THE 601: 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 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?
  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 602A: Theological Foundations (Fr. Dan Pattee, TOR)

"Now we believe that You are something than which nothing greater can be thought." So writes St Anselm in the Proslogion. The fact that St Anselm begins by saying, "we believe," has led theologians like Karl Barth to conclude that Anselm's "ontological argument" is based solely on faith. Many scholars have disagreed with Barth's position, especially since another reason for this assertion on the part of Karl Barth was the fact that he rejected the "analogy of being" as the invention of the anti-Christ. Both of these positions of Karl Barth, as well as the alternative positions, are related to the nature of theology and the key distinction made between God and creatures within it. In light of these comments, answer the following questions:

  1. What is theology according to St Anselm and how does this definition of theology play itself out in the "ontological argument"?
  2. What is the "analogy of being" and how does this figure into the "ontological argument" itself?

THE 602 B&N: 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, Athanasius, Augustine, Aquinas) employed it in their theology.

THE 603A: Historical Foundations (Dr. Stephen Hildebrand)

The proctor will pick two of the following questions; the student will pick one of his two.

  1. Write a detailed essay on the Trinitarian controversy from its inception in 319 to its conclusion in 381. Be sure to mention all the key persons and theological positions.
  2. Write an essay on the Christological controversy. Include an account of Apollinarian and Arian Christology; the first stage of the Christological controversy centering around the dispute between Cyril of Alexandria and Nestorius and concluding in the Council of Ephesus (431) and the Formula of Union (433); the second stage of the controversy, centering around Eutyches, Flavian, and Leo and concluding in the Council of Chalcedon (451).
  3. Write an essay on the Church in the Middle Ages. Describe Richard Southern's division of the Middle Ages into three distinct periods; place in this context an account of the great Schism and its causes.
  4. Write an essay on the papacy and the episcopacy in the Middle Ages. Recount the changes in each institution between 700 and 1520.
  5. Write an essay on religious orders in the Middle Ages. Give an account of the rise and fall of the Benedictines; describe the Augustinians and the Cistericians; and explain the emergence and character of the friars.
  6. Write an essay on the Reformation. Explain how it started and progressed; and describe the differences among the Lutheran, Anglican, and Calvinist reformations.

THE 603B: 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 641: Catechetics: Content & Curriculum (Prof. Ronald Bolster)

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 J. Walsh, CSJ)

Write an integrated essay for each of the following:

  1. Specifically describe The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius as a "School of Prayer" and show how it flows from his lived experience.
  2. Specifically describe The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius as a "School of Discernment" and show how it flows from his lived experience.
  3. Elaborate on contemporary literature in the field including spiritual direction and retreats.

THE 650: Christian Liturgy (Fr. Dominic Scotto)

The oldest celebration of the Christian Eucharist took the form of a meal at least in some places and at least for a few decades after the death of Christ. Please establish and develop this statement.

THE 660A: PI: Teaching Scripture Catechetical Framework (Dr. Andrew Minto)

Be prepared to answer any ONE of the following. THE EXAMINER WILL CHOOSE THE QUESTION.

  1. Define biblical catechesis and explain the four-fold framework within which it should operate. Be sure to explain the relationship between the elements of the four-fold framework.
  2. Explain the "method of correlation" and its impact on catechesis since the 1960's and how "experience" might properly be incorporated into catechesis, especially biblical catechesis.
  3. Explain why the interrelation of the senses of scripture is necessary for biblical catechesis.
  4. Explain why the Heilsgeschichte (salvation historical) approach is necessary for biblical catechesis.
  5. Explain how the theologia and oikonomia of a biblical catechesis is supported either by the senses of scripture or by the Heilsgeschichte (salvation historical) approach.

THE 660B: PI: Catechetical Saints (Sr. M. Johanna Paruch, FSGM)

  1. Discuss the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph as "catechetical" saints, supported by material from Redemptoris Mater and Redemptoris Custos.
  2. 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 660C: PI: Mariology II (Dr. Mark Miravalle)

Discuss the Franciscan thesis articulated by Bl. John Duns Scotus regarding the Absolute Primacy of Christ, and identify its immediate mariological ramifications concerning the predestination of Mary in one and the same eternal decree with the Incarnation.

THE 660D: PI: Nature of Love (Dr. Michael Healy)

Discuss the relation between love of the other person for his own sake and a concern for one's own happiness in life and love. Are these two attitudes necessarily contradictory -- the one altruistic, the other selfish? How can they be integrated?

THE 678N: 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 692: Catechetical Methods II (Sr. M. Johanna Paruch, FSGM)

  1. Discuss Truth, Beauty, and Goodness as applied in a comprehensive use of the Ecclesial Method. Answer must include specific references to art, music, and literature. Appropriate citations of magisterial documents must be made, as well as references to the work of Saward and Viladesau.
  2. Discuss inculturation in a catechetical framework. You must include a discussion of how 1 John 1 and the Liturgy make a Catholic world view possible both in the catechist and in those being catechized. Cite all pertinent magisterial documents used in class.

THE 694N: 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 710: OTW: Isaiah 40-66 (Dr. Andrew Minto)

On what basis do modern scholars treat Isaiah 40-55 as distinct from chapters 1-39 and as not the words of Isaiah of Jerusalem? When did they begin to divide the book of Isaiah in this way, and what impact has this division had on the book's interpretation? Describe in some detail the historical background of Isaiah 40-55, and summarize its teaching.

THE 721: Christian Spirituality (Dr. Mark Miravalle)

  1. Discuss the transition between the Prayer of Acquired Recollection and the Prayer of Infused Contemplation as treated in the Teresian grades of prayer;
  2. And explain how this prayer transition exemplifies the ascetical-mystical transition in the bridge from the Purgative Way to the Illuminative Way.

THE 732: Sacraments (Prof. Michael Sirilla)

Answer one of the following questions (please specify the question number in your answer):

  1. Analyze Regis Duffy's definition of a sacrament.
  2. Analyze David Power's treatment of medieval and contemporary Eucharistic theology.
  3. Analyze St. Thomas Aquinas's treatment of either:
    1. the metaphysics of Christ's real presence in the Eucharist, or
    2. the several effects of this sacrament.

THE 740: TI: Theology of the Holy Spirit (Dr. Alan Schreck)

Answer either A or B:

  1. What is "baptism in the Holy Spirit" and how is it related to water baptism? (Your discussion should include Biblical evidence, positions or teachings of past theologians, and contemporary views).
  2. Discuss the differences and similarities in speaking about the person of the Holy Spirit between the Western (Latin) and Eastern (Greek) theologians in speaking about the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

THE 740C: TI: Sexual and Medical Morality (Prof. Kevin Miller) Done as a DS for one student.

Answer either (1) or (2) (proctor's choice):

  1. What is the difference between love and use, and why do persons deserve to be loved and not used? In light of this norm (and as specifically as possible), what is wrong with sexual intercourse outside of marriage? with contraception - and why is NFP different? with homosexual acts? How does the distinctively Christian understanding of the purpose of the human person deepen our understanding of what is wrong with all these acts? Finally, suppose you have a non-Christian friend from childhood who is now living unchastely; how (as creatively and specifically as possible) could you effectively help him or her to choose chastity?
  2. What is the nature of the profession of medicine, and what (in general) does this have to do with medical ethics; what does the distinctively Christian understanding of the human person add concerning how health-care professionals should view human life and why? In light of the above considerations and of other relevant ones from the course: What are some reasons that abortion and euthanasia are wrong? What are some actions that can cause or hasten the death of the unborn or the sick but that are morally distinct from abortion or euthanasia, and why are they distinct and even acceptable? What is wrong with most ARTs in general? with cloning specifically? What ARTs could be acceptable, and why?


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