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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
Alumna Offers Scriptural, Artistic, and Personal Account of the Year of Mercy
In the Year of Mercy and the Catechist, a lengthy, thoughtful talk that Martha (Schaeffer ’76) Long presented at the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia’s February conference for catechetical leaders, has recently been made available online.
A lady of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a master catechist, and an expert on catechesis and sacred art, Mrs. Long has been teaching religious education in Arlington for more than 20 years. Her talk, presented to parish catechetical directors and coordinators, is a wide-ranging examination of the origins and purpose of jubilee years, a thorough analysis of the role of mercy throughout the Old and New Testaments, a study of various artistic depictions of the parable of the Prodigal Son, and a practical account of how Catholics can avail themselves of the special graces that the Holy Father has made available in this extraordinary year.
It is also a testimonial about mercy in the life, and death, of the believer.
In a rather personal portion of the talk, Mrs. Long speaks candidly about her husband, Kevin Long (’77), who, after a decades-long struggle with severe bipolar disorder, took his life nearly two years ago. Since then, Mrs. Long has received countless spiritual consolations and numerous hints, some bordering on the miraculous, of Kevin’s eternal rest. “My constant prayer since August 19, 2014, has been for mercy. And I believe that Our Lord hears those prayers and will grant Kevin mercy, for as the psalmist says, ‘His mercy endures forever,’” she reflects.
Noting that “there are no limits to God’s mercy,” Mrs. Long remarks, “Divine Mercy is the form that God’s eternal love takes when He reaches out to us in the midst of our need and our brokenness. Whatever our misery might be — sin, guilt, suffering, or death — He is always ready to pour out his merciful, compassionate love for us, to help in time of need.”
The full address is available, in PDF format, via the Diocese of Arlington’s website.