Short Bio
Dr Thomas Yilun Cai (PhD, KU Leuven; Master of Studies in Theology, University of Oxford; MA in Religious Studies, Fudan University; BA in Chinese, Shanghai Normal University) teaches courses in dogmatic theology. Before coming to USJ, he was a research fellow at Sun Yat-sen University. His doctoral dissertation focuses on the idea of natura pura in Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on the Summa. Dr. Cai’s work is broadly engaged with the theology of Thomas Aquinas and the Thomistic school in the 16th and 17th centuries.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2409-1010
SCOPUS: 55620333100
Publications
Articles in English:
Yilun Cai, “The Efficacy of Grace according to Domingo Bañez”, Augustiniana 62(2012), 291-326.
Yilun Cai, “The Appeal to Augustine in Domingo Bañez’s Theology of Efficacious Grace”, Studia Patristica 69 (2013), 379-384.
Yilun Cai, “Robert Bellarmine’s Idea of the Child Who Dies Unbaptized in the Commentary on Summa Theologiae”, Journal of Early Modern Christianity 1 (2014), 143-164.
Yilun Cai, “Desiderium naturale vivendi Deum in Robert Bellarmine’s Commentary on Summa Theologiae”, Gregorianum 95 (2014), 511-534.
Yilun Cai, “The Question of Adam’s Grace and the Theology of Pure Nature in Robert Bellarmine’s Commentary on the Summa”, Sino-Christian Studies 24 (2017), 7-39.
Thomas Yilun Cai, “Original Sin and Reprobation in Renaissance Thomism, The Cases of Domingo Bañez and John of St. Thomas,” in Nos sumus tempora: Studies on Augustine and His Reception Offered to Mathijs Lamberigts, BETL 316, ed. A. Dupont, W. François, J. Leemans (Leuven: Peeters, 2020), 433-444.
Yilun Cai, “To follow or overcome our nature? Reflections on the goodness of human nature with Mencius and Thomas Aquinas," Gregorianum 103(2022), 691-712.
Yilun Cai, “Matteo Ricci’s teaching on the goodness of human nature: its Thomistic and neo-Confucian sources,” The Heythrop Journal 65(2024), 138-151.
Yilun Cai, "The Jesuit teaching on human nature in China during the first half of the seventeenth century: A historical outline and theological reflection," The Journal of the Macau Ricci Institute 13(2024):75-87.
Yilun Cai, "From overcoming self to overcoming nature: the teaching on human nature in Ricci, Pantoja and Aleni," Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 24(2024): 76-97.
Articles in Chinese:
蔡翼倫, 「我卻愛雅各，惡以掃」—托馬斯．阿奎那論上帝預定與摒棄之因 , 道風：基督教文化評論 47(2017), 49-75.
蔡翼伦, 1518年奥格斯堡卡耶坦与路德关于赎罪券和信仰的辩论，基督宗教研究輯刊 22(2017), 117-131.
蔡翼伦， 中世纪后期的基督教封圣--以托马斯·阿奎那的封圣为例，基督教学术 17（2018）.
蔡翼倫, 天主與倫理之惡的起源—— 馬里旦與尼古拉關於「天主允許惡」之爭，哲學與文化 46(2019), 71-85.
蔡翼倫, 聖博敏論未領洗去世嬰兒的處境 神學史脈絡中的解讀， 神學論集202 (2019), 522-550.
蔡翼倫， 聖多瑪斯思想權威之演變，從1274年至1323年，神學論集218期（2023），529-551.
Editor:
Cai Yilun (ed.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Centenary of the First Council for China (1924-2024), USJ Academic Press, 2025. https://books.usj.edu.mo/index.php/usj-acaedemicpress/catalog/book/25
Others:
《轉向上主：禮儀祈禱中的朝向》 Conversi ad Dominum — Turning Towards the Lord : Orientation in Liturgical Prayer (Chinese edition) ，朗覓豪 (Uwe Michael Lang)著，潘小平譯、蔡翼倫校對，劉偉傑編（澳門：聖若瑟大學，2026）https://books.usj.edu.mo/index.php/usj-acaedemicpress/catalog/book/34
Modules
Year 2 Bachelor
This course discusses the following topics: the concepts of revelation and tradition from an anthropological perspective; the importance of these categories in theology; the case for a foundational theology; religion and revelation in the history of religions; the Christian notion of revelation; history of the doctrine on revelation; today’s understanding of revelation; revelation in the Creation; revelation as promise and prophecy in the Old Testament; revelation as the fulfillment and the plenitude in Christ; the structures of revelation: fact and word; historicity and sacramentality; signs of credibility; permanence and transmission of revelation in the Church; tradition and witnessing.
Alternative Description:
This course discusses the following topics: the concepts of revelation and tradition from an anthropological perspective; the importance of these categories in theology; the case for a foundational theology; religion and revelation in the history of religions; the Christian notion of revelation; history of the doctrine on revelation; today’s understanding of revelation; revelation in the Creation; revelation as promise and prophecy in the Old Testament; revelation as the fulfillment and the plenitude in Christ; the structures of revelation: fact and word; historicity and sacramentality; signs of credibility; permanence and transmission of revelation in the Church; tradition and witnessing. This course explores the foundations of faith as it relates the issue of humanity as an issue of God. Other topics include: Faith and today’s world (secularization, atheism, religious indifference); faith and the meaning of life; faith and biblical witness; dialogic structures of faith; God’s gift and man’s free response; faith as an experience of salvation and as a process of liberation; growth and maturing of faith; the communitarian dimension of faith; faith as knowledge and as an attitude towards life; theology as a reflection of faith; theology as science and as wisdom; theological hermeneutics and faith inculturation; confession of faith, dogma and its interpretation; the plurality of theologies and the unity of faith; the ecumenical challenge; theological reflection in today’s world.
Alternative Description:
This course explores the foundations of faith as it relates the issue of humanity as an issue of God. Other topics include: Faith and today’s world (secularization, atheism, religious indifference); faith and the meaning of life; faith and biblical witness; dialogic structures of faith; God’s gift and man’s free response; faith as an experience of salvation and as a process of liberation; growth and maturing of faith; the communitarian dimension of faith; faith as knowledge and as an attitude towards life; theology as a reflection of faith; theology as science and as wisdom; theological hermeneutics and faith inculturation; confession of faith, dogma and its interpretation; the plurality of theologies and the unity of faith; the ecumenical challenge; theological reflection in today’s world. Year 4 Bachelor
This course will survey the topic of sin and redemption as it evolved from the Scriptures and early Church, through today. In addition to the New Testament, the first half of the course will consider authors such as Irinaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, Abelard, Luther, etc. We will also explore the spiritual renewal harbored by Cardinal Cisneros and the catechism of Juan de Valdes, and how the encounter with Eastern religions may have influence Christian thinking in Asia.
Alternative Description:
This course will survey the topic of sin and redemption as it evolved from the Scriptures and early Church, through today. In addition to the New Testament, the first half of the course will consider authors such as Irinaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, Abelard, Luther, etc. We will also explore the spiritual renewal harbored by Cardinal Cisneros and the catechism of Juan de Valdes, and how the encounter with Eastern religions may have influence Christian thinking in Asia. Year 5 Bachelor
As an integral part of the Licenciate studies, all undergraduate students at USJ are required to prepare and present a portfolio of their work. The portfolio is assembled over the entire duration of their undergraduate studies, and is to consist of selected pieces of work that they have produced during their studies. A student’s portfolio may contain examples of assignment work, tests and examination answer scripts, presentations and project reports, and other work done by the student during his or her studies.
Alternative Description:
As an integral part of the Licenciate studies, all undergraduate students at USJ are required to prepare and present a portfolio of their work. The portfolio is assembled over the entire duration of their undergraduate studies, and is to consist of selected pieces of work that they have produced during their studies. A student’s portfolio may contain examples of assignment work, tests and examination answer scripts, presentations and project reports, and other work done by the student during his or her studies. This course will discuss the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and contemporary Sacramental Theology. The course curriculum is divided into three sections. The first section considers the history of the sacraments and the development of sacramental theology from the Christian Scriptures (New Testament period) through the Second Vatican Council and current reflections on the renewal of the sacraments resulting from the council. The second section examines sacramental practice within the Catholic liturgy, and considers contemporary practice of sacraments in Christian faiths other than Catholicism, as well as the promises and challenges of an ecumenical perspective. The third section will explore the intimate role sacraments play in conversion and on-going conversion in Christian life.
Alternative Description:
This course will discuss the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and contemporary Sacramental Theology. The course curriculum is divided into three sections. The first section considers the history of the sacraments and the development of sacramental theology from the Christian Scriptures (New Testament period) through the Second Vatican Council and current reflections on the renewal of the sacraments resulting from the council. The second section examines sacramental practice within the Catholic liturgy, and considers contemporary practice of sacraments in Christian faiths other than Catholicism, as well as the promises and challenges of an ecumenical perspective. The third section will explore the intimate role sacraments play in conversion and on-going conversion in Christian life. This course will explore the Sacraments of Reconciliation and of Anointing of the Sick. Historical, theological, canonical, liturgical and pastoral dimensions are given appropriate attention so as to prepare the future priest celebrants.
Alternative Description:
This course will explore the Sacraments of Reconciliation and of Anointing of the Sick. Historical, theological, canonical, liturgical and pastoral dimensions are given appropriate attention so as to prepare the future priest celebrants.
