John Paul II Studies

On the life and thought of John Paul II through a consideration of his autobiographical writings and selections from his works; the convergence of his artistic, philosophical, theological, spiritual and pastoral gifts lead to a study of his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis.

An exploration of the encyclical Fides et Ratio (On the Relationship between Faith and Reason).

This course examines the event, documents, and reception of Vatican Council II as evident through the participation and writings of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, (Sources of Renewal) and various writings of Pope John Paul II.

This course seeks to explicate the philosophical project and method of John Paul II through an explanation of the Thomistic character of his thought and the role of phenomenology in exploring the subjectivity of the person. The focus will be on conscience, Person and Act and Veritatis Splendor (“The Splendor of Truth”).

A close study of Love and responsibility. The notions of Communion of persons, the law of free giving, and the vocation of marriage are a focus for the course. In Evangelium Vitae we study the role of the family in a civilization of love and the threats from a culture of death.

A study of the two encyclicals completing the Trinitarian vision of John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia & Dominum et Vivificantem; the meaning of mercy in the OT and NT, define its special characteristics in relation to justice and understand the meaning of the cross in mercy as the work of the Church. The Holy Spirit sustains the Church in its mission. The life and work of St Faustina will be of special interest for this course.

A study of the social encyclicals of John Paul II; this course explores the dignity of the person in community through work, family, social solidarity, economic development, culminating in the participation in cultural and political life. Human rights, freedom of conscience & right to freedom of religion.

On the Christian engagement with culture and education studies the encyclical Redemptoris Missio (“The Mission of the Redeemer”). It examines the special role of the laity in apostolate to culture and the framework for the training and education of the laity. Also included are Ut unum sint and Christifidelis Laici.

A study of the life and thought of John Paul II through a consideration of his autobiographical writings and very brief selections from his works; the convergence of his artistic, philosophical, theological, spiritual and pastoral gifts will lead to a focus upon his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis ("The Redeemer of Man"), as hermeneutical key to his project and works.

"Philosophy of Wojtyla" is a 3-credit class necessary for the program. It covers concepts in Aristotelian/Thomistic Philosophy as used by Wojtyla and his engagement with the subject "turn of modern philosophy" starting with Descartes and as modified by Husserl and his followers.

This course is an exploration of the encyclical Fides et Ratio (On the Relationship between Faith and Reason). While carefully reading through the entire work, we shall explore two overarching claims made about the relationship between faith and reason: (a) "Each contains the other, and each has its own scope for action." (§17); (b.) "Each without the other is impoverished and enfeebled." (§48). We aim to understand these claims as they pertain to the works of John Paul II and those specific thinkers named as exemplars such as Edith Stein, Etienne Gilson, and Jacaues Maritain.

This course examines the event, documents, and reception of Vatican Council II as evident through the participation and writings of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, (Sources of Renewal) and various writings of Pope John Paul II. Using the "hermeneutic of continuity" we seek to discover the sources of renewal in the Eucharist Ecclesia de Eucharistia (“The Church from the Eucharist”) and in Mary as Mother of the Church. Redemptoris Mater (“Mother of the Redeemer").

This course seeks to explicate the philosophical project and method of Polish philosopher Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II (1920-2005) through (a) an explanation of the Thomistic character of his thought and the role of phenomenology in exploring the subjectivity of the person. In addition the course covers his critique of modern moral philosophy and underscores his distinctive approach to experience and subjectivity, especially in his understanding of freedom and rights. The focus will be on conscience, as the centerpiece of Person and Act and Veritatis Splendor (''The Splendor of Truth").

After a brief review of the principles of theology of the body, this course will do a close study of Love and responsibility. The notions of Communion of persons, the law of free giving, and the vocation of marriage are a focus for the course. In Evangelium Vitae ("The Gospel of Life"), we study the role of the family in a civilization of love and the threats from a culture of death. The letter to Families and Apostolic letter, Familiaris consortio will be consulted as well.

We will study the two encyclicals completing the Trinitarian vision of John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia ("Rich in Mercy") & Dominum et Vivificantem ("Lord and Giver of Life"); we trace the meaning of mercy in the OT and NT, define its special characteristics in relation to justice and understand the meaning of the cross in mercy as the work of the Church. The Holy Spirit sustains the Church in its mission, especially in arousing conscience and conversion. The life and work of St. Faustina will be of special interest for this course.

A study of the social encyclicals of John Paul II Laborem Exercens ("Engaging in Work"); Sollicitudo Rei Socialis ("Solicitude for the Social Condition"; Centesimus Annus ("The Hundredth Year"), this course explores the dignity of the person in community through work, family, social solidarity, economic development, culminating in the participation in cultural and political life. The of human rights will be a special theme, especially freedom of conscience and the right to freedom of religion.

On the Christian engagement with culture and studies the encyclical Redemptoris Missio (“The Mission of the Redeemer”). It examines the special role of the laity in apostolate to culture and the framework for the training and education of the laity. Also included are Ut unum sint and Christifidelis Laici.

This course will study the thought of Pope Saint John Paul II in context of Polish history and culture. The class will prepare students for an optional visit to sites in Poland that have special relevance to his life and thought.

Required for MA. The final project will consist of a paper and a presentation. The students will study together a special topic in John Paul II. Studies selected by the professor. Common readings and bibliography will be provided. Following weeks of lectures, podcasts and discussions, the students will make presentations of 20-30 minutes to the professor and peers. The students will turn in a 15-page paper at the end of the semester.

Required for MA. The final project will consist of a paper and a presentation. The students will study together a special topic in John Paul II. Studies selected by the professor. Common readings and bibliography will be provided. Following weeks of lectures, podcasts and discussions, the students will make presentations of 20-30 minutes to the professor and peers. The students will turn in a 15-page paper at the end of the semester.

Student research on a selected problem in the field pursued under the guidance of an assigned member of the faculty. Substantial research paper or audio/video production required. Prerequisite: Department Consent.

Selected topic of mutual interest to the faculty member and students.