THE 601A & B: Biblical Foundations (Dr. Andrew Minto)Study all three (3) questions. The proctor will choose one for you to answer at the examination.
- Reflecting on the magisterial documents (Profidentissimus Deus, Divino Afflante Spiritu, Dei Verbu, Historicity of the Gospels, and Mysterium Ecclesiae), the NCCB's Pastoral Statement for Catholics on Biblical Fundamentalism, class lecture, and the articles by Frein and Lindbeck, address and answer the following questions. What place and role does Scripture occupy within the Church with respect to the mediation of God's word. How does this view of Scripture, as the privileged instrument of God's word, rest on certain fundamentals, yet, at the same time, resist and contradict fundamentalism?
- Reflecting on the article by Ratzinger, the excerpts from Colin's Enlightenment and Alienation, Hayes & Holloday's Biblical Exegesis, and class lecture, write a response to the two articles by R. Brown addressing the key issue of the effect of Enlightenment thinking on modern exegesis and theological reflection and a remedy to this affect.
- Reflecting on the magisterial documents (see question #1), the two articles by de la Potterie, the articles by S. M. and F. Martin, and class lecture, write an essay that discusses the meaning and interrelation of the senses of Scripture.
THE 604A: Teachings of Vatican II (Fr. Bevil Bramwell, OMI)Please write an essay on ONE of the following areas:
1. The teachings on God and Christ
2. The teachings on the Church
Demonstrate in your answer that you have understood both the material from the lectures and the writing of Karol Wojtyla.
THE 604B: Teachings of Vatican II (Fr. Dan Pattee)The Second Vatican Council published both the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) and the Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) on the same day, namely, November 21, 1964. This is significant for establishing the relationship between these two important documents of the Council. The Decree on Ecumenism may be considered a practical application in the ecumenical forum of the communio-ecclesiology found in the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church. These two documents developed together during the Council in such a way that the Decree on Ecumenism cannot be fully understood without the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.
In this light, develop an essay on the communio-ecclesiology of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church and, subsequently, further develop the essay on the significance of this communio-ecclesiology for dialogue with the separated ecclesial communities of the West.
THE 630: Sin, Conversion & Evangelism (Dr. Scott Hahn)Summarize our treatment of the major course - Themes (sin, conversion, evangelization) by addressing the following points:
First, discuss the nature of sin ("The mystery of iniquity") in the light of God's covenant with man. Briefly explain the meaning of original sin, concupiscense, and actual sin (both personal and social).
Second, discuss the divine gift of salvation and conversion. Briefly explain the various models of the atonement (temple, courtroom, battlefield, marketplace). Also, briefly treat how conversion necessarily entails a ritual process of sacramental transformation.
Third, discuss the basic steps of how you as a Catholic would personally share the gospel. How does the liturgy fit into the Church's mission of evangelization?
THE 641: Catechetics: Content & Curriculum (Prof. Barbara Morgan)In light of the General Directory of Catechesis and Catechesi Tradendae, discuss the content of the catechesis regarding the maintenance of its integrity, the hierarchy of truths, and the need for a systematic presentation of it.
THE 645: Pastoral and Spiritual Direction (Sr. Maria Walsh, CSJ)List points and also write an essay for each of the following three topics: 1) the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola are a school of prayer, 2) a school of discernment, and 3) a synthesis of specific life experiences of Saint Ignatius.
THE 650: Christian Liturgy (Rev. Dominic Scotto, T.O.R.)The wonderful liturgical initiatives of Pope Pius X eventually had strong, practical and pastoral effects upon the Church's liturgical life. What were those initiatives and how did they effect the Church's liturgical life?
THE 660A: PI: Feminism & Theology of the Body (Prof. Donohue-White)Answer two of the following essays. Your essays should clearly illustrate a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant readings (with explicit reference to authors) and lectures from the course as well as an ability to think clearly and critically about the subject matter.
- Feminist theology and the critique of the tradition. Based on the various essays in C. Lacugna's Freeing Theology, present and critically analyze the purpose and method of feminist theology and its critique of the Christian tradition. Your essay should include an analysis of androcentrism and patriarchy as used in feminist theology as well as an analysis of the thematic lines of thought in feminist trinitarian theology, christology, and theological anthropology. Conclude your essay by developing three points or lines of criticism which could be applied to the project of feminist theology.
- Theology of the body, sexuality and gender in Patristic sources. Based on Peter Brown's The Body and Society, present and critically analyze the primary themes and lines of development in the Patristic period regarding the theological understanding and experience of the body, sexuality and gender. Choose at least three but not more than four specific figures to illustrate the points of difference and development (e.g., Clement of Alexandria, Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine). Your essay should include a general discussion of approaches to the soul-body relation (e.g., monism, dualism, intergral unity or composite) as well as a discussion of the ideal of virginity and its implications for a theology of marriage. Conclude your essay by discussing how a recovery of certain dimensions of the tradition could help in the development of contemporary theology of the body.
- Medieval spirituality and gender. Based on either Caroline Bynum's Holy Feast, Holy Fast (THE 740) or Bernard McGinn's The Flowering of Mysticism and (THE 660A) present and critically analyze Medieval understandings of the body and gender as illustrated in women's spirituality. Your essay should include a discussion of the changing roles and opportunities for women in the Medieval period, their use of body symbolism, and their understandings of masculinity, femininity and complementarity. For those in THE 740, be sure to include an analysis of the symbolic meanings of food and eating as developed by Bynum. For those in THE 660A, your essay should include a discussion of the theology of three mystic women as presented in McGinn. Conclude your essay by considering ways in which a recovery of Medieval women's spirituality could help in the development of contemporary ideas of complementarity.
THE 660B: PI: Sacramental Preparation (Prof. Barbara Morgan)Discuss the unchangeable, universal elements of sacramental prep and correlate them with the modern situation of religious ignorance, especially sacramental/liturgical ignorance.
THE 660C: PI: Catechetical Saints: Content & Methodology (Sr. M. Johanna Paruch)
- Discuss the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph as "catechetical" saints, supported by material from Redemptoris Mater and Redemptoris Custos.
- Discuss the elements necessary for a saint to be noted as a "Catechetical Saint". You must cite catechetical documents of the Church and then illustrate these characteristics in the life of one specific catechetical saint.
THE 680: Applied Christian Ministry (Sr. M. Johanna Paruch, OSF)Describe the ideas of communio and holiness as applied to Christian ministry, using the documents Christifideles Laici, Pastores Dabo Vobis, Vita Consecrata. Be specific in the use of these documents.
THE 691: Catechetical Methods I (Sr. M. Johanna Paruch, OSF)In Catechesi Tradendae #20, Pope John Paul II states the aim of catechesis. Authentic catechetical methodology must reflect that aim, while keeping in mind the faith, spiritual, and moral development of those to be catechized, as well as their age, intellectual/physical ability, and their social condition. A) Explain this premise, supporting your explanation with statements from the catechetical magisterial documents and required reading for this course. B) Explain how the Ecclesial Method defined by Msgr. Francis Kelly and St. John Bosco's Preventative Method of Reason, Religion and Kindness keeps the catechist faithful to the mind of the Church regarding Catechetical Methodology.
THE 693N: The Catechumenate in the RCIA (Prof. Barbara Morgan)Discuss the similarities and any divergencies between the fourth century catechumenates and the present-day Order of Christian Initiation.
THE 710: OTW: Israel's Ancestors: Gen 12-50 (Dr. Gregory Vall)What is the literary structure of Genesis 11:27--25:18? Which portions of this text have the earmarks of Priestly composition? How do these passages and the (Priestly) arrangement of pre-Priestly source material contribute to the text's theological meaning?
THE 730: Grace and the Virtues (Dr. Regis Martin)
- Trace the development of the Church's teaching on grace from St. Paul, through Augustine, to the councils of Orange and Trent.
- What has been the impact of that teaching in terms of understanding of virtue?
THE 740A: TI: Christ and Morality (Prof. Kevin Miller)Discuss the relationships between the Christology of Cyril and the early councils and the theological anthropology of de Lubac, and between this and the moral/social teachings of Vatican II/John Paul II; on the basis of these relationships, explain John Paul's opposition to capital punishment.
THE 740B: TI: Biblical Theology (Dr. Scott Hahn)First, discuss how to do Biblical Theology; briefly explain its basic principles (e.g., literal-historical & theological exegesis, divine economy), format criteria (e.g., unity & content, living tradition, analogy of faith), and distinctive methods (e.g., canonical criticism, typology, spiritual exegesis). How is Biblical Theology related to -- yet distinct from -- historical criticism?
Second, discuss the convenantal structure of the divine economy; briefly explain the meaning of covenant and how the divine plan develops through the major covenantal periods (creation, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus). Briefly trace the legal and liturgical aspects of God's royal-priestly people from the creation of Adam through Noah and Abraham, and then from the Exodus of Israel through David and the Exile). Briefly show how "the New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New."
PHL 840: Ethics (Dr. John Crosby) - Question for Sr. Eliane Bouchard"What does it mean to call Kant's ethics an ethical formalism? Why did he see himself driven to ethical formalism? Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of his formalism."
Clearwater, FL Course: THE 660/463 FL: Catholic Mysticism (Dr. Ronald Novotny)
- Although at least 26 different definitions of Mysticism have been listed by one author, develop your own definition of mysticism. List and explain the key elements of mysticism and mystical life. Do these elements support the premise that everyone is called to the mystical life? If not, why not?
- By examining the epistles of St. Paul and his appearances in the Acts of the Apostles, point out the characteristics of his mystical relation with Christ. If possible, show his progression through his writings through the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages.
