FALL COURSES - 2007

SP 1103 Church and Culture in Italy I.  (Professors Teodora Rossi and Margherita Maria Rossi) This course aims at helping the students “taste” how Catholicism has--and still does--shape the lives, ways and culture of the Italian population, as well as giving them an insight into the peculiar "geography of grace" in the monuments and topography of the City of Rome. The encounter between Etruscan, Latin-Roman and Christian cultures in Rome has created a particular blend of features that have become characteristic of this city. Through a series of outside itineraries and lessons, which are meant to provide a relaxing approach to a distant and different country, the students will become aware of the riches of Rome, a City that does not possess, but offers; a city that it is not only of the Romans, but which belongs to everybody; a city that does not shine only for the ancient stones that adorn it, but also through the glances of its visitors.

SP 1104 Topics in the Politics and Economics of Europe I:  Political Catholicism in the Nations of Europe. (Sr. Helen Alford, OP)  This course is the first of two.  In this course, we look at the political activities of Catholics in the nations of Europe, mostly in the first half of the 20th century, that is, primarily until the end of the Second World War.  The most active period of Catholic politics in this time period is between the two World Wars, but to understand how this activity arose, we will need to go further back into history.  This course is mainly historical, but theory is not absent: for instance, we will look at some of the political philosophy of Maritain and the idea of “corporatism,” which Catholics in the 1930’s genuinely believed to be a real alternative both to capitalism and to socialism.

Fall 2007 -- "Rome in Early Christian Literature and Imagination" (John Martens faculty member going with group) Fom the beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the formation of the Church, Rome has been present in Christianity. This course will examine the way in which Rome was present in Judea during Jesus’ ministry, and its impact on the development of early Christianity, especially in Paul’s missionary travels, his trials, and in the churches he started. To this end, Paul’s Letter to the Romans will be of special significance in our study.  We will also study Rome in Acts of the Apostles, as it relates to Paul and to the broader formation of Christianity itself. The Apocalypse of John and its powerful condemnation of the Roman Empire and the Emperor Cult will explore the uneasy relationship between the ancient Empire and the early Church. Finally, we will make use of later writings, such as 1 Clement, Ignatius’ Letter to the Romans and The Shepherd of Hermas to understand the role and significance of Rome in the continuing development of early Christianity.

 
Italian Course – Non Credit – Conversational Italian, must be completed during the semester

Electives – Choose 1 or 2

TE 2375 Spiritual Theology. (Fr. P. Murray)
The invitation to spiritual communion with God as presented in the First Letter of St. John.  Study of selected tests from the Christian spiritual tradition (eg. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans, St. Augustine, Confessions) with special emphasis on the following themes: God’s saving mercy, prayer, the ascetical life, growth in holiness and contemporary spirituality.  Bibliography: Ample bibliography will be suggested during the lectures.

FE 1022 History of Modern Philosophy (B. Furgalska, S.F.B.) 1. General introduction 2. Descartes and the rationalism of Spinoza, Malebranche and Leibniz.  3.  Empiricism in Locke, Berkeley and Hume.  4.  Kant   Bibliography.  F. Copleston, A History of Philosophy, vv. 4-6 New York, 1994; E. Gilson and t. Langdon, Modern Philosophy, New York 1963; R. Scruton, A Short History of Modern Philosophy, London, 1985; G. Reale e D. Antiseri, Il pensiero occidentale dalle origini ad oggi, v. 2 Brescia 1983.

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16 credits plus the Italian are required; you have the option of taking an additional elective for a total of 20 credits.  If you wish to do so, please consult with Dr. Briel