Catholic to Think?” The presentations were part of Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Benjamin Wiker, senior fellow, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, speaks on “Can Science Demonstrate the Existence of God? What’s a Catholic to Think?”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Benjamin Wiker, senior fellow, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology speaks on “Can Science Demonstrate the Existence of God? What’s a Catholic to Think?”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Mr. Mark Ryland, president and senior fellow, Institute for the Study of Nature, speaks on “A Response to: Signs of Design: from Physics and Astronomy”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Jay W. Richards, senior fellow, Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, speaks on“Signs of Design: from Physics and Astronomy”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Jay W. Richards, senior fellow, Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, speaks on “Signs of Design: from Physics and Astronomy”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Alvin Plantinga, professor emeritus, Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, speaks on “Science and Religion: Where the Conflict Really Lies”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Alvin Plantinga, professor emeritus, Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, speaks on “Science and Religion: Where the Conflict Really Lies”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Daniel Kuebler, professor of Biology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, speaks on “A Response to: The Modern Scientific Theory of Intelligent Design”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Michael Behe, senior fellow, Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, speaks on “The Modern Scientific Theory of Intelligent Design”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”.
Chris Lowney, author of “Heroic Leadership”, speaking on ” What 21st-Century Leaders Can Learn from 16th-Century Priests”, a presentation given on February 16, 2012 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville, delivered a lecture during the spring 2011 semester on “Newman’s Personalist Way to God Through Conscience” at Franciscan University. It was the fifth in a series of five lectures by Dr. Crosby on “The Christian Personalism of Blessed John Henry Newman.” In this talk, Dr. Crosby pursues Blessed Cardinal Newman’s discussion of a primordial, existential knowledge of God, “religious knowledge that involves a real apprehension of God.” He discusses Newman’s distinction between the theological intellect and the religious imagination, compares Freud’s account of conscience with Newman’s, and points towards a synthetic understanding of the human person’s approach to God.
Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville, delivered a lecture during the spring 2011 semester on “Newman on the Personal Exercise of Reason” at Franciscan University. It was the fourth in a series of five lectures by Dr. Crosby on “The Christian Personalism of Blessed John Henry Newman.” In this lecture, Dr. Crosby discusses Newman’s distinction between formal and informal logic, between narrowly defined terms inserted into nearly mathematical syllogisms and encountering truth in the full organic complexity of thought and reality.
Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville, delivered a lecture during the spring 2011 semester on “Newman on the Personal Exercise of Reason” at Franciscan University. It was the fourth in a series of five lectures by Dr. Crosby on “The Christian Personalism of Blessed John Henry Newman.” In this lecture, Dr. Crosby discusses Newman’s distinction between formal and informal logic, between narrowly defined terms inserted into nearly mathematical syllogisms and encountering truth in the full organic complexity of thought and reality.
Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville, delivered a lecture during the spring 2011 semester on “The Human Person as a World of His Own” at Franciscan University. It was the second in a series of five lectures by Dr. Crosby on “The Christian Personalism of Blessed John Henry Newman.” In this lecture, Dr. Crosby discusses Newman’s understanding of the human person. Citing a “really memorable expression of Newman’s,” Crosby says, “[The human person] has a depth within him unfathomable, an infinite abyss of existence, and the social scene in which he bears part is but for the moment, like a gleam of sunshine upon its surface…Newman proceeds to say that only in relation with God can all the affections of which we are capable awaken, even though this encounter with God is in the darkness of faith…if we only lived in relation to finite beings, we would never know how vast our heart is, nor suspect the infinite abyss of existence in it.” We come to discover in ourselves a capax dei, a capacity for God, and so an infinity in our hearts.
Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville, delivered a lecture during the spring 2011 semester on “The Human Person as a World of His Own” at Franciscan University. It was the second in a series of five lectures by Dr. Crosby on “The Christian Personalism of Blessed John Henry Newman.” In this lecture, Dr. Crosby discusses Newman’s understanding of the human person. Citing a “really memorable expression of Newman’s,” Crosby says, “[The human person] has a depth within him unfathomable, an infinite abyss of existence, and the social scene in which he bears part is but for the moment, like a gleam of sunshine upon its surface…Newman proceeds to say that only in relation with God can all the affections of which we are capable awaken, even though this encounter with God is in the darkness of faith…if we only lived in relation to finite beings, we would never know how vast our heart is, nor suspect the infinite abyss of existence in it.” We come to discover in ourselves a capax dei, a capacity for God, and so an infinity in our hearts.
Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville, delivered a lecture during the spring 2011 semester on “Personalist Spirit of Newman’s Thought” at Franciscan University. It was the first in a series of five lectures by Dr. Crosby on “The Christian Personalism of Blessed John Henry Newman.” In this inaugural lecture, Dr. Crosby identifies the major markers of the personalist school of thought and situates Blessed Newman in the personalist philosophical tradition. “[Newman] engages us personally by his special gift of awakening in us real apprehension,” said Dr. Crosby, a real apprehension which “touched to life” the truths of the faith in the minds and hearts of his hearers once again.
Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, received an honorary doctorate at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 2011 Undergraduate Commencement. Father Cantalamessa calls the graduating class of 2011 on to true greatness: holiness. He explains that the opposite of sanctity is not sin, but failure to reach for sanctity, pointing out that the saints have all transformed the world by first permitting God to transform them. “Only with Jesus is there real joy in life.”
Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, received an honorary doctorate at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 2011 Undergraduate Commencement. Father Cantalamessa calls the graduating class of 2011 on to true greatness: holiness. He explains that the opposite of sanctity is not sin, but failure to reach for sanctity, pointing out that the saints have all transformed the world by first permitting God to transform them. “Only with Jesus is there real joy in life.”
Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of Philosophy, Boston College, The King’s College, gave a presentation on November 17, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of Philosophy, Boston College, The King’s College, speaking on “How to Win the Culture War: A Christian Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis”, a presentation given on November 17, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Watch the full talk here: How to Win the Culture War: A Christian Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis.
Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of Philosophy, Boston College, The King’s College, speaking on “How to Win the Culture War: A Christian Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis”, a presentation given on November 17, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Watch the full talk here: How to Win the Culture War: A Christian Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis.
Fr. Robert Sirico, president, the Acton Institute, gave a presentation on September 15, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Fr. Robert Sirico, president, the Acton Institute, spoke on “Catholic Social Teaching: Developments, Insights, and Boundaries”, a presentation given on September 15, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Watch the full talk here: Catholic Social Teaching: Developments, Insights, and Boundaries.
Fr. Robert Sirico, president, the Acton Institute, speaking on “Catholic Social Teaching: Developments, Insights, and Boundaries”, a presentation given on September 15, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Watch the full talk here: Catholic Social Teaching: Developments, Insights, and Boundaries.
The Honorable Richard V. Allen, former advisor for four United States presidents and leading foreign policy analyst, spoke at Franciscan University of Steubenville as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series.
Kimberly Hahn, popular speaker and author of many books, gave the closing keynote talk entitled “Knowing God’s Will, Transforming Your Mind” at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 2010 Defending the Faith Conference “Be Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind.” In her talk, Kimberly exhorted the audience to embrace the path to holiness and give themselves entirely over to Jesus Christ. “What has Jesus withheld from you? Nothing,” she said. “And he asks the same in return. We are to give all of ourselves to him…Don’t be conformed to this world. We don’t even know the ways we are conformed to this world! We don’t even know the ways in which we are influenced!…How do we even begin to change the way we think if we are immersed in our own culture? That comes from the transformation of our minds.”
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska) MA ‘96 received an honorary doctorate from Franciscan University at the 2011 commencement for graduate students. In his address, he exhorts the graduate students to use their education for the betterment of their community and nation. “Politics is downstream from the culture,” said Rep. Fortenberry, and the culture of death erodes our country since “the strength of a nation depends upon the strength of the family….Where do you want to live? What sort of community do you want to live in? Pray for that place, work for that place, fight for that place.”
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska) MA ‘96 received an honorary doctorate from Franciscan University at the 2011 commencement for graduate students. In his address, he exhorts the graduate students to use their education for the betterment of their community and nation. “Politics is downstream from the culture,” said Rep. Fortenberry, and the culture of death erodes our country since “the strength of a nation depends upon the strength of the family….Where do you want to live? What sort of community do you want to live in? Pray for that place, work for that place, fight for that place.”
Watch the full talk here: Master’s Program Commencement Address.
Dion “The Wanderer” DiMucci, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and creator of such classic hits as “The Wanderer”, and “Runaround Sue,” delivered his testimony of faith at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 2011 Defending the Faith Conference. He talks about the long road from early, immense success as a singer/songwriter to his descent into a hell of drug addiction. Then his wife went for help. Now, after over 40 years of sobriety, Dion knows and loves the Catholic faith of his childhood, thanking Jesus for his miraculous recovery. “Millions of people hate the Catholic Church, but they don’t really know what it teaches,” said DiMucci, author of Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth. “I didn’t know. I had no idea how beautiful it was. It’s so different standing in the center of it, looking out than being on the outside cursing it and kicking at it and yelling at it. I thought I was so smart! I was in this meeting once, and I said, ‘I was anti-Catholic,’ and this one guy says, ‘Ooh! I was never that smart!’…I walked right into the confessional,” DiMucci continued, “and Father Joe was there, and I’m so used to the 12-step way of looking people in the eye that I just walked in. I said, ‘Father, do you know, I thought I loved the Lord—I do love the Lord. I’ve been anti-Catholic and really in rebellion with the Body of Christ,’ and he’s like, ‘Ah, thank God. Stand up kid.’ He gives me a hug and says, ‘Welcome home!'” He shares his journey (and a little taste of his music) with his brothers and sisters in Christ.
Dion “The Wanderer” DiMucci, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and creator of such classic hits as “The Wanderer”, and “Runaround Sue,” delivered his testimony at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 2011 Defending the Faith Conference “Ambassadors for Christ.” He talks about the long road from early, immense success as a singer/songwriter to his descent into a hell of drug addiction. Then his wife went for help. Now, after over 40 years of sobriety, Dion knows and loves the Catholic faith of his childhood, thanking Jesus for his miraculous recovery. “Millions of people hate the Catholic Church, but they don’t really know what it teaches,” said DiMucci, author of Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth. “I didn’t know. I had no idea how beautiful it was. It’s so different standing in the center of it, looking out than being on the outside cursing it and kicking at it and yelling at it. I thought I was so smart! I was in this meeting once, and I said, ‘I was anti-Catholic,’ and this one guy says, ‘Ooh! I was never that smart!’…I walked right into the confessional,” DiMucci continued, “and Father Joe was there, and I’m so used to the 12-step way of looking people in the eye that I just walked in. I said, ‘Father, do you know, I thought I loved the Lord—I do love the Lord. I’ve been anti-Catholic and really in rebellion with the Body of Christ,’ and he’s like, ‘Ah, thank God. Stand up kid.’ He gives me a hug and says, ‘Welcome home!'” He shares his journey (and a little taste of his music) with his brothers and sisters in Christ.
George Weigel, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of the two-part biography of Blessed John Paul II Witness to Hope and The End and the Beginning, spoke on “The Achievement of John Paul II–A Retrospective” at Franciscan University of Steubenville as part of the Distinguished Speaker series in spring semester 2011. In this talk, Weigel examines the massive legacy of Pope John Paul II and highlights ten major contributions made by the late Holy Father to the Church and to the world. “The papacy was not a role John Paul II sought,” said Weigel, “but it is a role he fulfilled in a striking way for 26 and a half years and fulfilled as a continuation, as an expression of the defining commitment of his life, which was to be a Christian disciple.”
Maestro Manfred Honeck, music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, gave the 2011 John Paul the Great Fine Arts lecture at Franciscan University of Steubenville, “The Courage to Pray.” In this well-received lecture, he spoke of his work with the Orchestra, his marriage and family life, and the intersection of faith and culture. “I try to communicate my faith and what it means to me through the music I conduct,” he said. “My relationship with God is the same as my relationship with a close friend. If you want to have a close relationship with a friend, then you call them, every day. The more you speak with your friend, the more you know them. It is the same with God…If you break the connection between yourself and God, you will lose your values.” Honeck often encounters surprise that he has time to pray amidst the demands of his career, but said he tells people, “I clean my teeth every day, so why not my soul?”
Maestro Manfred Honeck, music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, gave the 2011 John Paul the Great Fine Arts lecture at Franciscan University of Steubenville. In this well-received lecture, “The Courage to Pray”, he spoke of his work with the Orchestra, his marriage and family life, and the intersection of faith and culture. “I try to communicate my faith and what it means to me through the music I conduct,” he said. “My relationship with God is the same as my relationship with a close friend. If you want to have a close relationship with a friend, then you call them, every day. The more you speak with your friend, the more you know them. It is the same with God…If you break the connection between yo0urself and God, you will lose your values.” Honeck often encounters surprise that he has time to pray amidst the demands of his career, but said he tells people, “I clean my teeth every day, so why not my soul?”
Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute, spoke at Franciscan University of Steubenville as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series. In her talk, Same-Sex Marriage: Why Not?”, she explained that “Children are ordinarily entitled to a relationship with both of their parents… This is justice for the child. And every child has a legitimate interest in the stability of their parents’ union…The stability of the parents’ union is the ordinary way for the child to have a relationship with both of them.” Said Dr. Morse, “Marriage is adult society’s proactive way of protecting the legitimate interests of children, interests which children cannot protect on their own.”
Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute, spoke at Franciscan University of Steubenville as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series. In her talk, “Same-Sex Marriage: Why Not?”, she explained that “Children are ordinarily entitled to a relationship with both of their parents… This is justice for the child. And every child has a legitimate interest in the stability of their parents’ union…The stability of the parents’ union is the ordinary way for the child to have a relationship with both of them.” Said Dr. Morse, “Marriage is adult society’s proactive way of protecting the legitimate interests of children, interests which children cannot protect on their own.”
Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, author of “Fatima for Today: The Urgent Marian Message of Hope,” speaks on the message of the apparitions at Fatima and the continued significance of that message a century later. His talk at Franciscan University of Steubenville was part of the Distinguished Speakers Series.
Dr. John Grabowski, associate professor of Moral Theology & Ethics, Catholic University of America, speaks on “The Luminous Excess of the Acting Person: Assessing the Impact of Venerable John Paul II on American Catholic Moral Theology”, a presentation given on March 29th, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Dr. John Grabowski, associate professor of Moral Theology & Ethics, Catholic University of America, speaks on “The Luminous Excess of the Acting Person: Assessing the Impact of Venerable John Paul II on American Catholic Moral Theology”, a presentation given on March 29th, 2011 for Franciscan University’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
Dr. John Bergsma, professor of Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, speaks on “A Response to: Science and Religion: Where the Conflict Really Lies”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
Dr. Michael Behe, senior fellow, Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, speaks on “The Modern Scientific Theory of Intelligent Design”, a presentation from Franciscan University’s 2012 Science and Faith Conference: “Can Science Inform Our Understanding of God?”
George Weigel, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of the two part biography of Blessed John Paul II Witness to Hope and The End and the Beginning, spoke at Franciscan University of Steubenville as part of the Distinguished Speaker series in spring semester 2011. In this talk, ” The Achievement of John Paul II–A Retrospective”, Weigel examines the massive legacy of Pope John Paul II and highlights ten major contributions made by the late Holy Father to the Church and to the world. “The papacy was not a role John Paul II sought,” said Weigel, “but it is a role he fulfilled in a striking way for 26 and a half years and fulfilled as a continuation, as an expression of the defining commitment of his life, which was to be a Christian disciple.”
July 2012 Show: “Pope Benedict XVI and The New Catechesis”

With special guest Bob Rice
Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI has repeatedly called the Church to engage in the work of the New Evangelization. Much of what that work entails, however, is a new catechesis, a new way of handing on the Faith.Join us as we examine the nature of that new catechesis with today’s special guest Bob Rice, professor of catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Download the free handout: New Pentecost for Catechesis