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Joseph de Torre
Joseph de Torre (May 25, 1932—May 31, 2018) was a social and political philosopher and a Roman Catholic priest. He is the author of books on social ethics, Catholic social teaching, modern philosophy and spirituality. He was a member of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, and the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Barcelona and obtained his masters and doctorate in Philosophy from the Angelicum (Rome), where he studied under Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP. Residing in the Philippines since 1968, De Torre was the author of twenty books and hundreds of essays, and his Christian Philosophy has been widely used as a reference text in universities locally and abroad. He was fluent in Latin, Greek, Spanish and English. He died on May 31, 2018 after suffering from debilitating musculo-skeletal problems, macular degeneration, and pneumonia.
José María Callejas de Torre was born on 25 May 1932 in Madrid, Spain. His father, José María Torre Aguirre-Sarasúa, came from a well-to-do family in Bilbao, and his mother, Pilar Callejas Ocio, was born in Logroño. His father worked as a professional footballer and later as a theatre actor, through which he met Pilar. She had been orphaned in early childhood and had little formal education; she was raised by her widowed father until, as a young adolescent, she was adopted by a touring Catalan theatre company—which eventually brought her into contact with de Torre’s father. His parents married canonically in Madrid in 1923 under the influence of de Torre’s grandmother, Elvira Aguirre-Sarasúa.
During his childhood the Spanish Civil War broke out (1936–1939); Madrid and Barcelona were under Republican control, with the latter being a stronghold for anarchists. Although his father had been active in leftist anti-monarchist and anti-clerical movements (including the anarchist group FAI and the labor union CNT), he refused to take part in the killings of clergy and religious during the War. Following the War, his family moved to Barcelona. His father worked in film dubbing, and young José María gained early exposure to English through this.
Jose María completed his elementary education by 1944, then attended Milá Instituto for secondary school. From 1947 he simultaneously attended the Barcelona Conservatory of Music, alongside his high school studies. In late 1947 his father, then aged 52, died of tuberculosis and other illnesses. After his father’s death, de Torre worked with his mother in theatre and dubbing to help with family finances.
While still in school, he distinguished himself academically, becoming valedictorian at Milá Instituto in 1948–49. His intellectual interests increasingly shifted towards philosophy and religion under the influence of two philosophy professors. In 1950, during a Holy Year, he made a retreat with a Jesuit priest, Fr. Arcusa, which marked a profound conversion experience. Although he initially considered joining the Jesuits, he became drawn to Opus Dei. In April 1951, after spiritual reflection, he formally requested admission as a numerary member of Opus Dei. He passed his Bachelor’s degree final exams in philosophy at the University of Barcelona in June of that year.
He proceeded to the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelicum in Rome, where he obtained both a Master of Arts degree and a Doctorate in Philosophy. The then medium of instruction at the Angelicum was Latin, hence De Torre's fluency in the language. He was ordained in 1955 as a priest of Opus Dei, and spent the next thirteen years in Ireland and England in continuous pastoral and educational work.
In 1968 he went to the Philippines. Since 1970 he taught social ethics, social economics and modern philosophy at the Center for Research and Communication (CRC), as well as imparting courses on “theology for lay people.” He chaired the department of Philosophy at the CRC College of Arts and Sciences from 1989 to 1994, and thereafter became University Professor of Social and Political Philosophy at the University of Asia and the Pacific (formerly CRC). In June 1999 he became Professor Emeritus of the University.
In 1995 he received an award in the category of Books in English of the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), for his book Christ and the Moral Life. In February 1989 he received an award as Outstanding Catholic Author from the 2nd Asian Catholic Book Fair.
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Joseph de Torre
Joseph de Torre (May 25, 1932—May 31, 2018) was a social and political philosopher and a Roman Catholic priest. He is the author of books on social ethics, Catholic social teaching, modern philosophy and spirituality. He was a member of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, and the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Barcelona and obtained his masters and doctorate in Philosophy from the Angelicum (Rome), where he studied under Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP. Residing in the Philippines since 1968, De Torre was the author of twenty books and hundreds of essays, and his Christian Philosophy has been widely used as a reference text in universities locally and abroad. He was fluent in Latin, Greek, Spanish and English. He died on May 31, 2018 after suffering from debilitating musculo-skeletal problems, macular degeneration, and pneumonia.
José María Callejas de Torre was born on 25 May 1932 in Madrid, Spain. His father, José María Torre Aguirre-Sarasúa, came from a well-to-do family in Bilbao, and his mother, Pilar Callejas Ocio, was born in Logroño. His father worked as a professional footballer and later as a theatre actor, through which he met Pilar. She had been orphaned in early childhood and had little formal education; she was raised by her widowed father until, as a young adolescent, she was adopted by a touring Catalan theatre company—which eventually brought her into contact with de Torre’s father. His parents married canonically in Madrid in 1923 under the influence of de Torre’s grandmother, Elvira Aguirre-Sarasúa.
During his childhood the Spanish Civil War broke out (1936–1939); Madrid and Barcelona were under Republican control, with the latter being a stronghold for anarchists. Although his father had been active in leftist anti-monarchist and anti-clerical movements (including the anarchist group FAI and the labor union CNT), he refused to take part in the killings of clergy and religious during the War. Following the War, his family moved to Barcelona. His father worked in film dubbing, and young José María gained early exposure to English through this.
Jose María completed his elementary education by 1944, then attended Milá Instituto for secondary school. From 1947 he simultaneously attended the Barcelona Conservatory of Music, alongside his high school studies. In late 1947 his father, then aged 52, died of tuberculosis and other illnesses. After his father’s death, de Torre worked with his mother in theatre and dubbing to help with family finances.
While still in school, he distinguished himself academically, becoming valedictorian at Milá Instituto in 1948–49. His intellectual interests increasingly shifted towards philosophy and religion under the influence of two philosophy professors. In 1950, during a Holy Year, he made a retreat with a Jesuit priest, Fr. Arcusa, which marked a profound conversion experience. Although he initially considered joining the Jesuits, he became drawn to Opus Dei. In April 1951, after spiritual reflection, he formally requested admission as a numerary member of Opus Dei. He passed his Bachelor’s degree final exams in philosophy at the University of Barcelona in June of that year.
He proceeded to the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelicum in Rome, where he obtained both a Master of Arts degree and a Doctorate in Philosophy. The then medium of instruction at the Angelicum was Latin, hence De Torre's fluency in the language. He was ordained in 1955 as a priest of Opus Dei, and spent the next thirteen years in Ireland and England in continuous pastoral and educational work.
In 1968 he went to the Philippines. Since 1970 he taught social ethics, social economics and modern philosophy at the Center for Research and Communication (CRC), as well as imparting courses on “theology for lay people.” He chaired the department of Philosophy at the CRC College of Arts and Sciences from 1989 to 1994, and thereafter became University Professor of Social and Political Philosophy at the University of Asia and the Pacific (formerly CRC). In June 1999 he became Professor Emeritus of the University.
In 1995 he received an award in the category of Books in English of the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), for his book Christ and the Moral Life. In February 1989 he received an award as Outstanding Catholic Author from the 2nd Asian Catholic Book Fair.