YLSD-Systematic Theology

Readings in Medieval Theology explores significant readings from this Era, emphasizing the compatibility of faith and reason; authors include Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Catherine of Siena and Bonaventure. Students explore questions of redemption, the sacraments, and whether we can know God. Course complements other doctrinal classes by introducing primary texts influential in Church thought and teaching, including the documents of Vatican II.

This course explores the possibility and fact of revelation in Israel and Christ, its mediation in Scripture (inspiration, inerrancy, canonicity, and exegesis) and tradition, its reception in faith and expression in doctrine, faith and reason, the method and tasks of theology, and the role and importance of religious experience and of the teaching office of the Church.

Course reviews and explores the Catholic Church’s teaching on Revelation, reason, faith, the doctrine of God, and the Church’s understanding of Scripture (inspiration, canonicity, inerrancy, and exegesis) and Tradition, its reception in faith and expression in doctrine. Theological enterprise, the method and tasks of theology, the teaching office of the Church, and other foundational elements are discussed.

Course offers a study of the lives and works of Greek and Latin writers of Christian antiquity from St. Clement to St. Gregory the Great. Emphasis will be placed upon their contribution to the development of Christian doctrine and life in the formative centuries of the Catholic Church.

An investigation of the Church's Marian doctrine revealed in Sacred Scripture and Tradition, taught by the authoritative Magisterium, given expression by the sense of the faithful, and treated in ecumenical dialogue. To study those diverse cultic expressions which in the context of the Church's faith are inspired not primarily by the Sacred Liturgy but by forms deriving from a particular culture of form of popular devotion.

This course explores the revelation of God in Israel and in Christ, the formation of the Church’s doctrinal and theological tradition, the relationship between revealed and philosophical knowledge of God, and theological approaches to the mystery of the Triune God and the missions of the Incarnate Word and the Holy Spirit. Prerequisite: Revelation and Faith

This course explores the person and work of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture and received in the Church, the formation of the Church’s doctrinal and theological tradition, the questions raised by contemporary methods of biblical study, and theological approaches to the mystery of Christ’s person and his place in the economy of salvation. Prerequisite: Revelation and Faith.

Course offers a study of the lives and works of Greek and Latin writers of Christian antiquity from St. Clement to St. Gregory the Great. Emphasis will be placed upon their contribution to the development of Christian doctrine and life in the formative centuries of the Catholic Church.

Theological Anthropology examines the Christian understanding of the human person before God by reflecting on the doctrines of creation, sin, grace, liberation and hope. This course will provide a study of the human person in the light of Christian revelation as created in the image of God, fallen through original sin and restored in Christ through grace. The course will offer a systematic discussion of grace, justification, good works and merit in the history of theology with an orientation to contemporary ecumenical dialogue.

This course examines historical and theological background to Vatican Council II. Analysis of council documents emphasizing points of continuity and development with church teaching and the reception of the council's teaching in the post-conciliar church.

This course will explore the God of Judeo-Christian revelation and of the economic and immanent Trinity. The development of Trinitarian theology is considered as well as emerging contemporary models. Particular attention is given to the heresies and the counter-orthodox doctrines as well as the teaching of the Trinity in the writings of the Fathers and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Readings in Modern Theology explores post-18th century Catholic theology considering modern and post-modern philosophical and theological debates. Analysis of the writings of specific theologians who have been influential in Vatican Councils I and II will be explored along with post-conciliar theological discussions, those generated by the Holy See and other Catholic theologians.

This course will explore the God of Judeo-Christian revelation, the conomic and immanent Trinity, with particular consideration of the predicament of atheism, trace the development of Trinitarian theology and provide an evaluation of contemporary models. Examine the person of Jesus Christ and His mission of salvation as understood in the Chruch's tradition.

This course explores the mystery of the Church as prefigured in Israel and constituted in the ministry of Christ, the historical development of the Church’s order and self-understanding, the ecclesiological doctrine of Vatican II, ecumenism and the quest for full Christian unity, the mission of the Church in the contemporary world, and the significance of Mary as symbol, mother, and model of the Church. Prerequisite: Revelation and Faith.

Readings in Medieval Theology explores significant readings from this Era, emphasizing the compatibility of faith and reason; authors include Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Catherine of Siena and Bonaventure. Students explore questions of redemption, the sacraments, and whether we can know God. Course complements other doctrinal classes by introducing primary texts influential in Church thought and teaching, including the documents of Vatican II.

This course focuses on the Biblical concept of the Holy Spirit and its consequent doctrinal development within the Catholic Church. Particularly considered are the heresies, the counter-doctrinal statements of the Magisterium, the writings of the Fathers and in particular the consideration of the Holy Spirit in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Likewise considered is the development of the pneumatological doctrine over the centuries with a particular emphasis on modern concepts.

Readings in Modern Theology explores post-18th century Catholic theology considering modern and post-modern philosophical and theological debates. Analysis of the writings of specific theologians who have been influential in Vatican Councils I and II will be explored along with post-conciliar theological discussions, those generated by the Holy See and other Catholic theologians.

Course examines the theology of Cardinal Newman, his most important theological and philosophical works in their historical context, and their influence to the present day. Among the foci of the course are Newman’s conception of the development of Christian doctrine, the place of conscience in relation to Church authority, the interplay of faith and reason, the idea of a university, and Newman’s poetical imagination.

This course explores the person and work of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture and received in the Church, the formation of the Church’s doctrinal and theological tradition, the questions raised by contemporary methods of biblical study, and theological approaches to the mystery of Christ’s person and his place in the economy of salvation.

This course explores the mystery of the Church as prefigured in Israel and constituted in the ministry of Christ, the historical development of the Church’s order and self-understanding, the ecclesiological doctrine of Vatican II, ecumenism and the quest for full Christian unity, the mission of the Church in the contemporary world, and the significance of Mary as symbol, mother, and model of the Church.

Mariology is an investigation of the Church's Marian doctrine with discussion of the elements furnished by Sacred Scripture and Tradition regarding the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and the Mother of the Church. A study of Mary's cooperation in the establishment of the Covenant; the truth of her perpetual virginity as inseparable from her divine motherhood; her collaboration in the order of grace; her Immaculate Conception and Assumption; and her place in ecumenical dialogue. Also to be considered are other pious traditions and their relationship to the ecclesial community.

The first part of Mary & Popular Piety is an investigation of the Church's Marian doctrine in an attempt at synthesis founded on the analysis of the elements furnished by the Sacred Scripture and Tradition regarding the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. A study of Mary's cooperation in the establishment of the Covenant; the truth of her perpetual virginity as inseparable from her divine motherhood; her collaboration in the order of grace; her Immaculate Conception and Assumption; and her place in ecumenical dialogue/ The second part of Mary and Popular Piety is designed to study the principles and guidelines for the celebration and evaluation of the various devotions and rituals which make up the popular piety of the many peoples of the Church and how these ritual celebrations harmonize with the liturgy of the Church. Basing our study on the principles and guidelines found in the Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disciples of the Sacraments, we will critique the rituals and devotions commonly found today, especially Marian devotion and Eucharistic Devotion.

This course explains the history and theology of the doctrine of grace, and associated controversies, focusing on certain period of Church history. The Patrisic period; Augustine, Scholastic and Thomistic theologies; the development of the doctrine during the Council of Trent in response to controversies of the Reformation.

Investigation of the Church's Marian doctrine in an attempt at synthesis founded on the analysis of the elements furnished by the Scripture and Tradition regarding the Mother of Jesus and of the Church. A study of Mary's cooperation in the establishment of the Covenant; the truth of her virginity as inseparable from her divine motherhood; her collaboration in Christ's work of redemption; the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption; her role in the formation and development of the Church.

Course explores theologically significant readings from the Medieval Era, with emphasis on the compatibility of faith and reason; authors include Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Catherine of Siena and Bonaventure. Students explore questions of redemption, the sacraments, and whether creation and reason allow us to know God. Course complements other doctrinal classes by introducing primary texts influential in Church thought and teaching, including the documents of Vatican II.

Spiritual Direction

This course will examine traditions surrounding Jesus and Mary in the Quran. In addition, we shall compare the words of Jesus and the Quran for what they can tell us about the differing views of revelation.

C. S. Lewis has been described as the pre-eminent Christian apologist of the twentienth century and his voluminous theological output clearly attests to this. However, in addition to his overtly thelogical works such as "Reflections of the Psalms" and "The Four Loves", to name just two, Lewis also produced some of the most interesting and engaging works of fiction from the standpoint of Christian allegory. This class will examine a small collection of Lewis' works of fiction, including "The Screwtape Letters", "The Great Divorce", "The Space Trilogy" and, of course, "The Chronicles of Narnia". Central to our investigation will be the various depictions of creation, heaven and the role of sin in the world as witnessed in these and other works of Lewis. In addition, the various characters who act as a stand in ofr Christ in Lewis' works (Asian and Prof. Ransom to name the most prevalent) will also be discussed in detail. All lovers of Lewis and untamed lions are encouraged to enroll.

An introduction to major figures and representatives themes in modern Catholic thought.

This course will study the life of Thomas Aquinas, the historical, intellectual and institutional context of writings and the impact of his thought during his lifetime and in the period between his death and canonization. Students will become familiar with the major instruments for studying the work of Aquinas, e.g., biographical and historical materials, critical editions of Aquinas and his sources, the Index Thomistica, and bibliographies, e.g., Thomistica, journals, etc.

An introduction to the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, with special attention to the structure, method, and major themes of the "Summa theologiae".

A study of what is the Church’s mission and its why, who and where based upon the three major Catholic documents concerning mission of the last century (Vatican II’s Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church; Paul VI’s On Evangelization in the Modern World; and John Paul II’s On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Missionary Mandate). Investigation of the binding nature and purpose of Church ecumenism based upon Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism and John Paul II’s On Commitment to Ecumenism with a view to the guiding concept of communio in current ecumenical dialogue.

This course will explore how the Christo-centric theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI sheds light into ecclesiology, ecumenism, biblical interpretation, Christology and politics. As a modern theologian, Ratzinger deals with pastoral questions related to ecumenism, faith in politics, inculturation, interpretation of Vatican II documents, the relationship of the universal and particular church, and beauty in the liturgy. This course intends to show how Ratzinger's theology makes the faith more accessible and attractive.

The theological thought of Pope John Paul II is wide ranging. This course will give a systematic survey to his thinking through the writings from his pontificate as well as his person works (Karol Wojtlya). The course will systematically explore the following topics: the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Church, the Magisterium, Mary, Evangelization, the Priesthood, the Consecrated Life, Suffering, the Laity, the Family, the Status of Women, Economics, the human person, Ecumenical dialogue, as well as dialogue with world religions, and Eschatology.

How does dogma develop? The course will study the ways in which the Church continuously discovers and liberates ancient reveled truth in new ways from the original Gospel. Beginning with John Henry Newman, the course traces the idea through the early 20th Century Modernist crisis, the Neo-Scholastic reaction, the historically-minded orthodoxy of Blondel, Rousselot, and de Lubac, to the pre-conciliar theology of Rahner, Schillebeeckx and Congar.

This class will explore the Dominican tradition of reflection on Christ's gift of himself. Through lecture and seminar discussion, the students will become familiar with the thought of Catherine of Siena and Thomas Aquinas, focusing on key passages from Catherine's Dialogues and Aquinas's Summa Theologiae. Separated by a century, these saints portray the same truths with very different but complementary theological styles. The class will involve both lecture and seminar discussion.

Contemporary Theological Issues will consider a selection of theological issues from the contemporary era and the response of one or more theologians to those issues. The course will present the figures and arguments of the various sides of the issues. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) demonstrate familiarity with the various issues to be considered and 2) demonstrate a level of proficiency in analyzing and evaluating competing theological positions as they arose in specific times and places in response to those issues.

Literature and film is examined as a reflection of both what is happening in the Church at a given time and what is occurring in the larger society. The focus on the figure of the priest is thus a lens through which to view ecclesial, cultural, and societal issues. Novels range from the more literary to the more popular. In several instances filmed versions are paired with the novels that inspired them. Other films and TV series are included to expand the range of topics covered.