The University of Dallas Constantine Campus (Rome)
Fall 2009
Dr. David Dawson Vasquez
vasquez@romestudy.org
cell: 338 200 9228
Office hours: Thursdays, 14.00-18.00
Reflective reading of classic, post-biblical Christian texts with a view to tracing the development of theological thought in Western Christianity from its beginnings to the post-Vatican II era. To be taken in the sophomore year or, at the latest, first semester of junior year. Prerequisite for advanced Theology courses. Prerequisite: Theology 1310.
Reading
Sites
Various sites throughout Rome are considered required texts for the course. Students are expected to visit the sites listed during the relevant sections, observe them carefully, and take careful notes, reflecting on how the site enhances the readings. During on-site lectures, students are expected to actively participate by carefully observing the site and taking notes.
Exams
There will be a midterm and a final examination which will test: knowledge of specific terms, ability to express the meaning of various doctrinal points, and the ability to situate various theological concerns in their historical and cultural context.
Essay and Sites
An important aspect of the semester in Rome is the opportunity to visit monuments of western history. This course will give the student the tools to understand the art and architecture of different ages of Christianity. Each student is expected to engage in hands-on exploration of this relationship by visiting many of the important churches in Rome and reflecting upon its meaning for theology and specific historical eras. Students will demonstrate their ability to do this through an essay that incorporates reading of important texts with reflection on important sites as it presents a major theme in Christian theology.
Students may choose from the following themes or propose an alternative theme for the professor’s approval.
Creation and God’s Glory
Salvation & the Cross
Death and Eschatology
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Living the Life of Christ
The Church as Body of Christ
Truth and Holiness
Site visit summaries.
In preparation for the essay, students are to make a habit of visiting the significant churches of Rome (a partial list is given above), observe them carefully, and take careful notes, reflecting on how the site enhances the readings. Each student is required to submit a 1-2 page site visit summary on 12 churches drawn from the list above (other churches may be chosen with the professor’s approval). These are due throughout the semester (see below). The summary should describe the appearance of the church and reflect upon its possible meaning. It should consist of one-half description and one-half reflection. NOTE: Most churches are open daily: 7.00-12.00 and 16.00-19.00.
Essay.
The essay itself should be about 2500 words in length (6-8 pages according to specifications). The essay must be turned in on time and printed according to specification (see below). It is due by the beginning of class on November 24. Essays turned in after the beginning of class on November 24 and before the final exam on December 7 will be accepted but will receive two letter grades lower than the essay merits (B becomes D). No essay will be accepted after the beginning of the final exam on December 7.
Essay topic.
Students are to turn in their choice of essay topic on October 20. It should give the topic chosen, a two-paragraph overview of the topic as treated in the first half of Christian history, and an annotated reference list for the first half of the course. This reference list should list the relevant texts and some relevant churches and works of art from the first millennium of Christian history and provide a 2-sentence summary of how the text or art is relevant to the topic. Essay topics may be submitted printed by the end of class on October 20 to receive full credit. No printed essay topics will be accepted after class begins on October 20. Late topics submitted by email by October 23 will receive a lower grade (it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the professor receives the email). Students will not receive credit for essay topics not received by email by the professor by October 23.
Essay printing specifications.
Essays should be on clean A4 paper. Before printing your paper, check the format settings to be sure that the paper conforms to the following. Incorrect formatting will reflect poorly on the overall grade. (1) page size: A4, (2) margins: 2 cm on all sides, (3) font: Garamond or Times Roman 12 point, (5) double spacing, (6) no extra blank line between paragraphs, (7) one space only after periods, (8) page numbers in the bottom right corner, (9) no title page: the paper should begin with the title, followed by the author’s name, (10) a list of references at the end of the paper, immediately following the last paragraph (not on a separate page).
Assessment
Site summaries: 20%, Midterm: 25%, Final: 25%, Essay topic: 10%, Essay: 20%
Thursday, August 27
Introduction
Handout
Thursday, September 3
St. Peter's Basilica
Handout
Tuesday, September 8
The Beginnings: 2nd Half of the First Century
Readings: 1 Clement (Early Christian Fathers, 33-73)
Thursday, September 10
The Development of the Early Church I
Readings: Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, part 1 (Early Christian Fathers, 74-101)
Two site visit summaries due at the beginning of class
Tuesday, September 15
The Development of the Early Church II
Readings: Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, part 2 (Early Christian Fathers, 102-116)
Thursday, September 17
Defending the Truth of the Faith
Readings: Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, selections (Early Christian Fathers, 343-397)
Next two site visit summaries due at the beginning of class
Tuesday, September 22
Defining Jesus: The Seven Ecumenical Councils
Readings: Creed of Nicea, Creed of Constantinople, Definition of Chalcedon,
Second Council of Constantinople, Third Council of Constantinople, The Synod of
Constantinople of 753, The Second Council of Nicea, The Council of Orange (Creeds of the Churches, 28-56)
Thursday, September 24
Grace: The Pelagian Controversy and the Council of Orange
Next two site visit summaries due at the beginning of class
Tuesday, September 29
Augustine
Readings: Confessions, books 1-2
Thursday, October 1
Augustine
Readings: Confessions, books 3-5
Tuesday, October 13
Augustine
Readings: Confessions, books 6-9
Thursday, October 15, plenary session, 9.45-11.45
Augustine
Readings: Confessions, books 10-11
Next three site visit summaries due at the beginning of class
Tuesday, October 20, plenary session, 9.45-11.45
Augustine
Readings: Confessions, book 12-13
Essay topic due at the beginning of class
Thursday, October 22
Midterm
Tuesday, November 3
Thomas Aquinas
Readings: ST 1a, qq. 1-2 (Introduction to Thomas Aquinas, 3-33
Thursday, November 5
Thomas Aquinas
Readings: ST 1aIIae, qq. 109 (Introduction to Thomas Aquinas, 651-681
Tuesday, November 10
Thomas Aquinas
Readings: ST 1aIIae, qq. 109, 112 (Introduction to Thomas Aquinas, 651-681
Last two site visit summaries due at the beginning of class
Sunday-Monday, November 15-16
St. Francis of Assisi
Readings: Bonaventure, Life of St. Francis
Tuesday, November 17 (afternoon)
The Protestant Reformation
Readings: Readings: Augsburg Confession (Creeds of the Churches, 63-107), Westminster Confession (Creeds of the Churches, 192-230)
Thursday, November 19
The Council of Trent: Sin and Justification
Readings: Decrees of the Council of Trent (Creeds of the Churches, 399-424
Tuesday, November 24
The Council of Trent: Sacraments
Readings: Decrees of the Council of Trent (Creeds of the Churches, 425-441
Essay due at the beginning of class
Tuesday, December 1
The 18th-20th Centuries
Readings: Pius IX, Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Vatican I, Pastor Aeternus, Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (Creeds of the Churches, 442-458)
Wednesday, December 2 (afternoon)
The Baroque and Ignatius Loyola
Thursday, December 3
Vatican II and Beyond: The Church
Readings: Lumen Gentium, in Austin Flannery (ed.), Vatican Council II
Monday, December 7
Final Exam