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Be sure to check my
SHMS Students Page for general information pertaining to
all
of my courses!
Some general points
1. A syllabus is a guide,
not a contract.
2. Avoid the "message tag" trap.
E-mails and phone calls are not considered sent by you until they
are retrieved by me.
3. No recordings of any kind may be
made in my classes. Any materials that I distribute are offered
for student use only, and all other rights are reserved.
4. Academic calendars are highly
susceptible to curvatures in space-time. The closer one gets to
the end of a semester, the more quickly time moves. Don't wait
till the end of term to address questions or concerns!
5. One might take an academic program part-time, but one can't
take a college or graduate level course part-time.
6. SHMS Faculty are welcome to sit
in any of my classes at any time!
Some
good (not perfect, but good) documentaries
Inside the Vatican
(National Geographic, 2002)
Love is a Choice:
St. Gianna Beretta Molla
(Salt & Light, 2004?)
The Catholic Print Media
You are not limited to the following, but this
list can help get you started. All of these publications are in
the
SHMS Szoka Library.
Some Major
Catholic
News & Comm. Monthlies
Catholic
World Report
Crisis,
First
Things*
Homiletic & Pastoral Review
Inside the Vatican
Some Major
Catholic
News & Comm. Weeklies
America
National
Catholic Register
National Catholic Reporter
Our
Sunday Visitor
Some Other Notable
Catholic Publications
The Catholic Answer
U.S. Catholic,
This Rock
* Does not claim to
be Catholic |
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Sacred Heart Major Seminary Students
Introduction to the
Catholic Church (THE 219.5)
Wednesdays evenings, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
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General Remarks
Per the SHMS Bulletin, "this course investigates the history,
culture, customs, piety and concrete life of the Church in light
of the teachings of Second Vatican Council." That's a tall order,
but it is do-able with the help of, among other things, a common
Catholic "vocabulary", not just
a vocabulary of words, but of persons, movements, institutions,
and social manifestations. That is what we will be aiming to achieve
this semester.
This course is graded by: 1) a series of quizzes, announced or
not, which tend to focus on most recently read and/or lectured
materials, but which can be cumulative; 2) semester projects (see
below); and 3) class participation (which means active
participation, as shown by responding to my questions, surfacing
relevant issues for attention, and so on).
Please be punctual. Desk drinks are fine, but no
eating in class. No recording of any kind is permitted in this
class.
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Second Vatican Council in plenary
assembly |
Required Texts
-
J. Trigilio & K. Brighenti,
Catholicism for Dummies
(For Dummies, 2003 or later).
-
Catholic Almanac
(Our Sunday Visitor, annual). Accurately billed as "The Most
Complete One-Volume Encyclopedia of Facts and Information On The
Catholic Church", and it is. Any edition from 2008 on is fine.
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The Documents of Vatican II, any language.
Available on-line.
Recommended Texts
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Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2d ed., (Libreria
Editrice Vaticana, 1997). Any language.
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Marcellino D'Ambrosio,
Exploring the Catholic
Church (Servant Books, 2001).
-
P. Stravinskas, ed.,
Our
Sunday Visitor's Catholic Encyclopedia, rev. ed. (Our
Sunday Visitor, 1991/1998. A very solid, one-volume reference. (All canon law and many Church history entries were written and/or edited by Dr. Peters).
Some Other Generally Useful Resources
It is not necessary to own
these works, of course, but to know that they are out there and have much to
offer students of the Catholic Church. In no particular order,
they include:
-
The Catholic
Encyclopedia (1907-1914).
On-line at New Advent. Still worth consulting.
-
Dictionnaire de
Théologie Catholique (1923-1946). Reason enough to learn
French.
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The New Catholic
Encyclopedia (1967), 17 vols., quite under-rated.
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The New Catholic
encyclopedia, 2d ed., (2002). Often repetitious of the
first, but still useful.
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Romano Guardini,
The Church
and the Catholic [1935] (Sheed & Ward, 1953). Almost
timeless.
-
Catherine Frederic,
The
Handbook of Catholic Practices (Hawthorn, 1964). Dated, but
useful.
Semester Scheduling Guide (Winter 2010)
|
Week |
Required Reading |
For best
results, read before class, then again after |
Project due
dates |
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1 |
CfD Intro & Chap. 1
|
Paul VI, Credo of the People of God |
|
|
2 |
CfD Chap 2 |
Popes of
Vatican II (John XXIII thru Benedict XVI)
Kenedy & Sons,
The
Official Catholic Directory |
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|
3 |
CfD Chap 3 & 4 |
Arch/diocesan leadership list |
Catholic Sites/Blogs I |
|
4 |
CfD Chap 5 & 8
one |
Popes
of the 20th century (Leo XIII to Benedict XVI) |
Catholic Almanac Project |
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5 |
CfD Chap 5 & 8
two |
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Catholic Press I |
|
6 |
CfD Chap 6 & 7 |
|
|
|
7 |
CfD Chap 9 & 10
|
The Precepts of the Church
CCC 2041-2043 |
Film report 1 |
|
8 |
CfD Chap 11 |
|
Butler's Lives |
|
9 |
Spring Break |
|
|
|
10 |
CfD Chap 12 |
Baptism |
Film report 2 |
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11 |
CfD Chap 13 |
1983 CIC 1055
& Marriage
NB: Dr. Peters is sick, no class MAR 24.
Push readings back one week. |
Catholic Press II |
|
12 |
CfD Chap 14-16 |
|
|
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13 |
CfD Chap 17-19 |
VCII,
Lumen gentium, esp. chap. 5 |
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|
14 |
Review and optional topics |
Optional Meeting
& Summations |
last day,
Baptismal Certificates |
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15 |
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Final Exam, April 21 |
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Semester Projects:
1. Catholic Websites and Blogs
Identify 4-6 websites/blogs by Catholics, paste
their URLs into an email to Dr. Peters, and briefly describe their
character (Catholic Sites/Blogs I). Monitor during the semester
these blogs for updates, and briefly describe major
issues or trends observed during that time (Catholic Blogs II).
Catholic Blog Directory.
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2. The Catholic Church in Film
The
films listed to the right treat the Catholic Church in a
respectful
manner. Pick any two and view them. In 200-300 word
reports for each film you pick, indicate the date you watched
the film and discuss the following points: 1) the accuracy of
the depiction of Catholic issues in the film; 2) any
significant errors or omissions that, from a Catholic
perspective, should be borne in mind; 3) the audience most
likely to benefit from viewing the film. Do not waste
words rehearsing the plots! You may, and perhaps
should, watch the films with other students, but each student
must submit his or her own report. Submit in an e-mail only,
no attachments.
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Basic info at:
Internet Movie DataBase
H. King, Song of Bernadette (1943)
A. Hitchcock, I Confess (1953)
E. Kazan, On the Waterfront
(1954)
D. Mann, Marty (1955)
R. Nelson, Lilies of the Field (1963)
P. Glenville, Becket (1964)
C. Reed, The Agony and the Ecstasy
(1965)
F. Zinneman, A Man for All Seasons (1966)
M. Anderson, Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)
W. Allen, Alice (1990)
F. Costa, Mother Teresa (2003)
V. Schlöndorff, The Ninth Day (2004)
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3. The Catholic Press
Identify and describe (e.g., format,
editor/publisher, circulation, etc.) five significant Catholic
periodicals with national circulation. Make sure there are
monthlies and weeklies on your list. Submit the list and
descriptions via email only to Dr. Peters (Catholic Press I). Monitor
one
monthly and one weekly, and report on some of the major news items
or editorial positions observed during the semester. Submit your
report in 200-300 words via email only to Dr. Peters (Catholic
Press II).
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3. Butler's Lives of the Saints, edited by Thurston &
Attwater in 4 volumes
Find your patron saint or blessed in Butler's
Lives. Give
the
complete citation, and then summarize your patron's life in 100-150
words. Describe briefly the sources that are referenced at the end
of the biographical sketch. Submit by email only. (If your patron is not in
Butler's, see me.)
Sample: St. Edward the Confessor, 1002-1066, King and
Confessor. See Butler's Lives, IV: 100-103 (October 13).
[100-150 word summary]
Based on early Norman-French and Latin poems, the
Analecta Bollandiana and several 19th century historical
studies. Advises caution as far as Edward's reputation as a
lawgiver is concerned.
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St. Edward the Confessor
King of England, 1042-1066
|
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5. Baptismal Certificate
Secure an authentic copy of your baptismal
certificate, recently dated, and show it to Dr.
Peters anytime during the semester. You may keep the certificate.
• How do you find your
church of baptism?
• What if your mom
doesn't remember?
• What information
helps church archivists find your baptismal record quickly?
It is
customary, but not required, to include a check for a couple
of dollars with your certificate request. |
17th century French-Canadian
baptismal certificate
Note: Your baptismal
certificate will probably not be in cursive legal
French script nor on
parchment. Don't worry, it still counts. |
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