This course is a continuation of Latin beyond Year I. We will begin with readings and grammar review from the later part of Collins’ Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin and then we will move on to include readings of Theological and Liturgical texts tailored to the needs of the class.
This course examines sexuality, marriage, and family from the perspective of Catholic morality. God’s nature as Trinitarian love, the person as imago dei , the intrinsic goodness of the human body (attested to by both Incarnation and Resurrection), the human vocation as self-gift, the grace of baptism, and marriage as an indissoluble spiritual sign of the union between Christ and his church, all instantiate the redemptive possibility of sex as a true language of love. At the same time, the wounds of original sin, the dividedness of the human will, and various “structures of sin” pervading modern culture, instantiate the possible misuse of sex to objectify, degrade, and abuse both self and others. After clarifying the Church’s understanding of the problem, students in the course will develop creative pastoral solutions for future use in their vocation as priests.
A study of the basic principles that allow us to understand our world: causality, time, space, matter/form. The relationship of science and faith from a philosophical viewpoint.
This course will explore the works of five of the most important and influential Christian theologians of the twentieth century: Barth, Tillich, von Balthasar, Rahner, and Lonergan. We will read major texts of each of these figures, concentrating on questions of theological method, the relationship between religion and culture, the knowability of God, the rapport between philosophy and faith, theological anthropology and the centrality of Christ.
Through the Church's liturgical and sacramental life the paschal mystery is made present in the lives of the faithful. This course provides background skills necessary in the preparation of liturgical celebrations, discusses current liturgical issues, and encourages the development of the liturgical spirituality.
The purpose of this course is to deepen students’ understanding of the foundations of Catholic moral theology and then engage some practical issues. Part One explores scripture as a source of moral reflection, focusing on the Sermon on the Mount and the writings of St. Paul. Part Two considers the role of virtue in the Christian moral life, focusing on the writings of Aquinas and his contemporary interpreters. Part Three examines the practical implications for human life in society. Topics to be discussed include: poverty and wealth; private property and the free market; international development; war and peace; and the “life” issues of capital punishment, euthanasia, suicide, and abortion.
This course will provide a context for understanding more deeply these ancient poems which capture the experiences of those who choose to live radically their relationship with God. Class sessions will study the various categories of Psalms and their peculiar literary styles and functions with the goals of appreciating both their original meaning and the extended application of this meaning in contemporary times.
