Song of Songs:  A Spirituality of Delight
Dr. Timothy Carmody

Set in a garden in the early spring, The Song of Songs is a drama of the awakening of the earth, the awakening of two lovers, and the awakening of the Church to the delight for which they long.  This greatest of all songs (as the Hebrew title means), is a dramatic dialogue between two lovers who give voice to the blossoming of desire.  As Saint Ignatius taught, recognizing one’s true desire is the first step in spiritual awakening.  This song is a reflection on desire becoming delight through the overcoming of obstacles, a formula that applies as much to the most mystical spiritual union with God as it does to nubile sexuality.  This course will examine not only the most basic levels of desire and delight reflected in the poem, but also the metaphoric resonances that have inspired centuries of spiritual reflection.  As the poem directs, we will find the desire of earthly creation drawing us inexorably deeper toward the creator, the delight of our hearts desire. 

Genesis:  A Spirituality of Generation & Regeneration
Dr. Kathleen O'Connor

The book of Genesis tells stories of beginnings for the sake of new beginnings.  We will study selected passages to discover how these ancient stories address our spiritual lives today, our many needs for regeneration as individuals and communities in relation to ourselves and to the wider world.  We will look for the God of new beginnings, the Creator of all that “is seen and unseen,” within the text and without.  Bring your Bibles to class and in order to prepare for the course in advance, read Genesis in whole or in part.

Prayer & Discernmnet I
Rev. Christopher Viscardi, S.J.

Prayerful discernment plays a central role in the spirituality of St. Ignatius, especially in the Spiritual Exercises.  This course will examine the theology of prayer and the practice and theory of discernment as they have developed in the Christian tradition over the centuries.  Part I will focus on prayer; while Part II will focus primarily on discernment.

June 9, 2009 Update - We regret that this course has been cancelled.

Liturgical Spirituality & Interfaith Dialogue
Dr. Michael Tkacik

The ancient maxim, lex orandi, lex credendi, i.e., the law of prayer is the law of belief, captures the relationship which exists between worship and belief and conveys how liturgical spirituality informs theology.  How does liturgy function in this way?  How does liturgical spirituality shape and color our theological imagination?  What role does liturgical spirituality play in defining tradition?  Specifically, in light of recent liturgical directives and developments which have had direct impacts upon Catholic-Jewish relations, this course will explore how liturgical spirituality, historically and currently,  influences beliefs, interreligious dialogue and the Church’s disposition toward Judaism. 

Building Bridges:  Chrisitanity, Islam, and the
Future of the World
Dr. Matthew Bagot

This course will explore the resources that Christians and Muslims might bring from their respective religious traditions to the task of building the common good. In particular, we will ask: (1) how might believers from these particular faith traditions approach the civic square; (2) what is it in their respective traditions that might motivate them to seek the common good; and (3) how might they be called to respond to the current disorder of our world.

Merge Session