S.T.A.G.S.

S.T.A.G.S.

Announcing the St. Thomas Aquinas Guild of Scholars (S.T.A.G.S.)

"As the stag panteth after the fountains water, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."  (Ps. 41:2)

The St. Thomas Aquinas Guild of Scholars (STAGS) is a group of academics who embrace the traditional Catholic faith and strive for holiness through their scholarly life.  The 'STAGS' make a private, individual commitment to fulfill a set of spiritual and ascetical norms on a daily basis.  The Stags are collaborators in the Ite ad Thomam blog and feature their academic work (CV, books, articles, recorded classes, etc.) through the Ite ad Thomam site.  Anyone interested in joining the guild or wishing to receive more information should email STAGS Fellow, Dr. Francisco J. Romero Carrasquillo to the email address below. 

Each member strives for holiness from his own state in life and place in the world.  STAGS is open to men and women, to laymen, clergy, and members of religious orders and congregations.  The core of their identity as members of the guild is the fact that they have chosen an academic profession and they live the norms as as a means to attain holiness.

STAGS is not a religious order; we do not live in community or follow a rule.  Members do not owe obedience to the guild fellows, and there is no celibacy requirement.  There is no vow of poverty, and membership is absolutely free.  The only requirements for membership are: (a) embracing an academic profession, and (b) fulfilling the norms, including making a monthly contribution to the guild (usually non-monetary, such as investment of time, work).  There is also the possibility, for scholars who do not wish to make their membership in the guild public, to be members in pectore.

A. SCHOLARLY PROJECTS are organized by the guild members.  Currently, there is one active project, The Ite ad Thomam Translation Project (IATTP).

B. MEMBERSHIP comes in three levels, depending on the degree of commitment, and level these levels there are ranks.   Each rank includes the privileges and obligations of the ranks below it.

Guild Professors are involved in the day-to-day activities of the guild.

 - Fellows are governing members and make decisions about the direction of the guild.

 - Tutors are the mentors of the more recent members, and offer them academic and professional advice.

 - Lectors are teaching members, and offer teaching resources through the website.

Members live the norms of piety fully and participate in Ite ad Thomam as contributors.  Full members may be later invited to become Guild Professors.  They are ranked according to highest completed academic degree (in an accredited university, in any field):

 - Doctors may be invited to become fellows.

 - Masters may be invited to become tutors.

 - Bachellors may be invited to become lectors.

 - Inceptors are undergraduates in the process of obtaining their first college degree. 

Candidates are in the process of entering the guild.  After showing evidence an active, lasting interest in the guild and perseverance in the profession, they may be invited as members.  For instructions as to how to begin your candidacy, communicate with STAGS Fellow Dr. Francisco Romero to the email above.

Chaplains provide spiritual direction and advise for guild members.  They are traditional Catholic priests from an ecclesiastically approved priestly fraternity or religious order (e.g., the Fraternity of St. Peter).

C. THE NORMS OF PIETY, which include basic practices of Christian piety, such as a morning offering, recitation of the Holy Rosary, examination of conscience, and mental prayer, form our interior life and represent our ordinary means of sanctification as Christian scholars.  Fulfilling them is a requirement for membership, and in fact form the core of our identity.  For more information, email Don Paco.

Sancte Thoma, ora pro nobis!