Northfield, Massachusetts | October 9–11, 2026
“By the Dawn’s Early Light: America’s First Principles and Their Enduring Legacy”
Every year Thomas Aquinas College hosts weekend seminars to give friends from around the country a taste of its unique program of Catholic liberal education. With the guidance of faculty members, participants discuss selections from the Great Books on a given theme. They work together to unfold the authors’ meaning and discern what truths it contains.
Our Fall Seminar Weekend takes place on the College’s century-old New England campus, about 100 miles northwest of Boston in Northfield, Massachusetts. It features three discussions about the selected texts, nightly on-campus receptions, fine dining, and delightful company. Our chaplains offer Masses and Adoration daily in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel and are available for confession and spiritual direction throughout the weekend. There is also ample opportunity to visit with members of the student body and — at Sunday morning’s Mass — to take in the beautiful music of the Thomas Aquinas College Choir.
Your Seminar Weekend will be a time of intellectual stimulation, deepening faith, and enduring friendships.
“I felt warmly received here. Found everyone to be gracious and caring. The discussions were fruitful and interesting. The cuisine was excellent and memorable.”
Theme
Tocqueville’s Democracy in America aims to show the excellence of America and the threats to its greatness. “Tyranny of the majority” is one of those threats. Besides the obvious danger of an elected majority trampling on the rights and interests of the minority, Tocqueville identifies a far more sinister tyranny exercised over thoughts and opinions.
Tocqueville is also concerned with the inordinate love of equality that he describes as the principal passion of Democratic countries, and which is felt more ardently than the love of liberty. The more equal and alike men become, the more they are bothered by any remaining inequalities, however slight. Tocqueville predicts that the love of equality leads, in the end, to socialism and the nanny state.
All those who desire to defend the spirit of liberty, which animates what is best in American life, should read Tocqueville’s thought-provoking book. Please join us as we discuss selections from Democracy in America in small seminar discussions led by members of the College’s teaching faculty.
Registration
All-inclusive price includes lodging, meals, seminars, and readings.
Discounts are available for President’s Council members at the Teresa of Calcutta level and above
