Dr. Timothy O’Donnell on the Effect of the Incarnation on History

"Ask a typical university student what he considers to be the most important event in all of history.  He might offer responses such as 'the invention of the printing press,' or 'the Industrial Revolution,' or 'the civil rights movement.'

"These are certainly important events, but none compares with the one event that redirected the course of human history more than any other: the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. No other event in history was so anticipated and no event has so irrevocably changed the path of the human story. In the Incarnation of the Word, God became a man in Jesus Christ. The world could never be the same again.

"History viewed through the lens of the Incarnation reveals God's Providence at work in the world. The Incarnation offers a vision of history in tune with reality and through which different civilizations, cultures, and all human actions down through the centuries can best be understood. Furthermore, Christ's advent in history provides the key to understanding our present age. Catholics and all Christians must regain the authentic vision of history with Christ at its center and embrace our role as active participants in that story."

In a recent commentary, Dr. Timothy T. O’Donnell, president of Christendom College, reflected on the effect of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ on the history of the world.

To access Dr. O’Donnell's complete essay, please visit:

Principles: Our Hidden Treasure: The Catholic Vision of History