Matthew L. Sutton, Ph.D.,is an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Theology and Religious Studies at St. John’s
University, NY, and teaches courses in Trinitarian
Theology, Christology, Ecclesiology, Mariology, and Christian
Spirituality. Dr. Sutton earned his doctorate in
Religious Studies with a specialization in Catholic Systematic
Theology from Marquette University. He joined St. John's
University's Department of Theology and Religious Studies in 2008.
He has also been an adjunct professor at the College of St.
Benedict / St. John’s University, MN. His research interests
include integrating the valuable content of Mystical Theology with
Trinitarian Theology, Christology, Pneumatology, and Ecclesiology
and researching the theologies of Adrienne von Speyr and Hans Urs
von Balthasar. Most recently, he has presented at the College
Theology Society conference on the ecclesial relationship between
Hans Urs von Balthasar and Adrienne von Speyr. He has also
presented papers at the University Faculty for Life annual
conferences. He has an article published in the International Journal of
Systematic Theology on the Christologies of Karl Rahner
and Maurice de la Taille.
Dr. Sutton is presently completing a book
manuscript of his dissertation “The Gate of Heaven Opens to the
Trinity: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr," and
writing an article that offers a Balthasarian perspective on the
debate between Paul Molnar and Bruce McCormack over the doctrine of
election and the Trinity. He is also participating in St.
John's University's new Faculty-In-Residence program at the Henley
Road student residence.
Why St. John’s?
I enjoy teaching and working at St.
John's University because I have found that the mission and culture
match with who I want to be in my professional life. I want to
serve the poor through education. I want to teach Catholic theology
as a way that tries to answer the deepest questions of the human
person. I also want to live in a diverse urban environment because
of all the goodness and challenges this environment brings. St.
John's provides me all of these areas with its mission to be
Catholic, Vincentian, and Metropolitan because it offers the
Catholic faith and the Vincentian Heritage as a way that gives a
diverse urban culture a humanistic education that trusts in the
good, true, and beautiful as the answers to the deepest questions
of humanity and our time.
Why VMI?
My education in theology guided me down
several paths of spirituality, particularly that of the Jesuits,
Carmelites, and the Benedictines. I will always admire and practice
these spiritualities, but because of my position at St. John's
University, I want to make sure I take into my heart and mind the
Vincentian spirituality. I am grateful to join the St. John's VMI
cohort to learn how to better live the Vincentian spirituality in
my work.