SSF242 – Thomistic Psychology and the Progress of the Soul

Authentic pastoral ministry begins not with what we do, but with who we are. Thomistic Psychology and the Progress of the Soul invites you on a transformative journey from self-knowledge through self-acceptance and self-possession to self-gift. Rooted in the groundbreaking clinical insights of Dr. Conrad Baars, who built a psychology on St. Thomas Aquinas’ anthropology, and aligned with the USCCB’s Program of Priestly Formation, this guide addresses a foundational truth often overlooked: a minister cannot offer true self-gift and safeguard the dignity of others until they have first learned to read, be comfortable with and heal their own emotional lives.

The Church has long taught that formation must be integral, touching the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions of the person. This course integrates those dimensions into a practical guide for Catholics—whether you are a seminarian, a priest, a religious, a lay leader, a parent, or simply someone who desires to grow emotionally and lead others closer to God more effectively. Even though this course relies heavily on Church documents on human formation for seminarians and priests, it is not designed for seminarians and priests exclusively. It is for everyone who desires emotional, social and spiritual maturation—everyone who desires to be a father or mother, whether spiritually or biologically—everyone who wants to lead other souls toward greater emotional and spiritual intelligence while also undertaking their own interior maturation and purification. Therefore, this 6-week course on Thomistic Psychology is addressed to lay people and clergy alike: teenagers and college students, workers and academics, men and women—anyone willing to undertake the demanding and beautiful work of becoming more fully human in Christ.