Today, one of the most challenging questions for believers is how to envision the role of the Divine in the ongoing creation. Contemporary mystics have described powerful images that address this dilemma. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin speaks eloquently of the Cosmic Christ hinted at in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians (1:9-10 and 4:9-10). Thomas Merton sings the praises of Divine Wisdom (Prov. 8:22-36) in his poem entitled "Hagai Sophia." Others see the Divine as fountain fullness and the World as a revelation of the Divine. During this program, we will explore these images, consider their relevance as we address the concerns of today’s world and contemplate the presence of Divine Love at the heart of our ever-expanding Cosmos.

Resource Person: Sr. Kathleen Duffy, SSJ, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Physics and Director of the Institute for Religion and Science at Chestnut Hill College, PA. She is President of the American Teilhard Association, Associate Editor of Teilhard Studies, a biannual publication of the American Teilhard Association, and serves on the Board of Cosmos and Creation. Her current research interest concerns the religious essays of Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and the relationship of his synthesis to modern developments in science. She has published, Teilhard’s Struggle: Embracing the Work of Evolution (Orbis, 2019), as well as several book chapters and articles about Teilhard. Kathleen also guides evening, weekend, and weeklong retreats on topics related to Teilhard’s life and work.