Created by Dr. Lawrence Cunningham, a
Notre Dame Theology Professor, the aim of this course is
to give participants a basic understanding of the place
of prayer in the Catholic tradition. The course does not
provide a manual or handbook on how to pray, but rather
"Prayer in the Christian Life" as a springboard for an exploration
of prayer in the Christian tradition by reflecting on questions
such as "What is the nature of prayer? What is Christian
prayer? What do we learn about prayer from Jesus?" Through
readings from Scripture and liturgical texts, how we learn
to pray will be explored by considering the personal and
communal nature of our prayer, use of Psalms, and Lectio
divina. Later units of the course will challenge us
to consider what it means to see ourselves as persons of
prayer; and what is the relationship between prayer and
action, prayer and social justice? Finally, the course will
explore the relation of prayer and theology--how does the
practice of prayer help us to become people of faith who
wish to come to a deeper, more reflective understanding
of that faith which we profess?
Unit 1: Lecture: Introduction
- The Nature of Prayer
- Observations about Prayer
- Christian Prayer, Jesus' Example
- Readings include: Gospel of Luke, Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Unit 2: Lecture: Learning to Pray
- Treasury of Prayers
- Public Prayer of the Liturgy
- Personal Prayer and Community
- Readings include: Eucharistic Prayer
II, Liturgy of the Eucharist (General Instruction of the
Roman Missal), Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy,
(Sacrosanctum Concilium)
Unit 3: Lecture: Prayer in the Scriptures
- The Book of Psalms
- Sacred Reading
- Pastoral Life
- Lectio divina
Unit 4: Lecture: Prayer and Action
- Persons of Prayer
- Prayer and Social Justice
Unit 5: Lecture: Christian Prayer
- Personal Prayer as Theology
- Theology as Seeing
- Final Observation
- Created by Notre Dame Theology
Professor.
- Six weeks in duration, with one week
for orientation.
- Typically 15-20 students in each course.
- Weekly Facilitator moderated chat sessions
with students in course.
- Material delivered by video lecture
(via webstreaming). A CD-ROM of lecture also available
for purchase.
- All lecture text available online in
course.
- Supplemental readings are provided
to encourage further exploration of topic, internet links
provided for all readings.
- Weekly written assignments (150-200
words) required.
All course materials are available in
the course.
Requirements for course include:
- Weekly reading or viewing of lecture
text.
- Participation in class discussion using
discussion area (minimum 2 comments, questions or responses
weekly.)
- Weekly chat session with other students
in course (3 required throughout course.)
- Weekly written assignment (150-200
words.)
- Course evaluation.
- 4 to 6 hours a week (time varies from
student to student depending on your learning style and
schedule.)
A Certificate of Completion awarding 25
Contact Hours will be sent upon completion of all course
requirements
This course offers an optional Supplemental
CD. While the video lectures for the course are available
in the course via webstreaming, Supplemental CDs containing
the video lectures can be purchased for viewing the lecture
without being connected to the Internet or for reviewing
the lecture after the course has ended.
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Dr. Cunningham's scholarly
interests are in the areas of systematic theology
and culture, Christian spirituality, and the history
of Christian spirituality. His most recent book is
Thomas Merton and the Monastic Vision (1999).
He has edited or written sixteen other books. He is
also co-editor of the academic monograph series "Studies
in Theology and Spirituality" and serves as an associate
editor for a number of scholarly journals. The author
of over fifty articles in peer reviewed or solicited
journals and books, he has also written over two hundred
articles for pastoral and popular outlets. He has
won three Catholic Press Association awards for religious
writing (1987, 1999, and 2000). The religion book
notes columnist for Commonweal for over ten
years, he is also an award winning teacher at Notre
Dame: the Fenlon Award from Sorin College (1989) and
a Kaneb award in 1999. A frequent visiting professor
both here and abroad, Dr. Cunningham is currently
at work on a new book on the theological meaning of
saints. He is also finishing a study of Saint Francis
of Assisi and is compiling an anthology of Cardinal
Newman's spiritual writings.
B.A., Saint Bernard's College Seminary,
1957; S.T.L., Gregorian University (Rome), 1961; M.A.,
Florida State University, 1963; Ph.D., Florida State
University, 1969 |
