Hermetic Tradition or Catholic Tradition? A Critique of Sebastian Morello
By Matthew Minerd ( bio - articles ) | Aug 14, 2025
Those reading this essay on a mobile device will want to download the PDF.
Note from Catholic Culture editor Thomas Mirus: The following essay is considerably longer than what we typically publish in our commentary section. For ease of reading and access to the important footnotes, we have embedded the PDF rather than using our normal article format. (Update: due to an error, the original PDF didn’t have clickable links, which has now been fixed. You may need to flush your cache to see the new version.)
This essay, co-authored by Matthew Minerd, Matthew Scarince, and myself, is a critique of Sebastian Morello’s book Mysticism, Magic, & Monasteries: Recovering the Sacred Mystery at the Heart of Reality (2024). The controversy over this book began in June 2025, when a number of writers, including myself, objected to Morello’s promotion of “Hermetic magic” within the Church. Our critique in the present essay addresses that issue far more extensively than my original article did, but also addresses other problems with Morello’s book. Those solely interested in the debate over magic and Hermeticism are directed to pages 2-5, 9-20, and 23-26.
Those seeking, as a complement to this critique, a positive proposal for how diverse theological schools and sources may be unified within the one Catholic tradition, and theological inquiry rooted in the mystical life, are invited to read Matthew Minerd’s essay “Thoughts on Theology Today”, just published at To Be a Thomist.
The authors:
Matthew Minerd is Professor of Philosophy and Moral Theology at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, PA, and managing editor of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology. Information about his academic writing and translation work can be found at MatthewMinerd.com.
Thomas Mirus is President of Trinity Communications and editor of Catholic Culture.
Matthew Scarince is a freelance writer and historical researcher working in western New Jersey.
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Posted by: wlaurento5401 -
Aug. 16, 2025 7:47 PM ET USA
This essay by Dr. Minerd and others was clearly a labor of love. Much research and thought went into it. I am grateful for this explication of the hazards intrinsic to Morello's views. It is enough for me to know there is no point in going down his path.
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Posted by: brenda22890 -
Aug. 16, 2025 7:33 AM ET USA
Thank you for this. This topic may not be well known to many "average" Catholics, but the extent to which "Occultism" has interwoven itself into the thinking and understanding of modern, secular culture is alarming. It impacts Catholics without them even suspecting. So maybe a series of articles, somewhat less academic in nature, to raise awareness?
