1 Year Course – two modules
24 weeks – 12 weeks per semester
(Thursdays 7pm-8.30pm)
Start date: 3rd October 2024
Module I: Catholic Spirituality from the Early Egyptian Monastic Movement to the High Middle Ages
(Rev. Luke Buckles, OP)
This course will be an integration of the development of Catholic spirituality from the beginnings of monasticism to the High Middle Ages relating distinctive ways of prayer with significant spiritualities in the context of their historical emergence in the life of the Church. Special emphasis will be given to the writings of St Benedict, St Augustine, and the spirituality of the Franciscans and the Dominicans with emphasis on the writings of St Bonaventure, St Thomas Aquinas, and St Catherine of Siena. These distinctive spiritualities will also be considered in terms of the relevance of the wisdom that they offer in the life of the Church today.
Topics covered in this Module:
- Following Christ into the solitude of the Desert
- History of early monasticism and Benedictine Spirituality
- Early developments in monasticism (East)
- Developments of Monasticism in the West
- The Realism of the Desert
- Monasticism from Anthony of the Desert to Gregory the Great
- Wisdom for the Spiritual Pilgrimage from the Monastic Tradition
- The Spirituality of St Francis and St Bonaventure
- St Francis and a New Springtime in the Church
- Spiritual teaching of St Francis of Assisi
- Principal theological themes in the Soul’s Journey into God of St Bonaventure
- Spiritual Teaching of St Francis of Assisi
- The Order of Preachers
- Theological Perspective of St Thomas Aquinas
- Spiritual Teaching of St Thomas Aquinas
- Spiritual Teaching of St Catherine of Siena
- Spiritual Direction in the Dominican Tradition
Module II: Catholic Spirituality from the Renaissance to Post-Vatican II
(Rev. Luke Buckles, OP)
The period in the history of Catholic Spirituality from the Renaissance to the present Post-Vatican II time in the life of the Church is richly significant in the lives and teachings of the Church’s saints, the missionary expansion, and the witness of the Church and her religious orders and congregations to a world going through a profound time of intellectual, scientific, and general cultural ferment. The purpose of this course will be to review the on-going development of Roman Catholic spirituality with special emphasis upon the traditions offered by the new religious orders and congregations founded during this period, especially the Carmelite Order and the Society of Jesus, as well as the continuing influence of the Order of Preachers and other orders founded in the earlier ages in the life of the Church.
Topics covered in this Module:
- Carmelite Saints and Doctors
- John of the Cross
- Therese of Lisieux
- Teresa of Avila
- Carmelite Wisdom for the Journey
- St Ignatius of Loyola and the Society of Jesus
- Spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola
- The Spiritual Exercises and principles of discernment
- The process of discernment: three essential steps
- Methods of discernment
- Ignatian Spirituality and the Renaissance
- The reform of the Church and of civil society
- Holiness in the context of the Renaissance and Catholic Reformation
- The Church, human society, and culture
- Councils of Trent and Vatican II
- Sts Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa of Calcutta
How it works
Once you have registered and made your payment you will receive an email on the evening before each lecture/discussion session, with the link for the next day’s session.
On the first day of a course, there will be an optional test meeting 15 minutes before the start of the session – for anyone who wishes to practice clicking the link and making sure they can see and hear without any problems. At the time of the session, to “enter the meeting room”, you simply click the link in your email, follow the directions, and you are in! There is no need for any advanced computer or technical skill.
Real-time Interactive Participation
Once you are in the “meeting room”, you can see and hear everything. To ask questions, or participate in the discussion, you simply un-mute your microphone (or you can opt to just listen). We prefer everyone’s web-cam to be turned on, so that we’re all visible to each other, but you can opt to turn off your web-cam if necessary. You can ask questions, contribute to the discussion and participate just as you would if you were onsite – all from the comfort of your own home.
- Following each session, notes will be emailed to you.
- 24-hour email, and access to Claritas Spiritual Theology by phone or Zoom by appointment.
Please Choose (Step 2)
One time purchase by debit/credit or BACS:
Monthly payment:
