Ph.D. – Thank you for your prayers

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Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. I was surprised and humbled the prayers, decades, Rosaries and even Masses offered for this special intention. 
Y’all must be mighty intercessors, because this dope passed his defense and earned a Ph.D. When I got home, I was deeply moved to read your kindness in the comments. 
I tend to thing of blogging as a hobby, but your comments showed me that this blog is also about friendship, as Saint Peter teaches:

“But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Last night before the inaugural lecture, I took a moment to thank publicly my dear and beloved wife Joy. This Ph.D. has meant that for many years there were nights when I regrettably missed supper with the family. There have Saturday mornings when I was at the library. My wife and our six children have certainly sacrificed along the way, but they have also cheerfully encouraged me at every step. Today I am most grateful to my wife Joy. As my director Father James Lehrberger said, she has earned the Ph.T. which stands for “Pushing hubby Through.”
I am also grateful to my parents Bill and Jennifer Marshall who have encouraged me along the way – and gave me life.
I must also thank the Reverend Father James Lehrberger of the Order of the Cistercians. Father James was tireless in reading the dissertation and provided priceless suggestions, footnotes, and comments. I am thankful to him as a true doktorvater – a doctor and father both academically and spiritually.
I would also like to express my gratitude for Dr William Frank for his valuable suggestions as a reader regarding Blessed John Duns Scotus and also Dr Matthew Levering as a reader for his scholarship regarding the teleology of natural law.
Last of all, but certainly not least of all, I would like to publicly show my gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. From the beginning I dedicated this doctoral research to her and have sought her prayers and assistance. When I was in a examination or when I experienced difficulties along the way, my heart and mind turned to her and she guided me with a mother’s hand. I have dedicated this work to her under her ancient title “Sedes Sapientiae” – Our Lady Seat of Wisdom. She is the safest way to the Incarnate Wisdom who is our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.
Blessed be God,
Dr. Taylor Marshall
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