Aeterni Patris
Also known as: On the Restoration of Christian Philosophy · Æterni Patris
- 1Issued by Pope Leo XIII in August 1879.
- 2Focuses on the restoration of Christian philosophy in schools.
- 3Promotes the specific methodology of St. Thomas Aquinas.
- 4Known as the Angelic Doctor in the encyclical's subtitle.
- 5Served as the foundational document for the neo-scholastic revival.
Aeterni Patris was an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII in August 1879.
Connections1
papal encyclical mandating the study of Thomism
Issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1879, this document officially promoted Thomism as the authoritative philosophical framework for the Catholic Church.
Aeterni Patris is a landmark papal encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII in August 1879. Its full title, which translates to "On the Restoration of Christian Philosophy in Catholic Schools in the Spirit of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas," clearly outlines its primary objective. The document was a strategic effort to revitalize the study of Scholastic philosophy within the educational institutions of the Church.
Volume 1 of the Leonine edition of the works of St. Thomas Aquinas (1882)Wikimedia Commons: File:Vol._1_of_the_Leonine_edition_of_the_works_of_St._Thomas_Aquinas_(Leonine_edition).jpgPope Leo XIII in 1878Wikimedia Commons: File:Pope_Leo_XIII_Portrait_(3x4_cropped).jpg By advocating for a return to the teachings of Thomas Aquinas, the encyclical sought to provide a unified intellectual foundation for Catholics. It argued that the rigorous logic and metaphysical clarity of the Angelic Doctor were essential for countering the perceived errors of contemporary secular philosophy. This document served as the official catalyst for the broader neo-scholastic movement, shaping the curriculum of Catholic universities and seminaries for decades to follow.