Associate Member of the Commissio Leonina (since December 2014)
Visiting Research Professor
The Catholic University of America, School of Theology and Religious Studies
Addresses :
Couvent Saint-Jacques
20 rue des Tanneries
75013 PARIS
bellamah@cua.edu
bellamahop@gmail.com
I. DEGREES
Ph.D., mention très honorable avec félicitations du jury, École Pratique des Hautes Études (Section des Sciences Religieuses), Sorbonne, Paris, 2008. Major Field: The History of the Interpretation of the Bible. Dissertation: The Exegetical Works of William of Alton: Study and Edition of Texts. Director: Gilbert Dahan.
Diplôme d’études approfondies, École Pratique des Hautes Études (Section des Sciences Religieuses), Paris, 2003. Major Field: The Interpretation of the Bible in the Middle Ages. Dissertation: “William of Alton’s Postilla super Threnos. A Critical Edition together with a Survey of the Medieval Latin Interpretation of Lamentations.” Director: Gilbert Dahan.
License in Sacred Theology, Summa Cum Laude, Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D. C, 1999. Dissertation: “St. Thomas Aquinas and the Senses of Scripture.” Director: Rev. Joseph Augustine DiNoia, O. P..
Master of Divinity, Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D. C, 1998.
Bachelor of Science, Wake Forest University, 1982.
II. CURRENT RESEARCH
Within the field of the history of biblical interpretation, present research, lecturing and publishing has as its focus late medieval perspectives on history, authority and authorial intention.
Currently in progress with the Leonine Commission is the critical edition of Thomas Aquinas’ Lectura super Iohannem. Independently in progress is the critical edition of William of Alton’s Postilla super Iohannem. A long term project is the edition of Stephen Langton’s Notule super Threnos Ieremie.
III. PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE PAPERS
A. Publications
- “Stephen Langton, Interpreter of the Incarnate Word” in La conception de l’Écriture et de l’exégèse latine d’Origène à Lorenzo Valla, Maria Ingegno, ed., Turnhout: Brepols, in press, 2023.
– “La place de la Catena aurea dans la connaissance que Maître Eckhart a eue des Pères grecs,” in Maître Eckhart, Lecteur des Pères grecs, Marie-Anne Vanier, ed., Paris, Beauchesne, 2020, p. 21-36.
-“Satan dans le Quatrième Évangile commenté par Thomas d’Aquin,” Journée Thomiste 2019, Les démons au Moyen Âge, La Commission Léonine, Le Saulchoir, Paris, Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin, Revue des Sciences philosophiques et théologiques, Vol. 104, No. 3 (2020), p. 501-522.
– “Medieval Christian Interpretations,” Chapter 8, in Since the Beginning: Interpreting Genesis 1-2 Through the Ages, Kyle Greenwood, ed., Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018, p. 169-188.
– “Utrum suffragiis Ecclesie prosint dampnatis: Hugues de Saint-Cher, Guillaume d’Alton et Thomas d’Aquin sur la possibilité d’aider les damnés,” Revue thomiste 116(2), p. 267-282.
– “Tunc scimus, cum causas cognoscimus: Some Medieval Endeavors to Know Scripture in Its Causes,” in Theology Needs Philosophy: Acting Against Reason is Contrary to the Nature of God, Matthew Lamb, ed., Washington: CUA Press, 2016, p. 154-172.
– “The Interpretation of a Contemplative, Thomas’ Commentary Super Iohannem,” in Reading Sacred Scripture with Thomas Aquinas. Hermeneutical Tools, Theological Questions and New Perspectives, Jörgen Vïjgen, ed., Turnhout: Brepols, Textes et Études du Moyen Äge, Fédération Internationale des Instituts d’Études Médiévales, 2015, p. 229-255.
– “In the Name of Jesus Christ: A Few Historical Perspectives on the Functioning of Authority in Biblical Interpretation,” Nova et Vetera, English Edition, vol. 13, No. 1 (2015), p. 57-86.
– “Dominican Order (OP),” in The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine, Oxford: OUP, 2013, p. 401-408.
– “Authorial Intention and the Senses of Scripture in William of Alton’s Postilla super Iohannem,” in In principio erat Verbum: Filosofia e Teologia nei Commenti al Vangelo di Giovanni (III-XIV secolo), Fabrizio Amerini, ed., Archa Verbi, Subsidia 11, Münster: Aschendorff Verlag, 2014, p. 199-214.
– “L’exégèse de Guillaume d’Alton,” in Études d’exégèse médiévale offertes à Gilbert Dahan par ses élèves, Brepols, Turnhout (BEHE-SR, 159), 2013, 129-139.
– “Qui primo per verba intenditur: Notes on Thomas’ Understanding of Authorial Intention and the Literal Sense,” Dominicans and the Challenge of Thomism, Instytut Tomistyczny, Warsaw, 2012, 261-277.
- The Biblical Commentary of William of Alton, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford, 2011 (xi + 354pp).
– “The Lament of a Preacher, Stephen Langton’s Commentary Super Threnos,” in Étienne Langton, bibliste, : prédicateur, théologien, L.-J. Bataillon, N. Bériou, G. Dahan, R. Quindo, eds., Brepols, Turnhout (BHCMA 9), 2010, 327-352.
– “William of Alton’s Commentary on the Book of Lamentations,” AHDLMA 73 (2006), 203–281 (study and critical Latin edition, xxix + 49pp).
B. Conferences
- “The Eucharist, Sacramental Grace, and Us,” The Eucharist, The Thomistic Institute, University of Virginia Chapter, University of Virginia, February 22, 2024.
– “Creation and Sin, Angelic and Human,” Creation and the Fall, The Thomistic Institute, The Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC, December 1-3, 2023.
– “The Analogy of Word and Love,” and “Contemplating Personhood within the Trinity,” The Thomistic Institute, The Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC, November 10-11, 2023.
– “Sicut facula ardens: Paul as an Incendiary Peacemaker in Guerric of St. Quinton’s Postilla Super Epistolam ad Romanos,” The Medieval Reception of the Letters of Paul, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland, Annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Medieval Theology (IGTM), June 29 – July 1, 2023.
– “What Are We to Make of Origen in Aquinas’s Catena aurea on John?” Thomas Aquinas I: Sacred Scripture and the Catena aurea, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute, International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, May 11, 2023.
– “La place de la Catena aurea dans la connaissance que Maître Eckhart a eue des Pères grecs,” Maître Eckhart, Lecteur des Pères grecs, Metz, Institut Européen d’Écologie, Marie-Anne Vannier, Markus Vinzent, October, 2020.
– “Satan dans le Quatrième Évangile commenté par Thomas d’Aquin,” Journée Thomiste 2019, Les démons au Moyen Âge, La Commission Léonine, Le Saulchoir, Paris, December 2019.
– “Authoritative Sources and Exegetical Scope in Aquinas’ Super Iohannem,” Colloquium for the Study of the Medieval Bible, The School of Religious Studies of The Catholic University of America and The Centre for Medieval Studies of The University of Toronto, The Catholic University of America, 2018.
– “Irrationabile enim est et pravum quod homo non attendat ad virtutem intentionis. Authorial Intention and the Literal Sense in Dominican Biblical Interpretation,” The Influences of the Dominican Order in the Middle Ages, Taylor Institution, Lincoln College and Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, 2015.
– “Utrum suffragiis Ecclesie prosint dampnatis: Hugues de Saint-Cher, Guillaume d’Alton et Thomas d’Aquin sur la possibilité d’aider les damnés,” Colloque Revue thomiste, 2015: « Questions d’eschatologie », Institut Catholique de Toulouse, 2015.
– “The Interpretation of a Contemplative, Thomas’ Commentary Super Iohannem,” The Biblical Exegesis of Thomas Aquinas and its Contemporary Relevance, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Faculty of Theology, Torun, 2015.
– “Thomas Aquinas’ Lectura super Ioannem: Towards a Scientific Edition,” Colloquium for the Study of the Medieval Bible, The School of Religious Studies of The Catholic University of America and The Centre for Medieval Studies of The University of Toronto, The Catholic University of America, 2014.
– “Averroes, Maimonides and Aquinas on the Interpretation of Scripture,” commentator on the lecture of Francisco Romero Carrasquillo, Universidad Panamericana, at the meeting of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, Washington, DC, 2014.
– “Distinguer les sens: Les citations bibliques dans les Sermons de Thomas d’Aquin,” Théologie et Philosophie en Prédication: de Thomas d’Aquin à Jean Calvin, Colloque à l’occasion de la parution de l’édition critique des Sermons de Thomas d’Aquin, Le Saulchoir, Paris, 2013.
– “Can the Faith of the Church Contradict History? Marie-Joseph Lagrange and Alfred Loisy on Faith, History, and the Biblical Narrative,” Catholic Theology After Modernism, The Thomistic Institute, Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Dominican House of Studies, 2013.
– “Ad intellectum autem huius nominis quod dicitur Verbum: philosophie, révélation et théologie trinitaire chez Thomas d’Aquin,” Verbe et chair: Le sens de l’union dans l’Évangile de Jean, Université Toulouse Le Mirail, 2013.
– “Veritatis Splendor and Knowing the Good,” Advancing a Culture of Life, Veritatis Splendor Twenty Years Later, The Thomistic Institute at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC, 2013.
– “Late Medieval Perspectives on History, Authority and Authorial Intention,” Dei Verbum at 50, Toward a Clarification of the Inspiration of Scripture, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 2012.
– “Quod credimus debemus auctoritati. Perspectives on Authority in the Works of a Few Late Medieval Biblical Commentators,” Center for Medieval and Byzantine Studies, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 2012.
– Round Table Discussion of Suzanne LaVere, Out of the Cloister: Scholastic Exegesis of the Song of Songs, 1100-1250,” A.W. Mellon Fellowship in Medieval Studies, Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame, 2012.
– “L’usage des sources dans l’exégèse de saint Jean au XIIIe siècle,” La philologie au service de la pensée, Conference of the Leonine Commission, Le centre d’études du Saulchoir, Paris, 2012.
– “Authorial Intention and the Senses of Scripture in William of Alton’s Postilla super Iohannem,” In principio erat Verbum: Filosofia e Teologia nei Commenti al Vangelo di Giovanni (III-XIV secolo), Convegno Internazionale di Storia della Filosofia Medievale con il patrocinio del Dipartimento di Filosofia, Università di Parma, 2011.
– “Tunc scimus, cum causas cognoscimus: Notes on the Medieval Endeavor to Know Scripture in Its Causes,” Philosophy in Theological Education, Conference in Honor of Ralph McInerny, Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, FL, 2011.
– “Qui primo per verba intenditur: Notes on Thomas’ Understanding of Authorial Intention and the Literal Sense,” Colloquium on Dominicans and the Challenge of Thomism, Warsaw, 2010.
– “L’Exégèse de Guillaume d’Alton,” Colloquium Homage à Gilbert Dahan, Centre d’Études du Saulchoir, Paris, 2009.
– “The Lament of a Preacher: Stephen Langton’s Commentary Super Threnos,” International Colloquium on Stephen Langton, CNRS, EPHE, Paris, 2006.
C. Translation
- “Fabula, between mythos and hdga: Concerning Christian Exegesis during the Middle Ages,” Gilbert Dahan, in Scriptural Exegesis: The Shapes of Culture and Religious Imagination: Essays in Honour of Michael Fishbane, D. Green, L. Lieber, eds., Oxford, 2009.
IV. TEACHING
A. The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC: Fall 2023.
TRS 661 Christian Anthropology, Fall 2023
B. Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC: 2008–2019.
Systematic Theology
ST 611 – Creation and the Human Person: Fall 2008–2017, 2018–2019
ST 604 – The Triune God – Spring 2016
ST 705 – Medieval Biblical Interpretation Seminar – Fall 2009, Fall 2011
ST 881 – Thomistic Seminar – Fall 2008
ST 822 – Aquinas and the Masters of the Medieval University (Early Thomism) – Spring 2014, Spring 2015
ST 823 – St. Thomas and the Thomists: From the Medieval to the Baroque – Fall 2017
ST 700C/705 – The Image of God in the 13th Century: Bonaventure, Albert and Thomas on Being Human (medieval Christian anthropology) – Fall 2010; Spring 2016
Sacramental Theology
ST 611 – The Sacrament of Orders – Spring 2013, Spring 2014
Historical Theology
SS/HT 700D – The Biblical Interpretation and Preaching of St. Thomas Aquinas – Spring 2015
HT 700E – Medieval Exegesis and Preaching – Fall 2019
HT 703 – Medieval Latin Paleography – Fall 2011
C. Providence College, Providence, RI: Fall 2000–Spring 2002.
Development of Western Civilization I, prehistory – A.D. 1500–Fall 2000–Spring 2001; Fall 2001–Spring 2002
THL 410 – Principles of Moral Decision – Spring 2001; Fall 2001; Spring 2002
V. OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Leonine Commission, Couvent Saint-Jacques, 20 rue des Tanneries, 75013, Paris, France (2006 to date).
Editorial Board, Vita Evangelica, Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto (2014 to date).
Scientific Council (Conseil scientifique), Dictionaire des institutions chrétiennes, éditions Cujas, Paris, France (2014 to date).
Provincial Council, Dominican Province of Saint Joseph (2014-2018).
Economic Council, Dominican Province of Saint Joseph (2001-2002, 2012-2018).
The Thomist: A Speculative Quarterly Review, Editor (2010-2018); Associate Editor (2009-2010; 2018 to date).
St. Pius V Parish, Providence, RI, Associate Pastor (2001-2002).