Christendom College will honor founding faculty member Dr. William Marshner and his groundbreaking translation of Cardinal Cajetan’s Commentary on St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae: Prima Pars with a special quodlibet and book signing on Monday, February 17, in the college’s St. Kilian’s Café. Dr. Marshner’s translation is the first time Cajetan’s Commentary has been translated in its entirety, making its release a significant moment in the history of the Catholic Church.
Dr. Marshner, one of Christendom College’s five founding faculty members, released his long-awaited translation in May 2024 to widespread acclaim. His journey with Cardinal Cajetan’s work began while teaching a course on the Trinity at Christendom, where he discovered the invaluable insights and strong defense of St. Thomas Aquinas provided by Cajetan’s commentary.
For 500 years, Cajetan’s commentary has been a crucial resource for scholars, yet it remained untranslated from its original Latin. As scholastic studies in Latin declined during the 20th century, the need for an English translation became increasingly evident. Recognizing this, Dr. Marshner took on the challenge, working on the project while still teaching full-time. His dedication continued into retirement, culminating in the translation’s publication in April 2024.
The college will commemorate this historic achievement on February 17, beginning with remarks from John Martino, Executive Publisher at Catholic University of America Press, alongside Christendom professors Dr. R.J. Matava and Dr. Stephen Hipp. Following this, a quodlibet — an open forum where students can pose academic questions to faculty — will feature Dr. Marshner and other professors, with a book signing rounding out the celebration.
Marshner’s monumental work is the result of a lifetime of theological study. He was one of the five founding faculty members of Christendom College, teaching at the school from 1977 until 2015, when he retired and was named Professor Emeritus. Marshner is the translator and editor of a number of books, including Defending the Faith: An Anti-Modernist Anthology, and wrote extensively for Triumph, Christendom’s Faith and Reason journal, and more.
To purchase Marshner’s latest work, visit here.