Content

The unit will initially focus on three theologians Yves Congar, Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, and Edward Schillebeeckx. The relationship of each to the Nouvelle Théologie that appeared in the 1930’s and remained influential to the Second Vatican Council will be analysed. Selections from their writing relating to theology and spirituality will be studied (Congar: tradition, lay spirituality, Christ-as-leader; Garrigou-Lagrange: the nature of theology, the ultimate end of human life, the dynamics of the spiritual life; Schillebeeckx: sacraments and religious rituals, the search for God and God’s search for humanity). In a final section, the writings of the English Dominican, Kenelm Foster on Dante’s Divine Comedy and the Dominican tradition, will be explored.

Unit code: DS9604C

Unit status: Archived (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Spirituality

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Assess the approach of neoscholastic Thomism to philosophy and theology

2.

Evaluate the main criticisms of neoscholasticism by theologians of the Nouvelle Théologie movement

3.

Assess the Nouvelle Théologie movement’s approach to Aquinas

4.

Evaluate the thought of Garrigou-Lagrange, Congar and Schillebeeckx on particular theological and spirituality issues

5.

Assess Foster’s understanding of Dante’s thought on the Dominican tradition in the Divine Comedy.

6.

Develop a specific topic for research in a sustained and self-directing way

Unit sequence

DS2603C

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Congar, Yves. Jesus Christ. Translated by Luke O’Neill. New York: Herder and Herder, 1966.
  • ———. The Meaning of Tradition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004.
  • Foster, Kenelm. The Two Dantes and Other Studies: London: Darton, Longman & Todd. 1977.
  • Garrigou-Lagrange, Reginald. The Three Ways of the Spiritual Life. Rockford: Tan Books, 1977.
  • ———. The One God: A Commentary on the First Part of St Thomas’ Theological Summa. Translated by Dom. Bede Rose. St Louis: B. Herder Book, 1954.
  • ———. Beatitude: A Commentary on St Thomas’ Theological Summa, 1a 11ae, qq. 1-54. Translated by Patrick Cummins. St Louis: Herder Book, 1956.
  • Nichols, Aidan. Reason with Piety: Garrigou-Lagrange in the Service of Catholic Thought. Naples: Sapientia Press, 2008.
  • Schillebeeckx. Edward. “The Sacraments: an Encounter with God.” In Edward Schillebeeckx OP: Theologians Today: A Series Selected and Edited by Martin Redfern. London: 1972.
  • ———. Church: The Human Story of God. Translated by John Bowden. New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1990.
  • ———. “Towards a Rediscovery of the Christian Sacraments: Ritualising Religious Elements in Daily Life”. In Vol 11 of Collected Works of Edward Schillebeeckx. Translated by Marcelle Manley.” London: T. & T. Clark, 2014.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Option A 7000 word essay

Or Option B

7000 100.0
Essay

Option B 2500 word seminar paper (40%) 4500 word essay (60%)

Or Option A

7000 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 20 Jul, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2021-09-21 15:05:33 +1000