2021-22

Spiritual Theology I

“Life in Christ: Ascetical Theology and Spiritual Practices”

Syllabus

An introduction to the basic elements of Christian spirituality, emphasizing the nature of the spirituality of Christian Scripture, and an analysis of Christian experience in light of Biblical revelation and Christian tradition.  The course explores the spirituality of the Book of Common Prayer and a variety of spiritual practices and techniques by application to the student's pilgrimage.  

This course will answer the following questions:

What happened to me at my Baptism? Where do I go from there?

What are the expectations in scripture for a transformed life?

What are the marks of a life lived “in Christ”?

What are the spiritual practices used in Christian tradition?

What spiritual practices are suited to my journey with Christ?

How do I share my experience with others?

Facilitators:  Bishop Michael Smith and Patricia Mackey Stone

Requirements:

1. Regular attendance in-person or via Zoom and participation in class discussions.
2. Bring Bible and appropriate text to class.
3. The construction and development of a Rule of Life. Due January.
4. Two reflection papers of between 2 and 3 pages on the assigned readings to demonstrate what interests you and speaks to your own life with God. Each paper will have prompts for your use. Due December and April.
5. Journal reflections of 200-300 words monthly consisting of life lessons that can be shared in class. Due monthly.
6. A spiritual autobiography will be the final product for the class. Due last class.

 

Texts Required:

NRSV Study Bible, any edition or the NET Study Bible.

Gatta, Julia. Life in Christ: Practicing Christian Spirituality. New York: Church

Publishing Incorporated, 2018.

Gatta, Julia.  The Pastoral Art of the English Mystics. (New edition of Three Spiritual Directors)

Leech, Kenneth.  Soul Friend:  Spiritual Direction in the Modern World. 

Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2001.

Pennington, Basil. Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures. New York: Crossroad, 1998.

Pennington, Keating, Clarke. Finding Grace at the Center: The Beginning of Centering Prayer, 3^rd Ed.  Woodstock VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2016. 

Doyle, Leonard, trans. St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries. Collegeville, Minnesota:

Liturgical Press, 1935.

Julian of Norwich. Revelations of Divine Love

https://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/revelations.pdf

Williams, Rowan.  Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B Erdman’s Publishing Company, 2016.

Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises (64 pages)

https://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/spiritualexercises.pdf

Underhill, Evelyn, Abba.  New York: Moorhouse Publishing, 1981

Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God.  New Kensington, PA.: Whitaker House, 1982.

Sessions

1. August 21: What happened to me at my Baptism? Where do I go from there?

 Gatta, Life-Introduction and Chapter 1: “Reliving Christ’s Death and Resurrection”

• Gatta, Life-“Rule of Life,” pp. 179-184.
• Leech, Chapter 1: Spirituality in the Present Climate”
• Stone, Pat, Handout on Rules: EDOD and Nashotah House

 Spiritual Practice: “Rule of Life.” (Pat Stone)

 

2. September 18:

What are the expectations in scripture for a transformed life?

What are the marks of a life lived “in Christ”?

What are the spiritual practices used in Christian tradition?

 

• Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries
• Pennington, Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures.
• Gatta, Life-“Lectio Divina,” pp 159-166.

 

Spiritual Practice: “Lectio Divina” (Michael Smith)

 

3. October 16:

What are the expectations in scripture for a transformed life?

What are the marks of a life lived “in Christ”?

What are the spiritual practices used in Christian tradition?

 

• Gatta, Life-Chapter 4: “Prayer in Solitude” (the rest of the chapter)
• Gatta, The Pastoral Art, (The Cloud of Unknowing)
• Pennington, et al, Finding Grace at the Center
• Stone, Pat: “Quiet Prayer” (handout)

 

Spiritual Practice: “Centering Prayer” (Pat Stone)

 

4. November 20:

What are the expectations in scripture for a transformed life?

What are the marks of a life lived “in Christ”?

What are the spiritual practices used in Christian tradition?

 

• Gatta, Life-Chapter 2: “Communion with Christ”
• Gatta, The Pastoral Art, (Julian of Norwich)
• Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love

https://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/revelations.pdf

 

Spiritual Practice: “Julian of Norwich and Revelations of Divine Love” (Emily Hylden)

 

5. December 18:

What spiritual practices are suited to my journey with Christ?

How do I share my experience with others?

 

• Williams, Being Disciples, Essentials of the Christian Life.
• Sharing Rule of Life

 

Spiritual Practice:  Group Lectio: (Michael Smith)

 

6. January 15:

What are the expectations in scripture for a transformed life?

What are the marks of a life lived “in Christ”?

What are the spiritual practices used in Christian tradition?

 

• Gatta, Life-Chapter 5: “Practices for the Journey”
• Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises

https://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/spiritualexercises.pdf

 

Spiritual Practice: “Prayer of Examen” (Marcia Hotchkiss)

 

7. February 19:

What are the expectations in scripture for a transformed life?

What are the marks of a life lived “in Christ”?

What are the spiritual practices used in Christian tradition?

 

• The Book of Common Prayer (please bring it to class)
• Gatta, Life-Chapter 3: “Sanctifying Time through the Liturgical Round” (40 pages)

 

Spiritual Practice:  The Use of the Book of Common Prayer for a Rule of Life, Confession and Self-Examination, Church Calendar, Sabbath:  Participate in the Eucharist.

 

8. March 19:

• Gatta, Life-Chapter 4: “Prayer in Solitude” (Revisited)
• Leech, Chapter 4 and 5
• Underhill, Abba.
• Brother Lawrence, “The Practice of the Presence of God”
• Pat Stone: “Handout-The Lord’s Prayer”

 

Spiritual Practice: The Lord’s Prayer and the Practice of the Presence, (Pat Stone)

 

9. April 16:

• Gatta, Life-“Spiritual Direction,” pp 184-192
• Gatta, The Pastoral Art, (Walter Hilton)
• Leech, Chapter 2, 3, 6

 

 

Spiritual Practice: Spiritual Direction, (Michael Smith)

 

10. May 21

What happened to me at my Baptism? Where do I go from there?

What are the expectations in scripture for a transformed life?

What are the marks of a life lived “in Christ”?

What are the spiritual practices used in Christian tradition?

What spiritual practices are suited to my journey with Christ?

How do I share my experience with others?

 

Spiritual Practice:  The Body of Christ-Group Lectio led by Michael Smith and Pat Stone

 

Share instances of spiritual development, insights and reflections through practices, journals and autobiographies. Consider next steps, ways to work in your churches.

 

 

 

Schedule:  Monthly beginning in August 2021 through May 2022

 

8:00-9:00 Morning Devotion, Sharing of Journals

9:00-10:00 Review of Readings, Teaching

10:00-10:15 Break

10:15-11:00 Spiritual Practice: Teaching and Practice

(Schedule for every class but December 18 and May 21)