Spiritual Theology - 202 A History of Catholic Spirituality

Syllabus

Rev. Minh Phan

Goal: To introduce the student to a survey history of Catholic spirituality.

Objectives:

 by offering an historical survey of the principal themes in Christian spirituality  by engaging the student in a prayerful reading of selected spiritual classics from each historical period.

Description:

This course will provide an overview of the important developments in the history of Catholic spirituality, east and west, including biblical, patristic, medieval and modern periods. The student will have the opportunity to learn about the principal schools of spirituality in the Catholic tradition. This study will also encourage the student to explore implications for his own personal spiritual life.

Methodology:

 A presentation on the historical context for each period and the spiritual challenges in each period, based on the Jordan Aumann text.  Class reflection on the reading assignments.

Requirements:

 Four hours of prayerful reading of the assigned chapter of the text each week.  Keeping of a journal.  Active participation in the reflection sessions.  Class participation (10%), quiz 1 (10%), mid-term exam (25%), quiz 2 (10%), term paper (20%), final exam (25%).  The term paper should include a five-page synthesis of the historical background of the period, the spiritual teaching contained in it and an application to one’s personal life.

Text: Jordan Aumann, Christian Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1985) ISBN 978-0-89870-068-8

Calendar

Introduction to the course (Jan. 16)  Working definition of Christian spirituality  Organic historical development  Syllabus

Sacred Scripture (Jan. 23)  Aumann, Jordan, Christian Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition, pp. 1-18.  Ratzinger, Joseph, Jesus of Nazareth (New York: Doubleday, 2007), pp. xi-xxiv.

Spirituality of the Early Church (Jan. 30)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 19-24.  “The Didache,” The Fathers of the Church, Francis Glimm, tr., (New York: Christian Heritage, Inc., 1947), Volume I, pp. 171-184.

Monasticism in the East (Feb. 6)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 35-56.  St. Basil, Long Rules, Nonna Verna Harrison, tr., (Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2005), pp. 171-184.

Monasticism in the West (Feb. 13) Quiz 1  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 57-79.  St. Benedict, Rule, Timothy Fry, ed., (Collegeville, Minnesota, Liturgical Press, 1980), “Prologue” and Chapters 1-7.

Spirituality of the Middle Ages (Feb. 20)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 80-108.  St. Thomas Aquinas, “On Religion: Theological Virtues & Revelation,” An Aquinas Reader, Mary T. Clark, ed., (New York: Fordham University Press, 2000), pp. 340-353.

Spirituality of the Middle Ages - Continued (Feb. 27)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 109- 134.  St. Francis of Assisi, “The Later Rule,” Francis and Clare: The Complete Works, Regis J. Armstrong, OFM,Cap & Ignatius C. Brady, OFM, trs., (New York: Paulist Press, 1982), pp. 136-145.

Mid-Term Exam (Mar. 6)

Dionysian Spirituality (Mar. 13)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 144-179.  The Cloud of Unknowing, James Walsh, SJ, ed., Simon Tugwell, OP, tr., (New York: Paulist Press, 1981), pp. 115-131.

Catholic Reformation Spirituality (Mar. 20)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 178-189.  St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, George E. Ganss, SJ, tr. and ed., (St. Louis: the Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1992), Second Week, pp. 53-80.

Catholic Reformation Spirituality - Continued (Mar. 27)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 207-217.  St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, John K. Ryan, tr. and ed., (Washington, D.C.: Harper Image Books, 1950), Book I, Chapters 1-7, pp. 35-52.

Catholic Spirituality in the Modern Period (Apr. 10) Quiz 2  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 218-228 and 245-260.  St. Alphonsus de Ligouri, “Divine Love and the Means of Acquiring It,” Selected Writings, Frederick Jones, CSSR, ed. & tr., (Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press, 1999), pp. 57-68.

Presentations: (Apr. 10)

20th Century Catholic Spirituality (Apr. 17)  Aumann, Jordan, pp. 261-277.  St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, John Clarke, OCD, tr., (Washington, D.C.: Institute of Carmelite Spirituality, 1996), pp. 187-200.

Conclusions and Final