Ode to Thomas Cahill

I opened Wikipedia this morning and let out an audible gasp when I saw that Thomas Cahill was among the obituaries featured. Cahill was a brilliant writer, with knowledge of Latin, ancient Greek, French, German, and Italian. He initially studied to become a priest with the Jesuits, but ultimately married his wife Susan and oversaw the religious publications at Doubleday. 

With his degrees in classical literature and medieval philosophy, philosophy, and fine arts, he became a professor at Queen's College and Seton Hall. His interest in these areas led to his first big publishing break, "How the Irish Saved Civilization" which began his Hinges of History series.

For me, however, it was his book "Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus" that had a profound affect on my religious upbringing. I read the book as a high school student who was interested in pursuing the priesthood, and it radically changed my thought process on the life of Jesus and his message. In it, Cahill challenges us to reflect on the cosmic and human natures of Christ in addition to the divine. By emphasizing the balance of Our Lord's natures, he creates both a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. For me, it was truly formative in helping me to wrestle with challenges and perceptions that I held up to that point.

Mr. Cahill was a scholar of the first degree, mastering the languages he used before publishing his scholarly works about them. I highly recommend reading his works and will certainly pray for his repose. Rest in Peace, Thomas.