The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire.

From Toward the Future, 1936, XI, 86-87

Seeing. One could say that the whole of life lies in seeing…to try to see more and to see better is not, therefore, just a fantasy, curiosity, or a luxury. See or perish. This is the situation imposed on every element of the universe by the mysterious gift of existence. And thus, to a higher degree, this is the human condition.

From The Human Phenomenon, trans. Sarah Appleton- Weber, p. 3

In order to become explicit…our consciousness, rising above the growing (but still much too limited) circles of family, country, and race, shall finally discover that the only truly natural and real human unity is the spirit of the earth.

From “The Spirit of the Earth,” in Human Energy

It is not only in the thought of philosophers or the contemplation of mystics – but in the general consciousness of humankind – that the awareness of some divine presence underlying evolution demands to be clearly recognised as an ultimate and constant support for action.

From “Action and Activation,” in Science and Christ, 180.

The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire.

From Toward the Future, 1936, XI, 86-87

Seeing. One could say that the whole of life lies in seeing…to try to see more and to see better is not, therefore, just a fantasy, curiosity, or a luxury. See or perish. This is the situation imposed on every element of the universe by the mysterious gift of existence. And thus, to a higher degree, this is the human condition.

From The Human Phenomenon, trans. Sarah Appleton- Weber, p. 3

In order to become explicit…our consciousness, rising above the growing (but still much too limited) circles of family, country, and race, shall finally discover that the only truly natural and real human unity is the spirit of the earth.

From “The Spirit of the Earth,” in Human Energy

It is not only in the thought of philosophers or the contemplation of mystics – but in the general consciousness of humankind – that the awareness of some divine presence underlying evolution demands to be clearly recognised as an ultimate and constant support for action.

From “Action and Activation,” in Science and Christ, 180.

Pope Francis and Teilhard

During Pope Francis’ visit to Mongolia on September 3, 2023, he drew attention to Teilhard at the end of Mass. Watch the video here.

2023 Annual Event

On May 13, 2023, we met online for our Annual Event. The theme was “Seeing: Gazing into the Cosmos through the Eyes of Vatican Astronomers.” Two Jesuit Astronomers from the Vatican Observatory, Guy Consolmagno, SJ and Richard D’Souza, SJ, and Teilhardian Libby Osgood, CND, led our event. Watch the recording.

Upcoming Events

“Teilhard’s Mass on the World: 100 Years and Moving Forward”
Learn more and register here.

“Whitehead & Teilhard: Convergences, Divergences, Integrations”

“Teilhard’s Cosmic Images”

Reading Circles

View details here.

Blogs

We are excited to share our latest blog:

“Teilhard the Priest”
Blog by Louis Savary

You can read our previous blogs here.

Additional Resources

Books by Teilhard

Books about Teilhard

Teilhard’s Quotes

Teilhard Perspective

The newsletter of the American Teilhard Association, generally published twice annually and mailed to all members. Read the most recent issue here.

Teilhard Studies

A series of publications concerned with the future of the human in the light of the writings of Teilhard. Preview the most recent issue here.

EXPLORING AND BUILDING ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN

The American Teilhard Association, since its foundation in 1967, is committed to making the thought and vision of Teilhard more widely available. The Association seeks to bring an encompassing perspective to this great task of shaping the well-being of the Earth community at a time when so many disintegrating forces are at work. Teilhard’s vision of the sequential evolution of the universe provides a firm and inspiring basis upon which to envision a sustainable future. This vision flows through his unified narrative of the evolutionary sequence of the emerging universe – the galaxies, the solar system, the Earth with its living forms, human history, and humanity’s place in the evolving cosmos. This narrative from its origin to the human phenomenon can provide a firm and inspiring basis upon which to proceed. Now, for the first time, humanity is converging towards a new unity in diversity in shaping a multiform planetary civilization. To assist in this work, the Association, since its foundation in 1967, has sponsored annual conferences, lecture series, and a variety of publications. Learn More.

Donate to the American Teilhard Association:

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Donate in memory of Margaret Matt Butler:

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THE LIFE OF PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was born on May 1st, 1881 to Emmanuel and Berthe-Adele Teilhard de Chardin. While both of his parental lineages were distinguished, it is noteworthy that his mother was the great grandniece of Francois-Marie Arouet, more popularly known as Voltaire. He was the fourth of the couple’s eleven children and was born at the family estate of Sarcenat near the twin cities of Clermont-Ferrand in the ancient province of Auvergne. The long extinct volcanic peaks of Auvergne and the forested preserves of this southern province left an indelible mark on Teilhard.
Learn more.