1906 Pontificium Collegium Divi Thomae de Urbe Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas

hyacinthe-marie cormier, seated in middle. right sits pio alberto del corona, bishop of san miniato.

in response call renewal of thomism sounded aeterni patris rectors tommaso maria zigliara (1833–1893), alberto lepidi (1838–1922), , sadoc szabó had brought college high degree of excellence. under leadership of szabó number of subjects taught @ angelicum included archeology, geology, paleography, christian art, biology, mathematics, physics, , astronomy.

at dawn of twentieth century dominican conception of intellectual formation @ rome again transformed. general chapters of 1895 (avila) , 1901 (ghent) had called expansion of college of st. thomas meet growing educational needs in modern world. chapter of 1904 (viterbo) directed hyacinthe-marie cormier (1832–1916), newly elected master general of order of preachers, develop college studium generalissimum directly under authority entire dominican order:

romae erigatur collegium studiorum ordinis generalissimum, auctoritate magistri generalis immediate subjectum, in quo floreat vita regularis, et ad quod mittantur fratres ex omnibus provinciis.

building on legacy of order s first roman studium @ priory of santa sabina founded in 1222 , studium general had sprung 1426 @ santa maria sopra minerva , in 1577 became college of saint thomas, cormier stated intention establish new studium generalissimum principal vehicle of dissemination of orthodox thomistic thought both dominicans , secular clergy.

in 1904 pope pius x allowed diocesan seminarians attend college. elevated college status of pontificium on may 2, 1906, making degrees equivalent of world s other pontifical universities. apostolic letter of november 8, 1908, signed on november 17, pope transformed college collegium pontificium internationale angelicum, located on via san vitale 15. cormier developed angelicum until death in 1916, establishing principal guidelines, giving motto master general, caritas veritatis, charity of truth. cormier, noted spiritual quality of retreats , powerful preaching, declared blessed pope john paul ii on november 20, 1994.

in first half of twentieth century angelicum professors edouard hugon, réginald garrigou-lagrange , others carried on leo s call thomist revival. core philosophical commitments of revival, after zigliara traditionally of angelicum, later summarized in “twenty-four thomistic theses” approved pope pius x. due rejection of attempts synthesize thomism non-thomistic categories , assumptions neo-scholastic thomism has been called “strict observance thomism.”

in 1909 there 26 professors. beyond philosophy , theology subject included archeology, geology, paleography, christian art, biology, mathematics, physics, , astronomy. in 1918 garrigou-lagrange initiated courses in sacred art, mysticism, , aesthetics. marie alain couturier studied garrigou @ angelicum 1930 1932 before going on have instrumental role in liturgical art ventures such henri matisse s vence chapel , le corbusier s chapel of notre dame du haut, , dominican priory of sainte marie de la tourette.

garrigou-lagrange has been called torchbearer of orthodox thomism against modernism in period between world war ii , cold war. commonly held have influenced decision in 1942 place privately circulated book une école de théologie: le saulchoir (Étiolles 1937) marie-dominique chenu on vatican s index of forbidden books culmination of polemic within dominican order between angelicum supporters of speculative scholasticism , french revival thomists more attentive historical hermeneutics, such yves congar. congar s chrétiens désunis suspected of modernism because methodology derived more religious experience syllogistic analysis.

noted philosopher , theologian santiago maria ramirez y ruiz de dulanto (1891-1967) completed licentiate , doctorate in philosophy @ angelicum 1913 1917 dissertation entitled de quidditate incarnationis, becoming lector on 27 june 1917 , teaching there 1917 1920. ramirez relates fortunate during student years hear pope pius x deliver talk professors , students @ angelicum on 28 june 1914 in pontiff extolled aquinas doctrines above of others, , talk delivered pope pius xi @ angelicum on 12 december 1924 in reaffirmed doctrinal authority of st. thomas aquinas.

june 29, 1923 on occasion of sixth centenary of canonization of thomas aquinas pius xi s encyclical studiorum ducem singled out pontifical angelicum college official sedes thomae:

it fitting...that institutes sacred studies cultivated express holy joy, before pontifical angelicum college thomas said dwell in own house, , other ecclesiastial schools in rome.

the reputation of college during period summed 1 of angelicum s illustrious alumni , faculty members in mid-twentieth century, cornelio fabro, called angelicum avant-garde of doctrinal mission of dominican order in rome, , of traditional thomism distinguished exponents included t. zigliara, a. lepidi, t. pègues, e. hugon, a. zacchi, r. garrigou-lagrange, , m. cordovani. notoriety of college further fostered annual celebrations of feast of patron st. thomas aquinas including preaching tridiuum , pontifical mass , academic symposium @ angelicum june 8, 1923 szabó founded unio thomistica, association of angelicum students , alumni dedicated defense of thomistic doctrine. publication entitled unio thomistica continue under title angelicum, trimesterly journal articles in italian, french, english, german, , spanish treating theology, philosophy, canon law, , social sciences.

an 18th-century view of church of saints dominic , sixtus @ center left, , former dominican convent houses angelicum @ center right

the year 1926 saw angelicum become institute change of name pontificium institutum internationale angelicum. during academic year 1927-28 angelicum professor mariano cordovani began philosophy circle continued 1960s forum laity explore contemporary philosophical issues.

in 1927 italian government decided sell former convent of santi domenico e sisto. convent, had been established pope pius v dominican nuns in 1575, expropriated italian government on september 9, 1871 in virtue of law of suppression of religious orders. blessed buenaventura garcía de paredes, master general of order, seeing opportunity recuperate dominican patrimony, suggested benito mussolini selling convent order return property original owners, , used house angelicum

by decree of 2 june 1928 italian minister of justice authorized college of st. thomas purchase italian state agreed price of 9 million lire (l. 9,000,000) complex of buildings constituting former convent of saints dominic , sixtus in way paredes activated cormier s plan angelicum established @ site amplitude more fitting new status.

in 1930 Étienne gilson , jacques maritain first 2 philosophers receive honorary doctorates angelicum.

for academic year 1928-1929 paredes celebrated inaugural mass in church of saints dominic , sixtus , reginald garrigou-lagrange gave solemn inaugural lecture. because convent buildings required extensive renovation classes not held there until 1932.

from 1928 1932 convent renovated house classrooms, aula magna , aula minor, amphitheaters seating capacities of 1,100 , 350 respectively. in november 1932 angelicum opened doors @ appropriately more extensive complex of buildings comprising ancient dominican convent of saints dominic , sixtus.

cardinal eugenio pacelli future pope pius xii gave lecture @ college entitled la presse et l apostolat on april 17, 1936.

the angelicum changed names once again in 1942 becoming pontificium athenaeum internationale angelicum.

in 1951 institute of social sciences founded within faculty of philosophy raimondo spiazzi (1918–2002). spiazzi, prolific author , editor of works of aquinas, completed doctorate in sacred theology @ angelicum in 1947 dissertation entitled il cristianesimo perfezione dell uomo. spiazzi directed institute of social sciences until 1957 , continued teaching there until 1972. institute established faculty faculty of social sciences (fass) in 1974. mieczysław albert krąpiec, leading exponent of lublin school of philosophy in poland, received doctorate in theology angelicum in 1948.

in 1950 angelicum s institute of spirituality founded paul-pierre philippe within faculty of theology promote scientific , systematic study of ascetical , mystical theology, , offer preparation spiritual directors. institute approved congregation catholic education on 1 may 1958. today institute presided on paul murray, lecturer in spiritual theology @ angelicum. murry awarded magister sacrae theologiae master general of order on september 20, 2011.

during tenure of michael browne master of order of preachers , chancellor of angelicum, pope pius xii addressed academic community of angelicum in radio message on 14 january 1957. pontiff encouraged angelicum s diligent pursuit of thomistic doctrine , imparted apostolic blessing on future projects.

benedict augustine blank, former provincial of western province of dominican order rector of angelicum 1952 1955.