Catholic science teacher blog

July 3, 2025

Before our first lecture today, I reread a little about Blessed Nicholas Steno, a hero of 17th century science and faith. In his twenties, he was recognized as one of the leading anatomists in Europe and various parts of the body are named for him including Stenson’s Duct, Stenson’s gland, etc. He also is well known for Steno’s Law in which all crystals of the same mineral, the angles are the same.

It was in the middle of an amazing career in science that Lutheran Steno came to observe a Eucharistic Procession and was so overwhelmed and said “Either the host is no more than a piece of bread and they are fools to pay homage to it” or “it really does contain the body of Jesus Christ”. He then converted to Catholicism. He later became a priest. He offers to us one of the most beautiful reflections on the relationship between nature, science, and faith as we approach truth.

“Beautiful is what we see

More Beautiful is what we comprehend

Most beautiful is what we do not comprehend” – Blessed Nicholas Steno

I think sometimes we give students the impression that science is perfect about providing all answers to any kind of question posed by researchers. But what science is really often good at is giving approximate models to help us undertstand our universe and then helping us identify questions for further study. As a physics teacher, there are many topics where I live in the question. Like whenever I show this video in class about quantum mechanics and quantum weirdness. It’s just so strange and unbelievable. How could electrons behave differently when they are observed? How can they be both particles and wave at the same time? The term quantum weirdness is just so perfect.

Yet ironically, and Brother Guy Consolmogno (Head of the Vatican Observatory) pointed this out to me at a Stars Retreat, “It’s that same ability to sit with difficult ideas and truths in physics and try to wrap my brain around them without forcing it that is the gift that can help me with theological ideas as well.”

Like the Eucharist….being bread, which becomes the Body of Christ, and then wine which becomes the Precious Blood. I have had powerful experiences of Jesus in the adoration chapel and so I have a strong faith in the Real Presence of the Eucharist, but I don’t have the ability to explain why. And on some level that bothers me…it bothers my scientific materialism side of my brain. But there is a part of me that embraces the wisdom of Bishop Steno “Most beautiful is what we do not comprehend”…and I would add …that we cannot fully grasp with our limited intellectual faculties.

There is something so beautiful about praying with the stars…walking out into nature and looking up at the stars and saying “God you are amazing”. This universe is far more beautiful and amazing than my human brain could ever fully understand or grasp, but it is truth. And the profound experience of being with Jesus in the adoration chapel…so much more beautiful than I could ever comprehend. God is present in the Eucharist there, and I can experience it, but I cannot explain it.

Just spent 30 minutes this evening in the adoration chapel in the Church of St. Adalbert in Krakow, Poland. Beautiful.