Doctoral Student Su Li Lee reflects on her participation at the first Dietrich von Hildebrand conference in Rome
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| (L. to R.) Dr. Evelyn (Timmie) Vitz, Su Li Lee, Dr. Paul Vitz, Dean Gladys Sweeney & IPS President Fr. Charles Sikorsky |
The conference was focused specifically on his text The Nature of Love which was recently translated into English. Dietrich von Hildebrand has been described by then-Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as the philosopher who has "left an indelible mark on the history of the Church in the 20th century", and informally called by Pope Pius XII "the 20th-century Doctor of the Church".
It is not surprising, thus, that the experience of being present in the Eternal City discussing what it means to love and be loved as understood by this great personality was nothing short of phenomenal.
The reception received for both Dr. Vitz' and my own presentations concerning the benefits of rooting psychotherapy into the larger framework of von Hildebrand's philosophy was also very encouraging, indicating the genuine need for an institute like the IPS in renewing the field of clinical psychology.
Cliché as it may sound, the phrase, "you had to be there to know what it was like" rings true to this conference experience; and I am certainly grateful for having been there with the unquestioning support of the IPS—a special thanks especially to Dr. Gladys Sweeney!
For more information about the Dietrich von Hildebrand Conference, click here.