Courses
The Catholic University of America Rome Program
Christian Rome: Understanding Jesus Christ in Rome
The past two thousand years of Roman history is marked by Christianity. Indeed,
for much of this time, and still today for Roman Catholics, Rome was and is the
premier Christian city, rivaling the Holy Land as a place of pilgrimage, prayer,
and encounter with Jesus Christ. The course will study this aspect of Rome by
examining the Christian understanding of Jesus, his life, death, resurrection,
his continued presence in the Church, and his influence on Christians throughout
time. It will use the places, the architecture, and the art of Rome to
illustrate and deepen this understanding. Through this course, students will
come to a critical understanding of the Christian belief in Jesus as the Christ
and Son of God.
Happiness and Beauty: Ethics and the Human Life
The course will provide a general introduction to ethical thinking from
a philosophical perspective by examining how the great thinkers of the
western tradition have understood the goal of human existence and the means
for human fulfillment, considering both classical and contemporary theories
of moral conduct. Through reading and critically considering selections
from Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, and several modern writers,
students will come to see the philosophical thought about the ideal human being
that inspired much of western civilization and especially the art
and architecture of Rome.
The University of Dallas Rome Program
Western Theological Tradition
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.
Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue
The course examines the Christian, and specifically Roman Catholic, understanding
of God's plan of salvation for all humanity in Christ. The course begins
by exploring the role of the Roman Catholic Church in promoting unity among
Christians, including the basic principles of ecumenism and the current
state of Christian dialogue. We then turn to the nature of Christian dialogue
with other world religions to discover how this dialogue encompasses both
the understanding of Jesus Christ as the universal saviour as well as an
attentiveness to all that is good and true in other religious traditions.
Syllabus
Grace
The Course examines the presence of God in the lives of humans, traditionally
spoken of in terms of grace. After a look at the New Testament foundation
for an understanding of grace, the course will treat the development of
a doctrine of grace as formulated by Augustine and articulated by Thomas
Aquinas. The specific Roman Catholic understanding will emerge through the
debates of the Reformation and the response of the Council of Trent. The
course will conclude with a look at modern accounts of grace and the Eastern
Orthodox understanding of participation in divinity.
Syllabus
The Catholic University of America Rome Program
The Papacy and the Development of the Church in Rome
Since the fourth century Rome has been a city of the Christian Church, the
center and embodiment of the Roman Catholic Church. The history of the city
is tied to the history of the Church and is intimately connected with its
leaders, the popes. Students in the course will study the development of
the meaning of the papacy as the role of the bishop of Rome developed into
the office it is today. They will critically examine the interaction between
the understanding and theology of the papacy, the actual lives of the men
who filled these roles (and often fell far short of the ideal), the places
they walked, and the buildings and artwork they inspired. Through a study
of the historical development of the papacy, students will reflect on the
Roman Catholic understanding of and commitment to the Pope as the successor
of Peter, Vicar of Christ, and Servant of the Servants of God.
The Meaning of Christian Worship: Liturgical Art and Architecture
The University of Dallas Rome Program
Western Theological Tradition
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.
Christology
The course examines the Christian, and specifically Roman Catholic, understanding
of Jesus of Nazareth as the child of Israel, the son of Mary, the promised
Messiah, the Son of God, and the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity.
It will examine the understanding of Jesus in the New Testament and trace
the development of official language about him through the ecumenical councils.
Attention will be given to the various historical understandings of Jesus
embraced by the Church throughout history, especially the time-honoured
texts, but also including a look at hymns, art, and architecture.