THIS course will introduce the history, theology, and spirituality of the Christian Church from 600 to 1500 AD.  The rich ethnic and cultural diversity of Christian thought during this period will be highlighted through study of primary sources from the Roman, Greek, Celtic, Anglo-European, Slavic, Middle-Eastern (Syriac), and Egyptian (Coptic) traditions.  In order to profit from the cultural and ethnic diversity of the student body, students are encouraged to bring to classroom discussion the medieval origins of their cultural traditions: including, for example, the theological, liturgical, and spiritual emphases that distinguish Western Catholicism from Eastern traditions such as the Maronite, Chaldean, Melchite, Malabar, and Ruthenian churches. During each class selected primary and secondary texts will be studied and discussed.

THE student will be able to identify important persons, events, and schools of thought that influenced the development of Christian doctrine and the diversity of Christian spiritual traditions. The student will learn to make use of  primary and secondary sources available in both printed and electronic formats, and will become familiar with appropriate reference tools in church history.

1.    This course will combine lecture and class discussion. In order to maximize the effectiveness of lectures in our culturally diverse student population, representing a wide range of different linguistic experience and ability, all audio-visual materials presented in lectures will be available through the course website or on DVD in the library. Lecture/discussion will be based on assigned readings that may be downloaded from the course website.  Active participation in class discussions is essential, and will figure into the final evaluation.

2.    The midterm and final examinations will consist of  “take-home” essay questions.  The questions will be made available on the day scheduled for the examination and are due one week later: the exam must be typed and double-spaced, and may be printed or submitted as an e-mail attachment.

3.    For those who wish to obtain extra credit, research may be undertaken using primary sources studied in class.  Possible topics for a paper or oral presentation include: (1) any historical, spiritual or theological subject raised between 600 and 1500 AD; or (2) a comparison of any theme in two or more medieval Christian writers.  The goal of the research is to demonstrate familiarity with Christian primary sources.

4.    Late work will be accepted for a grade only if the professor grants an extension.  Out of fairness to those who submit their work on time, late work will normally be graded down by one-half letter grade for each day it is late.  Plagiarism in discussion forums or on written exams will result in a grade of “F” for the work presented, and may result in an “F” for the course.

5.    The final course grade will be computed as follows:

 1. Pope Benedict XVI, Patristic and Medieval Christian Authors (text of weekly audiences).

 2. Chadwick, Henry The Early Church, Revised Edition (Viking Penguin, June 1993).

 3. Deansly, Margaret, A History of the Medieval Church, 590-1500. (Routledge. London. 1989)

 4. Hitchcock, James, History of the Catholic Church from the Apostolic Age to the Third Millenium, (Ignatius, 2012).

 5. Davis, Leo Donald, S.J. The First Seven Ecumenical Councils, (325-787), Their History And Theology  (Michael Glazier, Inc., 1987).

 6. Hughes, Philip, The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325-1870, (NY: Hanover House, 1961)

 7. Leclercq, (Jean), Vandenbroucke, & Bouyer, A History of Christian Spirituality II - The Spirituality of the Middle Ages, (Seabury, 1968).

 8. Leclercq, Jean,  The love of Learning and the Desire for God : A Study of Monastic Culture (Fordham University Press, NY, 1961).

 9. Leclercq, Jean,  “Spiritual Direction in the Benedictine Tradition” Traditions of Spiritual Guidance, Lavinia Byrne, ed., (Collegeville, Lit. Press, 1990), pp. 16-29.

10. Logan, F. Donald, A History of the Church in the Middle Ages, (Routledge, London. 2002)

11. Thatcher, A Source Book of Medieval History: Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance, ed. Frederick Osten, (American Book Company, 1908).

12. Vauchez, Andre, The Spirituality of the Medieval West from the Eighth to the Twelfth Century, (Cistercian, 1993).

13. Walker ,Williston, A History of the Christian Church, (General Books LLC, 2009)

THESE will be assigned one week in advance, and will be available in “Class Notes” or on the course website.  They should be reviewed before the class at which they will be discussed.

Bell, David N., A Cloud of Witnesses, (Cistercian Publications, Cistercian Studies Series, No 109).

Brown, The Body and Society.

Comby, J. How to Read Church History: From the Beginnings to the Fifteenth Century, (Crossroad, 1990).

Cross, F. L., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, (Oxford University Press).

Danielou, J. and Marrou, H., The Christian Centuries, vol. 1:T he First Six Hundred Years, (Darton Longman, and Todd, 1964).

Frend, W.H.C., The Rise of Christianity, (Fortress: 1984)

Kelly, J.N.D., Early Christian Doctrine, (Harper, San Francisco, March  1991)

Louth, Andrew,  The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition from Plato to Pseudo-Dionysius, (Clarendon, Oxford University Press, 1981).

McGinn, Bernard, The Foundations of Mysticism, Origins to the Fifth Century: The Presence of God, A History of Western Christian Mysticism, vol. 1 (Crossroad, 1991).

Quasten, Johannes, Patrology (4 vol.).

Southern, R.W., Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages, (Penguin, 1983).

The Church Fathers in Translation: Fathers of the Church (Catholic Univ. of America Press);

Ancient Christian Writers (Paulist Press); Ante‑Nicene, Nicene, and Post‑Nicene Fathers (Eerdmans: download from Christian Classics Ethereal Library at http://www.ccel.org)

THE class will meet in Lecture Room 6 on Tuesdays from 2:00-3:50 pm.

[1.1] 600-1000 The Rise of Empire in the West; the Diminishing Christian East;
Walker [Ch501 txt], pp. 112-151; Hitchcock, pp. 100-138.

[1.2] 1000-1300 The Middle Ages and the Rise of the Papacy;
Walker [Ch501 txt], pp.152-185; Hitchcock, pp. 139-211.

[1.3] 1300-1500 Nationalism, Schism, and Attempted Reunion.
Walker [Ch501 txt], pp. 165-218; Hitchcock, pp.212-254.

[2.1] Apophatic and Kataphatic Theology; [2.2] The Song of Songs; [2.3] The Transfiguration, Theosis; [2.4] The Cathedral.

      Leclercq, Love/Learning, ch 4, “Devotion to Heaven”, pp..

[3.1] John Cassian; [3.2] Diadochus of Photike; [3.3] John Climacus; [3.4] Dhuoda; [3.5] Aelred of Rievaulx; [3.6] Dante. [3.7] Visions of Heaven and Hell.

      Leclercq, “Spiritual Direction in the Benedictine Tradition”.

[4.1] Early Canons; [4.2] Monastic Spiritual Guidance; [4.3] The Celtic Contribution; [4.4] Penitential Manuals.

[5.1] Levels of Meaning; [5.2] Allegory and Commentaries; [5.3] Origen; [5.4] Cassian; [5.5] Gregory the Great; [5.6] Bede; [5.7] Bernard; [5.8] Aquinas and the Catena Aurea,

      Leclercq, Love/Learning, ch 5, “Sacred Learning”, pp..

[6.1] Dionysius the Aereopagite; [6.2] Maximus Confessor; [6.3] Gregory the Great; [6.4] Germanus of Constantinople; [6.5] Gregorian Chant; [6.6] Gertrude the Great; [6.7] Marguerite d’Oingt and the Feast of Corpus Christi; [6.8] The Golden Legend.

      Leclercq, Love/Learning, ch 10, “The Poem of the Liturgy”, pp..

[7.1] Benedictines, [7.2] Camaldolese, [7.3] Carthusians, [7.4] Cistercians.

      Bouyer/Leclercq, Spir.Mid., ch 7-8, pp. 162-222.

[8.1] Christians under Moslem Rule; [8.2] The Rule of the Knights Templar; [8.3] The Rule of the Teutonic Knights; [8.4] The Court of Eleanor of Aquitaine - Chivalry and Courtly Love.

      Bouyer/Leclercq, Spir.Mid., ch I.6, pp. 127-136.

[9.1] Canons Regular, [9.2] Premonstratensians; [9.3] Victorine Spirituality; [9.4] Augustinians, [9.5] Brethren of the Common Life, [9.6] Staupitz and Luther.

Bouyer/Leclercq, Spir.Mid., ch I.6, pp. 137-150; II.6-II.7, pp. 407-480.

[10.1] Albert the Great; [10.2] Thomas Aquinas; [10.3] Catherine of Siena.

      Bouyer/Leclercq, Spir.Mid., ch II.4, pp. 315-343.

[11.1] Francis and Clare; [11.2] Bonaventure; [11.3] Angela of Foligno.

      Bouyer/Leclercq, Spir.Mid., ch II.3, pp. 283-314.

[12.1] Medieval Spiritual Exercises, [12.2] Books of Hours and the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary; [12.3] The Rosary; [12.4] the Passion of Christ and the Last Judgment.

      Bouyer/Leclercq, Spir.Mid., ch II.9-II.10, pp. 481-590.

[13.1] Liturgy as Heaven on Earth; [13.2] Monastery and Parish; [13.3] Mount Athos; [13.4] Hesychasm.

      Bouyer/Leclercq, Spir.Mid., Appendix, pp. 507-591.