
released 1/14/2025
In this November 2024 lecture, political philosopher Andrew Willard Jones calls for the renewal of a robust understanding of the role of the laity in actively shaping the world. The vision he proposes is based on that of high medieval Christendom, which was able to sustain (albeit not perfectly) a unique, fruitful, and powerful unity among the vocational spheres of laity, clergy, and secular clerics. The world created by Christendom, Jones argues, allowed people to exercise real freedom and to experience the world as open to meaningful action and creative endeavor. Thus, they had both earthly and spiritual power. Jones explains how the rise of the modern state fractured this dynamic peace and gave rise to one totalitarianism after another. He concludes with the mission of The College of St. Joseph the Worker, whose mission is to raise up young men to be strong in virtue, action, and faith—a new laity exercising authentic freedom and power in humility.
This lecture is provided courtesy of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute. A video of this lecture is available here.
39 minutes
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