43.491 Religious Biography

Fall 2004

UMASS Lowell

Professor Chris Carlsmith

 

 

-Syllabus-

 

Texts:     - Hans von Campenhausen, The Fathers of the Church

- Saint Augustine, Confessions

- Stefan Rebenich, Jerome

- Donald Spoto, Reluctant Saint

- St. Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena

- New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia Online, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen

- Catholic Forum Online, http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints

- Paul Halsall, ed. Internet History Sourcebook, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall

 

 

Week One: Helena, Mother of Constantine; the Arian Heresy

 

Prepare: - St. Helena @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07202b.htm

- Arianism @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm

- Council of Nicaea @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3801.htm

 

Week Two: Ambrose, Father and Doctor of the Roman Church

 

Prepare: - Von Campenhausen, pp. 87-128

- On The Mysteries @ Catholic Forum, http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sta07003.htm

- Sermon Against Auxentius on the Giving up of Basilicas,

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sta07006.htm

 

Week Three: Monica, Devout Mother of Augustine of Hippo; the Manichaeist Heresy

 

Prepare: - St. Monica @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10482a.htm

- Manichaeism @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09591a.htm

 

Week Four: Jerome, Father and Doctor of the Roman Church

 

Prepare: - Von Campenhausen, pp. 129-182

- Rebenich’s Jerome

 

 Week Five: Paula, Student and Supporter of Jerome; the Donatist and Pelagian Heresies

 

Prepare: - St. Paula @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11582a.htm

- The Donatists @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05121a.htm

- Pelagius and Pelagianism @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11604a.htm

 

Week Six: Augustine of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the Roman Church

 

Prepare: - Von Campenhausen, pp. 183-276

- Augustine’s Confessions

 

Week Seven: Patrick, Apostle to the Irish

 

Prepare: - St. Patrick @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11554a.htm

- The “Confession” of St. Patrick, http://www.ccel.org/ccel/patrick/confession.all.html

 

Week Eight: Brigid of Ireland, Beloved Abbess

 

Prepare: - St. Brigid of Ireland @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02784b.htm

- Legends about St. Brigid, http://www.iol.ie/~brigids/life_of_brigid.html

- Quote of St. Brigid @ Catholic Forum, http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb03.htm

 

Week Nine: Gregory the Great, Pope, Father and Doctor of the Roman Church

 

Prepare: - Pope St. Gregory I (“the Great”) @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06780a.htm

- The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part II of The Life of the Pastor @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/36012.htm

 

Week Ten: The Venerable Bede, English Historian and Doctor of the Roman Church

 

Prepare: - The Venerable Bede @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02384a.htm

- Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book 1 @ Fordham, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book1.html

  

Week Eleven: Pope Innocent III, Ruler of the Roman Church at the Zenith of the Papacy

 

Prepare: - Pope Innocent III @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08013a.htm

- Letters on Papal Policies @ Fordham, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/innIII-policies.html

- Sermon on the Resurrection of the Lord @ Fordham,

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/inn3-serm1.html

- Letters on Marriage and Women @ Fordham,

                http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/innIII-marriagewomen.html

 

Week Twelve: Dominic, Founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans); the Albigensian Heresy

 

Prepare: - St. Dominic @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05106a.htm

- The Letters of St. Dominic, http://www.op.org/domcentral/trad/domdocs/0002.htm

- The Albigenses @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01267e.htm

 

Week Thirteen: Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans); the Waldensian Heresy

 

Prepare: - Spoto’s Reluctant Saint

- Francis’s “Canticle of the Sun” @ Fordham, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/stfran-canticle.txt

- The Waldenses @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15527b.htm

 

Week Fourteen: Clare of Assisi, Cofoundress of the Order of Poor Ladies; the Cathar Heresy

 

Prepare: - St. Clare of Assisi, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04004a.htm

- “The First Letter to the Blessed Agnes of Prague”, http://www.franciscanfriarstor.com/stfrancis/stf_st_clare_of_assisi_writings.htm

- The Cathari @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03435a.htm

 

Week Fifteen: Thomas Aquinas, Dominican Theologian and Doctor of the Church

 

Prepare: - St. Thomas Aquinas @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14663b.htm

- Excerpt from the Summa Theologica on transubstantiation, http://www.newadvent.org/summa/407500.htm

 

Week Sixteen: Catherine of Siena, Dominican Mystic

 

Prepare: - St. Catherine of Siena @ New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03447a.htm

                - The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena