PHL 720: Phil: Texts of Cardinal Newman (Dr. John Crosby)

One author writes of Newman: "he stands at the threshold of the new age as a Christian Socrates, the pioneer of a new philosophy of the individual Person and Personal Life." Show how we can find this personalism of Newman in his account, in the Grammar of Assent, of the illative sense and also of real apprehension and real assent as distinct from notional apprehension and notional assent. Do you know of some themes in Newman's philosophy of education that fit this personalism of the Grammar?

THE 602A: Theological Foundations (Dr. Scott Hahn)

Discuss the nature of Theology as a spiritual science of the supernatural mysteries of faith - in view of our treatment of fundamental, biblical, and dogmatic theology.

First, briefly discuss the manner in which the Holy Spirit reveals God's Word through Sacred Scripture, Living Tradition, and the Magisterium. Second, briefly explain the unique importance and normative function of inspired Scripture for the ordering of Theology according to the divine economy of salvation history. Third, briefly discuss the principle of divine accommodation and how key patristic figures (e.g., Irenaeus, Chrysostom, Augustine) employed it in their theology.

THE 602B: Theological Foundations (Fr. Bevil Bramwell, OMI)

Give an overview of the basic project in Hans Urs von Balthasar's Theologik, dealing with the basic information in the Truth of the World, The Truth of God and The Spirit of Truth.

THE 603A: Historical Foundations (Dr. Alan Schreck)

Certain key issues emerged in the main eras of history of Christianity and became focal points of attention for the Church's leaders and scholars for decades. In this question, I would like you to summarize the key figures, issues, and development of thought or doctrine involved in one of the two topics from each of the four major eras of Christianity. (Therefore, you should summarize four issues, one from each period below.)

  1. Patristic period (Christ - 800 A.D.) either:
    1. the doctrine of the Son of God in relation to the Father, and in the Union of His divine and human natures or
    2. the reasons for the persecution of Christians and the Christian response to persecution
  2. Medieval period (800 - 1500 A.D.) either:
    1. Church-State relations, especially the "lay investiture" crisis or
    2. movements of renewal in the Church in the early, middle, and late middle ages
  3. The Reformation and Counter-reformation (1500 - 1750 A.D.) either:
    1. the basic objections against Catholicism of the various Protestant reformers or
    2. the contribution of the various saints of the Catholic reformation to the reform and renewal of the Catholic Church
  4. The "Modern" era (1750 A.D. - present) either:
    1. impact of Enlightenment thought on Christianity or
    2. significant movements of renewal in the Church (Catholic and Protestant) in this era

THE 603B: Historical Foundations (Dr. Kimberly Georgedes)

Discuss the importance of the study of history to the study of theology. Utilizing in detail at least two (2) specific examples (one example each from two of the three basic periods of church history: the Patristic Age, A.D. 100-600; Medieval, A.D. 600-1500; Modern, A.D. 1500-Present), explain how historical circumstances have affected the development of the Church and of Church doctrine or dogma. You may use more than two (2) examples if you wish, but you must discuss your examples in detail, and clearly show how they illustrate the importance of historical circumstances for the development of theology.

THE 645: Pastoral and Spiritual Direction (Sr. Maria Walsh, CSJ)

Ignatius of Loyola is well known for his pastoral work on discernment in The Spiritual Exercises

  1. List and explain the:
    1. four guidelines dealing with spiritual desolation from Rules 5-8.
    2. three principal reasons why we find ourself desolate.
    3. three images in which the evil spirit works.
  2. Explain three of the Rules for consolation "with preceding cause."
    1. "The appearance of an angel of light"
    2. "The serpent's tail"
    3. "The afterglow"
  3. Explain "times for a good choice" (election):
    1. Revelation time
    2. Reasoning time
    3. Discerning time
  4. Which human and spiritual experiences in the life of Ignatius helped him arrive at these processes?

THE 655: Mary in the Modern World (Dr. Mark Miravalle)

  1. Offer a competent theological definition of the Mariological terms: "Co-Redemptrix" and "Mediatrix of all Graces" with support from Divine Revelation, and
  2. Summarize the treatment of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her "maternal mediation" as contained in Pope John Paul II's Marian Encyclical, Redemptoris Mater.

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

Using the magisterial documents that stress the 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 660B: PI: Teaching Scripture Catechetical Framework (Dr. Andrew Minto)

Select one of the four "component frameworks" of biblical catechesis discussed in class (listed below), explain the component, its relation to biblical catechesis, that is, what it provides to biblical catechesis, and how this particular component relates to one other component of the framework.

  1. A Theology of Divine Revelation (esp. as per Dei Verbum)
  2. The Senses of Scripture (Literal and Spiritual Senses) and the use of the Historical Critical Methods.
  3. The Salvation-Historical Approach and the Divine pedagogy.
  4. Theologia and Oikonomia: god in his Mystery revealed in his Works.

THE 660N: PI: Content and Curriculum II (Prof. Barbara Morgan)

In light of the General Catechetical Directory and Catechesi Tradendae, discuss the content of catechesis regarding the maintenance of its integrity, its unity, and harmonies and the need for a systematic presentation of it.

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 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 694: Catechetical Practice Today (Prof. Barbara Morgan)

Produce an outline for a model of adult catechesis OR family catechesis in a parish, incorporating salient principles from the most applicable magisterial catechetical documents.

THE 711: NTW: Romans (Dr. Gregory Vall)

Describe in some detail the structure of Romans 1-8, explaining how St. Paul unfolds the presentation of his "gospel" step by step in these chapters.

THE 731: Christology (Fr. Dan Pattee, TOR)

In answering the following question, be detailed, accurate and precise: the more detailed and accurate, the better.

One of the differences between pre-Nicene christology and post-Nicene christology was the way that post-Nicen christology moved in the direction of a christology of distinction. This came about largely on the basis of the affirmation of the Logos as homoousios with the Father. Explain what that means and then answer the following questions: what were the two schools of christology that resulted from this post-Nicene development? What were the characteristics of these schools and the heresy proper to each? Finally, how did these two schools eventually come to agreement in the christological settlement forged at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD?

THE 732: Sacraments (Dr. Regis Martin)

Discuss the three most momentous historic assaults made upon the Church's institutional and sacramental life. How did the Church answer the objections thrown up against her by each?

THE 740A: TI: Catholic Theology of Tradition (Fr. Bevil Bramwell, 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: Canon Law and the Family (Prof. Philip Gray)

Using Genesis 1-3, Matthew 19:1-15, Ephesians 5:21-33, and canons 1055-1057:

  1. Identify the essential elements and properties of marriage.
  2. Explain these elements and properties in relation to conjugal love.
  3. Provide a practical example of how these elements and properties are lived out in marriage.

THE 740C: 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."

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.

THE 804: Philosophical Foundations of Catechesis (Prof. Patricia Donohue-White)

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 science in 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.

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