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John A. O'Brien Library Collection in Theology & Philosophy
The John A. O'Brien Library Collection in Theology and Philosophy honors the late priest and author who spent 40 years teaching and writing at Notre Dame, before he passed away in 1980. He was a popular defender of Catholicism and his writing reached millions of people. He was an early advocate of Church renewal resulting from the Second Vatican Council and a leader of the Newman Club movement, which establishes Catholic ministry centers at non-Catholic universities.
The O’Brien Endowment is the backbone of the Libraries’ ongoing effort to build an internationally renowned collection in Catholic theology and philosophy in the Catholic tradition. Through this gift, materials such as the works of Catholic philosophers and those who significantly influenced Catholic thought have been purchased. Students in the Christianity and Judaism graduate programs rely on these resources to provide important support, including through rare books, in the areas of antiquity, systematic theology, moral theology, liturgical studies, and Church history.
Father O’Brien desired to contribute directly to Catholic intellectual life and to the Catholic character of the University. His generous benefaction also provided for endowed professorships and a graduate fellowship.