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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "RL 221"
COURSE NAME: "The Popes of Rome: History of the Catholic Church"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session II 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: David Jonathan Davis
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 1:30 PM 3:20 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The history of the Catholic church is essentially intertwined with the history of Western Civilization over the past 2,000 years. The aspirations and struggles of Christendom constitute the fabric of the Christian tradition as it unfolds throughout time. This course represents an historical survey of the Church from its primitive beginnings in Jerusalem (c. 33 A.D.) to the Pontificate of John Paul II (1920-2005). The development of the course will trace the major events, ideas and people that went into the shaping of the Western Church, without ignoring the fundamental importance and influence of the doctrine of Jesus Christ regarding the institution he founded.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course will consist of a major lecture each week on a particular topic related to the required reading, followed by seminar discussions on assigned primary source readings.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

·       Students will gain a broad understanding of trends and narratives related to the History of the Catholic Church

·       Students will gain a familiarity with key terms related to the History of the Catholic Church

·       Students will gain experience analyzing primary and secondary historical documents

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Saints and Sinners: A History of the PopesEamon DuffyYale University Press978-0300206128     
The Book of Pastoral RuleGregory the GreatSt. Vladimirs Seminary Press978-0881413182     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Weekly ReflectionsAt the of end of weeks 1-4, students should submit a brief (1-2 page) reflection on a question, topic, or reading related to that week’s material. Reflections should be “reflective” not summarizing or restating something discussed in class. 5%
NotebookHand-written notebooks will be assessed after the first week of classes. Students should keep regular notes on readings, lectures, and discussions. At least 1 page of notes should be taken for each class session or reading. The instructor will implement regular ‘note checks’ to ensure students are keeping up with the assignment.5%
ParticipationParticipation will be determined based upon evidence of effort and engagement in discussion and lectures. Part of participation is doing the reading before class: students are responsible for completing all the assigned reading on time before the beginning of class. Satisfactory participation includes, but is not limited to, asking questions, responding to questions, reading aloud, and expressing ideas in class. Students who sit quietly for all or even most of the class should not assume that they are participating adequately.25%
EssayIn week 4, students should submit an essay (800-1000 words) related to Gregory the Great’s The Pastoral Rule that addresses a question of the student’s choosing. Essays should be typed in either MLA or Chicago style. No additional research/reading is required for the assignment, but neither is it prohibited.25%
Final ExamThe final exam will be a cumulative written exam, consisting of two essay questions. An exam review will be distributed in Week 4.40%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
The history of the Catholic church is essentially intertwined with the history of Western Civilization over the past 2,000 years. The aspirations and struggles of Christendom constitute the fabric of the Christian tradition as it unfolds throughout time. This course represents an historical survey of the Church from its primitive beginnings in Jerusalem (c. 33 A.D.) to the Pontificate of John Paul II (1920-2005). The development of the course will trace the major events, ideas and people that went into the shaping of the Western Church, without ignoring the fundamental importance and influence of the doctrine of Jesus Christ regarding the institution he founded.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1 The Catholic Church, 100-476

Monday: Lecture—The Catacomb Church [Reading: Duffy, Saints and Sinners, ch. 1]

Tuesday: Discussion—Pliny the Elder to the Emperor Trajan; Justin Martyr, First Apology (provided by instructor)

Wednesday: Discussion—Nicene Creed; Canons of the First Council of Nicea (provided by instructor)

Thursday: Discussion—Rule of St. Benedict (provided by instructor); DUE Weekly Reflection

 

Week 2 The Catholic Church, 476-1100

Monday: Lecture—Christianity after Rome [Reading: Duffy, Saints and Sinners, ch. 2]

Tuesday: Discussion—Gregory, Pastoral Rule, letter to Brother John & Part I

Wednesday: Discussion—Gregory, Pastoral Rule, part II; Gregory VII, Dictatus Papae (1054) (provided by instructor)

Thursday: Discussion—Gregory, Pastoral Rule, part III; Urban II, Speech at the Council of Clermont, 1095 (provided by instructor) DUE Weekly Reflection

 

Week 3 The Catholic Church, 1100-1600

Monday: Lecture—Magisterium, from Innocent III to Martin Luther [Reading: Duffy, Saints and Sinners, chs. 3-4]

Tuesday: Discussion—Hildegard, Causae et Curae; Aquinas, Summa Theologica (provided by instructor)

Wednesday: Discussion—Unam Sanctum (1302); Catherine of Siena, Life (provided by instructor)

Thursday: Discussion—Council of Trent; John Donne, Poems (provided by instructor); DUE Weekly Reflection

 

Week 4—The Catholic Church, 1600-1800

Monday: Lecture—The “Soul” of the Matter, and the Secularization of Europe  [Reading: Duffy, Saints and Sinners, ch. 5]

 DUE: Essay on Gregory's Pastoral Rule

Tuesday: Discussion—Descartes, Meditations; Pascal, Pensees (provided by instructor)

Wednesday: Discussion—Cardinal Bellarmino to A. Foscarini (1615); Papal Condemnation of Galileo (1633) (provided by instructor)

Thursday: Discussion—Bernini; DUE Weekly Reflection

 

Week 5—The Catholic Church, 1800-Present

Monday: Lecture—The Papacy and Human Dignity [Reading: Duffy, Saints and Sinners, ch. 6]

Tuesday: Discussion—Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (1891) (provided by instructor)

Wednesday: Discussion—T.S. Eliot, “The Hollow Men”; Paul IV, Dignitatis Humanae (1965) (provided by instructor)

Thursday: Discussion—Hans Urs von Balthasar, “Why I Am a Catholic?”; Exam Review

Friday: Final Exam