This course provides the student with a broad overview of the Old Testament.  The introductory material is concerned with the role of the Bible in the scheme of divine revelation, a description of the arrangement of the Old Testament, a brief introduction to the relationship between history and the development of biblical literature, and to modern critical methods of biblical interpretation.  Passages from each of the four major divisions (the Pentateuch, the Deuteronomistic History, the Prophets, and the Wisdom Literature) of the Old Testament of Catholic Bibles are then selected for reading and analysis with the intention of providing the student with a general familiarity with the literature in each of these sections.

After reviewing different methods of biblical interpretation, the course will offer an overview of the worlds and lives of Jesus and Paul, and their teachings.  The aim of the course is to help students to read and understand the message of each book in the New Testament.

This course lays the foundation for an informed contemporary Catholic approach to the Sacred Scriptures, one that fully respects both their divine and human character, integrating faith and reason in exegesis.  Topics covered include: history of Israel, textual criticism, canon, history of exegesis,  magisterial pronouncements, redaction criticism, inspiration, revelation, hermeneutics, historicity, fundamentalism, and narrative criticism.  Where possible, the material will be presented through hands-on study of the biblical text.

The development of prophecy in Israel is surveyed in chronological order, including a selection of the following periods and prophets: pre-classical (Deborah, Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, Michaiah, Elisha), 8^th century (Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), 7^th century to exilic (Zephaniah, Huldah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Deutero-Isaiah), post-exilic (Haggai, Zechariah, Trito-Isaiah, Deutero-Zechariah, Malachi), and late fictional (Jonah, Daniel).  Important theological themes and developments are examined through an exegesis of key texts.

A study of selected passages in the Pauline literature (1 Thessalonians, 1-2 Corinthinas, Romans, Philippians, Ephesians).  Emphasis will be placed on the pastoral dimension of the Pauline writings, especially that of 1-2 Corinthians.  Included in this course will be a study of selected passages from Hebrews.

This course will begin with an introduction to the fourth gospel (relation to the Synoptics, historical tradition, authorship, date, redaction, Johannine community and literature, history of interpretation) followed by an exegetical and theological interpretation of major portions of this gospel with an aim at grasping its distinctive characteristics and basic themes.  The course will continue with an examination of the Johannine Epistles and the Book of Revelation.

This course attempts to foster an appreciation for the literary artistry and theological depth and influence of the Pentateuchal writings.  The role of the Priestly scribes as authors and compilers of Genesis through Numbers is highlighted.  The problem posed by the patent presence of mythical, folkloric, and fictive elements is addressed in a constructive manner.  A geographical and literary overview of the Hexateuch (Genesis through Joshua) points to Exodus 32-34 as the structural and theological center.  Close attention is paid to the Primeval Narrative (Genesis 1-11a) and to the story of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 11b-25a).  Other major portions of the Pentateuch will be examined as time allows.

After an introduction to the Psalter, selected themes (e.g. death and afterlife, intimacy with God) are explored via an exegesis of representative psalms, with some consideration also given to the use of these psalms in the New Testament, traditional theology and spirituality, and sacred liturgy and music.  Next, an introduction to the wisdom tradition is followed by a careful study of the Book of Job and the Wisdom of Solomon, with special attention paid to the theological, spiritual, pastoral, and epistemological ramifications of the exegesis.  Meanwhile the student does outside reading and reporting on the remaining wisdom books (Proverbs, Qoheleth, and Sirach).  A final unit of the course looks at the New Testament, where Jesus Christ crucified is revealed to be the “the wisdom of God.”

Designed as an introduction to the curriculum offerings in Historical Theology, this course is divided into three segments.  The first few sessions will situate Historical Theology within the academic program and will touch briefly on its importance and methodology.  This will be followed by an overview of the Christian epochs, defining and describing three major stages, events and persons of the two-thousand-year history of the church.  The major portion of the course will examine the development of Christian literature during the first six centuries of the Common Era.  It will focus on both the individual ancient Christian writers and the major patterns of thought as the early Christian community struggled to clarify its self-identity and its mission of Word and Sacrament.

This course will attempt to deal with the theological development that took place during the one-thousand years that make up the medieval epoch by considering the writings of the various major theological thinkers from St. Augustine to William of Ockham.  Because the greatest importance of these medieval centuries is not to be found in the external order they created or attempted to create, but rather in the internal change they brought about in the consciousness of Western humanity, this Christian consciousness, manifested in the thought of the greatest theologians of the medieval period, will form the subject matter of this course.

A study of the main ideas and traits of Christian thought as it developed from the breakdown of the medieval synthesis, through the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic (Counter) Reformation, during the Ages of Reason and of the Enlightenment, and up to and through the age of political, technological, and cultural revolution beginning with the French Revolution of 1789 and continuing into our own day.  The significant new trends in the churches in our own ecumenical era of the Second Vatican Council.

A survey  of  United States Catholic history from the colonial period to the present, particularly since Vatican II; theological foundations; role and contributions of major ethnic groups; evangelization; leadership, individual gifts, and organizational development; local communities and priestly life, particularly in the South; spirituality; liturgy and devotions; education; family life; social ministry; church and society; the sources of Southern Catholic history; and historical perspectives to four current, major challenges facing U.S. Catholics.

An introductory course to Moral Theology, MT 101 will acquaint the student of theology with the Moral Theology tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.  This is the first part of a two-part course which will review the historical and scriptural foundations of Moral Theology and the roots of the Catholic tradition.  Specific topics to be covered will be: Sacred Scripture and Moral Theology, the natural law, conscience, sin, casuistry, conversion and the sacrament of Penance, scholasticism and St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Alphonsus and the moral systems, principle of double effect, authority in the Church, Just War Theory and responsible care for creation.  The course is meant to expose the student to the vast Catholic tradition up to the Second Vatican Council, and will explore the rich classical approaches to moral controversies as well as the impoverishment of Moral Theology as a consequence of a lack of understanding.

Through study of sexual morality, communal and individual conscience formation from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church.  Tradition of the Church's teaching on sexual ethics.  Celibate, single and married vocations that express one's sexual and personal commitment from a moral perspective.

An introduction to issues in contemporary medical care and the Church’s response.  Life, corporeality, health, suffering, and death in Christian perspective.  General principles relating to human life, its value and integrity.  Particular emphasis - pastoral, sacramental, and legal, as well as medico-moral - on issues at the beginning and end of life.

The historical development of official Catholic social teaching.  The principles of social teaching that have given expression to the Church's prophetic word of sacramental and real solidarity with the poor, the oppressed,  the marginalized, and victims of our world.

Integration of spirituality, theology, and pastoral care.  The course will enable the students to develop an understanding of ministry and its relationship to ordained ministry.  Based on scripture and the documents of Vatican II, the student can develop a methodology for theological reflection in ministry and an understanding of the ordained priesthood.  The course will also give the student an introduction to theological research and the methodology of the Pastoral Field Education Programs at Notre Dame Seminary.

An understanding of pastoral counseling.  The relationship of spirituality, Catholic morality, and psychology, pastoral counseling and the sacramental life of the Church.  Lecture, role playing, and discussion.  This course is required before a student can enroll in Clinical Pastoral Education.

The various liturgical and sacramental rites of the Church will be studied with the aim of giving the student a practical understanding of how the rites are to be celebrated according to the mind of the Church.  Emphasis will therefore be given to the Prenotanda (General Instructions) and the particular, rubrical directives and options given in the various official ritual books of the Church.  The diverse liturgical roles, including those of acolyte, deacon, and priest will be considered in each of the rites.

This course is designed to provide students with selected church management-administrative theory, models, and skills to better understand and facilitate priestly ministry.  This material is treated within a theological context of Church, Mission, Community, Stewardship, and Signs of the Times.

This course will study the important developments in the history of Christian Spirituality, beginning with the New Testament and Fathers of the Church and including representative traditions from the medieval, reformation and modern periods.  Students will explore the key teachings of the various schools of spirituality and will discover what each has to offer the contemporary Christian.

An introduction to the study of Christian spirituality.  The course reflects on the theological foundations and practices of the Christian life and explores how ministry is rooted in and fosters the minister’s relationship with God.  An effort will be made to articulate a spirituality for the diocesan priest.

Among the many ministries in the Christian tradition, spiritual direction has a long and revered history.  Also, spiritual direction weaves in and out of the varied services asked of a priest in pastoral ministry.  This course introduces some of the theoretical and practical aspects of spiritual direction and its relationship to other pastoral ministries; the nature of religious experience and its role in spiritual direction; facilitating another’s life of prayer; discernment.

An introductory overview of selected topics in the Catholic faith.  The course will discuss basic Catholic doctrine, traditions and practices and will develop an understanding of the importance of theological study.  Topics included will be Scripture, Tradition, Trinity, Paschal Mystery, Holy Spirit, Church, Mary, Eschatology and Liturgy.

The common foundation for Catholic theology and worship is the fullness of divine saving revelation, realized in the Incarnation and Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ.  Christ entrusted this sacred deposit of faith to the apostles, to be transmitted in the Church to all nations throughout time by Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, distinct yet intrinsically connected.  The authentic interpretation of this Word of God has been entrusted to the Magisterium, the living, teaching office of the Church.

Catholic worship is the event in which the same Mystery is made really present and effective for the faithful in the Church, the common matrix within which both theology and divine liturgy take place.  The purpose of this course, then, is a systematic explanation of the respective relations of theology and liturgy to the Mystery of Revelation.

Using a historical-theological approach the course will treat the major themes of the human being’s existence and their relationship to God: Creation, Sin, Grace and final Salvation  as they appear in Sacred Scripture, the Tradition and Theology of the Church. 

Using the historical-systematic approach the course will treat the theology of the Sacraments of Initiation i.e. Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  At  the same time the liturgical dimension of these sacraments will be used to elucidate the fundamental aspects of the Church’s worship.

The historical and systematic treatment of Jesus Christ begins with his story in the Gospels, follows the story of the developing tradition in Church doctrine, to face finally the questions arising from a contemporary retelling of the story: Who and what was Jesus (metaphysical Christology)?  What did he know (epistemological Christology)?  What did he do (soteriology)?

A historical theological study of the sacraments of Matrimony and Orders based on Sacred Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium.  The function and relationship of both sacraments within the Church and through the Church to the World will be explored.  Related issues such as the common priesthood of all believers, various ministries and services of the non-ordained in the Church, celibacy and religious life will be considered.

God, the Father, utters his final word of grace to man in the historical Jesus of Nazareth, his Son, and breaths forth his self-outpouring Love, his Spirit, in the community of disciples.  This course will cover the Paschal/Pentecostal mystery in philosophy, Scripture, councils and theologians.

Based on Sacred Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium the course intends to offer a solid and well-rounded understanding of Church, its origin and foundation, its structures and various dimensions.  Special emphasis will be given to the self-understanding of the Church as a result of the Second Vatican Council.  Following the example of this Council in its Dogmatic Constitution “Lumen Gentium” the essential Mariology will be treated in the context of the Church.

Marriage as defined by the Catholic Church.  The preparation, the consent and form required for the celebration and the impediments to the sacrament.  Dissolution and annulment procedures.

Pastoral volunteer work at an approved site.  The work will provide the student with the opportunity to become familiar with pastoral ministry in a practical, hands-on way.  Possible opportunities include assisting in programs for children, the elderly, dying, handicapped or sick persons, or persons in crisis situations.  A learning agreement, reflection paper and supervisor’s evaluation are required.

To provide exposure to the work of a parish priest, and the opportunity to develop skills in pastoral care.  The student should assist in parish programs such as liturgy planning, visitation to the hospital/shut-ins, organization of religious education programs, involvement in youth activities, and exposure to the Parish Council/School Board, and participating in the liturgy according to the ministry he has received.

Supervised catechetical ministry selected according to the individual's previous experience and present interests. Students will teach in pairs, each pair taking responsibility for a specific class or portion of a parish program.  Possibilities include teaching religion in an elementary or high school or teaching in a parish program for elementary, high school or adult participants.  On-site supervisor and faculty supervisor.  Evaluations each semester.  

The seminary does not offer CPE programs, but uses this course number to register degree credit for CPE done in approved centers, upon receipt of certification from the responsible officials of the centers.  The minimum requirement for the M.Div. and other seminarians seeking the seminary recommendation for Holy Orders is one basic unit of CPE.  The ordinary time for satisfying this requirement is the summer after the second year.  In the choice of an institution for CPE the students are to obtain the approval of the Director of Pastoral Field Education.

Full-time parish ministry by the student for ten weeks under the supervision of a parish priest.  Learning agreement, theological reflection sessions, working with a parish support committee and pastoral evaluation are required.

Full-time parish ministry by a student for eleven weeks under the supervision of a parish priest.  Theological reflection sessions, a pastoral report, and feedback from lay community and staff and evaluation from supervisor are required.

The teaching and preaching roles of the priest.  With Scripture as the foundation, practical ways to make the Word of God applicable to the contemporary Christian community.  Various methods of religious education, models of preaching, and the relationship between teaching, preaching, and the sacraments.  Some time is devoted to lesson plans, evaluations, child psychology, and classroom management.  Prepares the student to assume the role of teacher/director in the parish religious program.

A practical study of the preparation and presentation of the Sunday homily aimed at deepening the homilist’s appreciation of the power of the word of God and enhancing his public speaking ability.  Evaluation of content and technique includes the use of video-taping and peer and instructor critique.

After a general review of the theology of preaching, the course will explore (a) the theologies of  baptism, marriage, and death, (b) the Catholic rites used in baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and (c) the relevant pastoral issues which are addressed when preaching on these three occasions.  The course ends with a discussion of the weekday homily and preaching to children.

A general survey of the principal thinkers and movements in the history of western philosophical thought from the Pre-Socratics to existential and linguistic philosophers is offered in this course.  Students will be assisted in grasping pertinent ideas of philosophers and of philosophical schools of thought.

A critical analysis of what it means to be human.  Essential aspects of human nature are studied and some traditional, as well as some contemporary, views of human nature are critiqued with the purpose of assisting students in developing their own understanding of what it means to be human.

An examination of the fundamental basic orientation for responsibility.  It establishes the basis for ethics on the reality of each person’s equality and uniqueness.  It uses the contemporary analysis of phenomenology as the starting point for ethical reflection.  

An examination of how we know in light of the critical problem.  This survey establishes the immediate data of consciousness as the basis of realism.  It makes a critical analysis of all other data of consciousness.  Ontology examines the notion of being, the problem of being and the implications of the reality of the Supreme Being.  The orientation is Thomistic and realist.

The purposes of this course are to expose students to proper reasoning and to raise their awareness as to the need for critical thinking and listening.  They will study the construction of arguments and will learn to evaluate them as to soundness, validity and  truth.  Lastly, they will attempt to construct sound arguments of their own, making use of the skills they have learned.

  PH  013/014  Philosophy

The existence, essence, attributes, operations, and will of God will be studied, along with an investigation of how and what humans can know of God philosophically.  This course will also examine the incongruity of a good God being the source of evil in the created world.

This course affords the student a first introduction to Bernard Lonergan’s challenging work Insight: A Study of Human Understanding.  A series of exercises of personal self-appropriation gives a familiarity with Lonergan’s leading ideas.  The course concludes with a brief consideration of the origin of Lonergan’s epistemology in Thomas Aquinas, and some exposure to Lonergan’ s own work.

This is a research course.  Students select an approved topic, do the necessary research and prepare a report to be presented to the total class.  In addition, each reports on the relationship between philosophy and theology as discovered in the process of accomplishing his research.  Each presentation is followed by class discussion.

As an interdisciplinary offering for Fourth Year students, the Synthesis Seminar will have a clear pastoral focus.  Its objective is to promote and facilitate each student in achieving a synthesis of the program of theological study undertaken in the seminary.  Through this integrative effort each student should learn to reflect creatively as a knowledgeable pastoral theologian.

This course, geared to the needs of pastoral ministers and especially liturgical presiders, is designed to provide both a basic knowledge about music as used in the Catholic Church today, and also the correct performance of that music which is proper to the presider at various liturgical ceremonies.

This course is designed to enable the student to learn and experience the role of the choir in the overall music ministry program of the parish.  Basic vocal techniques and fundamentals of the Kodaly method of musical literary are included.  Liturgical music of all periods, a cappella and accompanied, for male chorus are studied.