SUMMER MINI-SESSION 2000

THE 604: Teachings of Vatican II (Dr. Alan Schreck)

STUDY AND ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS:

  1. Discuss how each of the four constitutions of the Second Vatican Council express both continuity with past Catholic teaching and new approaches that present Catholic doctrine in light of the present situation and understanding of modern people; and
  2. How would you evaluate both the successes and shortcomings of the implementation of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council in the Catholic Church from the close of the Council in 1965 to the present? Include in your answer the evaluation of the Catholic bishops from the "Extraordinary synod" in 1985.

THE 660: PI: Contemplative Prayer (Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.)

Describe infused contemplative prayer biblically, and then in contemporary terms. Then explain its relationship to:

  1. leisure (theologically understood);
  2. the universal call
  3. degrees of conversion
  4. heroic virtue
  5. human fulfillment

THE 722: Fathers and Doctors: Apostolic Fathers (Dr. Andrew Minto)

Be prepared to discuss any one of the three author's works of the examiner's choosig from the following list. In other words, the examiner chooses three (3) works and you select one (1) of these three (3). Your discussion must include matters of provenance (authorship, date, locale, audience, and historical situation), literary genre, and at least one major theme/motif, problem or issue (pastoral/theological) of the selected work.

  1. 1 Clement
  2. 2 or Pseudo-Clement
  3. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistles to:
    1. Ephesians
      Magnesians
      Tallians
      Romans
      Philadelphians
      Smyranens
      Polycarp
  4. Polycarp to the Philippians
  5. Martyrdom of Polycarp
  6. Didache
  7. Epistle of Barnabas
  8. Epistle to Diognetus
  9. Shepherd of Hermas

THE 740: TI: Eschatology (Dr. Regis Martin)

Comment at length on the following passage from Hans Urs von Balthasar in which he invites the entire discipline of Theology to become, as it were, eschatologized, i.e., to be dominated by the eschata. He writes: "God is the 'last thing' of the creature. Gained, he is heaven; lost, he is hell; examining, he is judgment; purifying, he is purgatory...In this way, eschatology is, almost more than any other locus theologicus, entirely a doctrine of salvation. This is absolutely central."

SUMMER I 2000

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.

  1. 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 roles 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?
  2. 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.
  3. 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 655: Mary in the Modern World (Dr. Regis Martin)

Mary constitutes the pedagogy which the world needs if it is to recover the Gospel message in its fullness. Discuss this proposition in the light of the six reasons cited in class which underscore the continuing importance of Mary in the scheme of Salvation and in the life of the Church. (In other words, using Ratzinger's phrase concerning "the equilibrium and completeness of Catholic faith," how does an authentic Mariology contribute to this necessary integration?)

THE 660: PI: Family Catechesis (Sr. M. Johanna Paruch)

Using the magisterial documents that stress teh role of the family, discuss family as the domestic Church and cell of society. This discussion must focus on how these two themes provide the atmosphere in which parents are the primary religious educators of their children. Include the parish/school's role in supporting this premise.

THE 740A: TI: On the Mystery of the Heart of Jesus (Fr. Bertrand de Margerie)

Is it true that Pius XII in his 1956 Encyclical on the Heart of Jesus, Haurietis Aguas, presented a beautiful summary of the fundamental Mysteries of Christianity: Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption, Mary, Church and Eucharist, in the context and language of Thomistic Philosophical Anthropology and of Thomistic Biblical Commentaries? Explain.

THE 740B: The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Stephen F. Miletic, Ph.D.)

Describe the relationship between doctrine and Sacred Scripture as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Be sure to structure your answer as follows.

  1. Identify the article and its paragraph numbers.
  2. Outline the doctrinal theme within the designated article.
  3. Identify the chief doctrinal points according to your outline.
  4. Identify the role which Scripture plays in the presentation of the chief doctrinal points.
  5. Be sure to make clear which senses of Scriptures are present in the chief doctrinal points (i.e., literal, allegorical, anagogical, moral, theological).

THE 804: Philosophical Foundations of Catechesis

Answer two of the following essays. Your essays should clearly illustrate a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant readings and lectures from the course as well as an ability to think clearly and critically about the subject matter.

  1. Platonism and the Patristic period. Present and critically analyze the major themes of Platonic philosophy and the ways in which these were appropriated and transformed by Christian thinkers. Your essay should include a discussion of the Platonic and Patristic conceptions of philosophy itself, Plato's 'second voyage' and the discovery of metaphysics, the Platonic hierarchy of being, the distinction between mythos and logos, and the myths regarding the origins of the world and the destiny of the soul.
  2. Christian Platonism, Aristotelianism and the Medieval period. Present and critically analyze the differences between the fides querens intellectum model of theology as exemplified in Anselm and the 'theology as science' model based on an Aristotelian conception of philosophy as exemplified in Aquinas. Your essay should include a thorough discussion of Anselm's methodology with special reference to the relation of faith and reason, the concept of sciencein Aristotle and the various Medieval responses to the 'Aristotelian revolution,' and Aquinas' modification of the fides querens intellectum model through his adoption of Aristotelian philosophical categories. Be sure to assess both the positive and negative dimensions of these developments.
  3. The modern subjective turn and the sources of the self. Present and critically analyze Charles Taylor's argument in Sources of the Self regarding the formation of the modern identity. Your essay should include an analysis of the concept of inwardness and its variations and development, the 'affirmation of ordinary life' and its significance, and the modern trajectory from religious belief, through deism, to agnosticism and atheism. Finally, discuss ways in which contemporary catechesis might best speak to the modern self.

SUMMER II 2000

THE 602: Theological Foundations (Dr. Regis Martin)

In his summary of the basic and abiding content of the Christian belief, Joseph Ratzinger provides "a few graspable statements," pursuant to what being a Christian really means (i.e., his "Excursus: Christian Structures," from Introduction to Christianity). Seven (7) propositions follow in which the nub of a man's faith in Christianity crystallize. What are they and why is it necessary to present them in the way that he has?

THE 650: Christian Liturgy (Fr. Giles Dimock)

(CHOOSE 1)

  1. Trace the development of the Eucharistic Prayer and celebration from their Jewish roots to St. Hippolytus and the Liturgy of the Word from the synagogue to St. Justin, and relate this to the current order of Mass.
  2. Contrast Patristic and Medieval celebrations of the Eucharist, and show how the Reformation and Counter Reformation reactions grew out of this historical background.

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 722: Fr. & Drs.: Catherine of Siena & Therese of Lisieux (Prof. Ralph Martin)

Explain the "Bridge" Image that Catherine of Siena uses in "the Dialogue."

THE 780: Scripture, the Heart of Catechesis (Prof. Barbara Morgan)

Discuss the significance and content of the forty days from Easter to the Ascension in terms of Christ's relationship with and formation of the Apostles, being sure to substantiate this with Scripture citations.

SUMMER III 2000

THE 660: PI: Theology of Priesthood in Writings of Fulton Sheen (Fr. Williams)

Using the sources that are pertinent to the ministerial priesthood from Sacred Scripture, St. Thomas Aquinas, the Council of Trent, the writings of the French School and Archbishop Sheen's own teaching on the priesthood, articulate what is meant by the concepts of priest and victim, how the terms relate to each other, how they refer to Christ, how they relate to the notion of sacramental character, how they are developed in relation to Christ and the ministerial priesthood in the French School, and how they relate to Sheen's understanding of priestly identity and the consequent spiritual motives and practice, particularly the Holy Hour.

THE 692: Catechetical Methods II (Sr. M. Johanna Paruch, OSF)

Outline and briefly discuss the following:

  1. the catechetical endeavor and liturgical practice
  2. the catechetical endeavor and inculturation

THE 693: The Catechumenate and RCIA (Prof. Barbara Morgan)

Discuss the similarities and any divergencies between the fourth century catechumenates and the present-day Order of Christian Initiation.

THE 740A: The Catholic Theology of Tradition & the Development of Doctrine (Fr. Bevil Bramwell, Ph.D., OMI)

Choose either the work of Yves Congar or John Newman and write an essay describing their theory. In the case of Congar it is the theory of Tradition in the Catholic Church. And in the case of Newman it is the theory of the development of doctrine in the Catholic Church.

THE 740B: TI: Christ and Morality (Prof. Kevin Miller)

Class cancelled.

Clearwater, Florida Classes:

THE 731 FL: Christology (Dr. Ronald Novotny)

  1. How does the concept of person explain relationships in the Trinity? Relate this answer to the fact of faith that Jesus is not a human person. (It might help in answering this question to develop the essential elements of personhood.)
  2. Trace the historical discussion of Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. What are the key concepts of this discussion and who are key players? What is you own theological stance in this matter?

THE 740/429 FL: Bioethics (Prof. Brian Scarnecchia)

Discuss "embryo adoption" (the implantation of a third-party frozen embryo that would otherwise be killed into the womb of woman in order that she may save and adopt the child). Consider the Church's teaching on marriage, in vitro fertilization, and the right to life in light of Christian moral principles. Is this procedure an intrinsically evil act? Why/why not? If not, is it ever morally obligatory? What would you advise?



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