Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "RL 225-1"
COURSE NAME: "Mystic, Saints, and Sinners: Studies in Medieval Catholic Culture (Partially on-site, activity €10 or $15)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ginevra Ozarski Crosignani
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: W2:15 PM 5:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Partially on-site; activity fee: €30 or $35
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

- Understand how Mediaeval Christianity and Mediaeval Christian thought was influenced by the institutional development of the papacy, Western monasticism and the Scholastic culture.

- Develop the ability to analyze and interpret primary sources in order to improve critical thinking skills and become acquainted with historical methodology.

- Become familiar with major theological and philosophical questions related to the period of interest.

- Acquire an initial command of theological and philosophical language, and improve writing skills accordingly.

- Be able to compare different opinions of theological writers.

- Express understanding by active class participation, which shows that students have read the assignments and have reflected on their meaning.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will introduce students to the philosophical achievements, the institutional changes and doctrinal controversies that underlie the evolution and establishment of Christian culture in Medieval Europe. Reading and analysis of both primary and secondary sources - from the works of St. Augustine and Pseudo-Dionysus, to the great scholastic masters and mystical writers - will serve as a comparative framework for understanding the development of Scholasticism, the highest intellectual expression of Medieval Christian philosophical thought. The course will lead students through the historical origins of the papal institution (and the political implications of its spiritual authority), the development of Mystical Theology and the rise and establishment of the Monastic culture and learning institutions (Universities). This course includes site visits that will complement readings and class discussions.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Study of primary texts will make students acquainted with the most significant philosophical and theological questions produced by the Scholastic culture in the writings of the most prominent Christian writers. Students will also develop an understanding of the establishment and evolution of the papacy, the monastic culture and institutional innovations, such as Monastic Schools and Universities. Writing skills will also be improved by reflection and discussion upon deep religious and philosophical questions.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
Confessions	St. Augustine	Oxford University Press	192817744
The Scholastic Culture in the Middle Ages 1000-1300	Baldwin, John	Waveland Press	0881339423
The Age of the Cloister	Brooke, Christopher	Hidden Spring	1587680181
Saints and Sinners	Duffy, Eamon	300115970	300115970
The Birth of Purgatory	Le Goff, Jaques	Chicago University Press	226470830

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
The Complete Works	Pseudo-Dionysius, the Areopagite	Paulist Press	0809103834
The essential sermons, commentaries, treatises and defense	Meister Eckhard	Paulist Press	0809123703

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Class Participation	Students are expected to come to class on time and stay throughout the scheduled time. Attendance will be taken. Students will be expected to e-mail the professor, prior to each class, discussion questions related to the topic of the week. Class participation includes review, and brief class presentation, of study material by each student (or couple of students depending on total number) and answering 2 short questions at the beginning of each class in order to revise study material.	15%
Short Paper 1	Students must submit a two-page critical review of one of the theological topics assigned in class. Paper must show a clear understanding of the topic, by stating concepts clearly, in a consequential order, and by quoting references from primary sources.	15%
Short Paper 2	Students must submit a two-page critical review of one of the theological topics assigned in class. Paper must show a clear understanding of the topic by stating concepts clearly, in a consequential order, and by quoting references from primary sources.	15%
Midterm Exam	Midterm is an in-class exam that will be based on material covered until that moment.	25%
Final Exam	Final is an in-class exam and is cumulative.	30%

-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:
Preparation for, attendance, and participation to class in lectures and site visits are all required and will count towards the student’s final grade. Students are allowed only two absences that will have to be justified by some extraordinary circumstance or health reasons; each additional absence will result in grade reduction (one grade for each unexplained absence). Two late appearances will be considered an absence. Students with more than five absences will fail the course. Students who miss class are responsible for getting class notes from other students. Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.

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, January 15

Introduction and Historical Overview

Week 2, January 22

Theological Anthropology: St. Augustine

Reading: St. Augustine, Confessions, books 2, 7 and 8; On Christian Teaching, bk. 1, 6.6 -6.9

Week 3, January 29

The Mysticism of Pseudo-Dionysius

Reading: Pseudo-Dionysus, Divine Names, chapter 1 and Mystical Theology (complete works).

Week 4, February 5

The Papacy: Origins of the Institution

Reading: Gospel of Matthew: 16: 13-19; Gospel of John: 21: 15-17. E. Duffy, Saints and Sinners, Chapters 1(“Upon this Rock”, pp. 1-47) and 2, section II (“The Age of Gregory the Great”, pp. 59-72).

Week 5, February 12

Growth of Papal authority

Reading: E. Duffy, Saints and Sinners, Chapter 2, Section IV (“Empires of the West, pp. 86-109) and "Donation of Constantine".

FIRST SHORT PAPER DUE (printed out and submitted at beginning of class).

Week 6, February 19

SITE VISIT: Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere and Church and Crypt of Santa Cecilia.

Founded by Pope Callixtus I (d. 223 AD), the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is the most ancient place of Christian worship in Rome. The Church of Santa Cecilia, with the famous statue of the Saint showing her neck partially cut and its splendid mosaic on the Last Judgment, was built on top of a home which served as a secret place of Christian worship. The Church and its undergrounds are a most significant witness to secret worship before the legalization of Christinaity, and to the eschatological ideology of sacrifice which so greatly contributed to its success in the Roman world.

Reading: Joseph M. Bryant “ The Sect-Church Dynamic and Christian Expansion in the Roman Empire: Persecution, Penitential Discipline and Schism in Sociological Perspective”, in British Journal of Sociology, vol. 44, No. 2(Jan.1993), pp. 303-339.

IMPORTANT: Observe sacred dress code

Week 7, February 26

MIDTERM EXAM

Week 8, March 5

Western Monasticism

Reading: C. Brooke, The Age of Cloister, pp. 25-43; C. H. Lawrence, Medieval Monasticism (Longman, 2001), pp. 18-38 and Rule of St. Benedict (selections).

Week 9, March 12

Schools and Universities. Theology : the Queen of the Faculties.

Reading: J. Baldwin, The Scholastic Culture, pp. 35-57; 79-97.

Week 10, March 26

St. Thomas Aquinas and the ontological proof of the existence of God.

Reading: St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part I, Questions 2 (“The Existence of God”) and 12 (“How God is known to us”).

Week 11, April 2

SECOND SHORT PAPER DUE (printed out and submitted at beginning of class).

SITE VISIT: Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva and Angelica Library

At Santa Maria sopra Minerva we will visit the Carafa Chapel, dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas, and the fresco depicting his victory over heresy.
At the Angelica Library we will examine Medieval manuscript and early printed versions of some of St. Thomas Aquinas's most significant works.

Reading: John F. Wippel, “The Parisian Condemnations of 1270 and 1277” (in Jorge J.E.Gracia and Timothy B. Noone (eds), A Companion to the Philosophy in the Middle Ages, Blackwell Publishing, 2003), pp. 65-73.

IMPORTANT: Observe sacred site dress code.

Week 12, April 9

The development of the doctrine of Purgatory

Reading: J. Le Goff, The Birth of Purgatory, pp. 1- 14; 29-51; 133-53; T. J. Heffernan, J. E. Shelton, “Paradisus in Carcere: The Vocabulary of Imprisonment and the Theology of Martyrdom in the Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitas”, Journal of Early Christian Studies, 14(2), 2006, pp. 217-23.

SITE VISIT: Churches of Santa Prassede and Santa Prudenziana. Here we will study the iconography of the Apocalypse as depicted in the beautiful mosaics in these churches.

IMPORTANT: Observe sacred site dress code.

Week 13, April 16

Meister Eckhart: between mysticism and heresy

Meister Eckhart, On Detachment (pp. 285-294) and sermons Beati Pauperes Spiritu…and Renovamini Spiritu (nos. 52 and 83, pp. 199-203 and 206-208) and Papal Bull "In Agro Dominico" (March 27, 1329), pp. 77-81.

Week 14, April 23

CONCLUSIONS – Review material for FINAL EXAM

Week 15, April 30

FINAL EXAM