Course Summary (Revised)

1.       C/D347  Theologies of Prayer

Spring 2007:  January 17-April 18; 4 units

2.      Instructor:  Mary C. Sullivan, RSM, Ph.D., M.Th.

3.      Enrollment:  Open to all students; unlimited enrollment

4.      Course Description and Content:

                  An examination of various theologies of prayer, classical and modern, within the gracious Mystery that is God, the context of all human prayer—as discussed by such writers as Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Karl Rahner, and William H. Shannon, among others.  Personal and pastoral implications will be explored.

             Uniting theology and spirituality, the course will seek to focus on the Trinitarian grounds and context of human prayer:  For example, we will explore:

-        the human orientation towards the Holy Mystery who is God and God’s self-communication;

-        the example and promise of Jesus Christ:  the relation of Jesus of Nazareth to his “Father”, his prayer, his surrender, his being raised through death as the living Christ, the first fruits of all creation;

-        the presence and power of God’s Spirit in human prayer, and the communal nature of all prayer, even that in solitude;

-        the human experience of growing in one’s capacity to receive and offer the “prayer” which God’s Spirit prays in us.

         While we will examine the various human experiences of “praying”, we will be eager to understand the theological realities involved in Christian prayer and will try to come to some understanding of what true prayer itself really is.

5.      Method of Instruction:  Lecture and Discussion, including brief student reports.

6.      Required Reading:

Ruth Burrows, OCD, Essence of Prayer.  This is a new book published by Paulist Press, 2006.

Karl Rahner, The Need and Blessing of Prayer.  Trans. Bruce W. Gillette.  Liturgical Press, 1997.

Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle.  Trans. Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez.

John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul.  Trans. Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez.  The Dark Night is published separately and is also in the Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, translated by Kavanaugh and Rodriguez.  Either volume will be all right.

William H. Shannon, Seeking the Face of God.  Crossroad, 1988.  Either hardbound or paperback.

Please NOTE:  All these books exist in paperback, some in various editions or reprintings, and many of them can be purchased at less expense on amazon.com.  However, please be sure you get the Kavanaugh and Rodriguez translations of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and the Bruce Gillette translation of Karl Rahner, not other translations.

Copies of other short reading materials will be handed out in class.

7.      Recommended Reading:

A short selected bibliography will be provided and certain works will be placed on reserve in the Library.

8.      Evaluation:

a)      Students will be asked to write one short (double-spaced) paper or sentence-outline nearly every week (1-2 pages) on an assigned question in relation to the reading of that week—i.e. 6 brief essays, due on Wednesday, as assigned.

b)      A final essay (10-12 pages) explaining the student’s own Theology of Prayer, following the outline provided by the instructor, will be required in lieu of a final examination.

9.      Grading:

Grading will be based on the quality of the above papers (a. and b.) and on participation in discussion of the readings:

6 short essays:                    10% each

final essay                           20%

class participation:   20%

10.  Course Outline:

Since Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle is the longest book we will read, it would be wise to read it once, if possible, before the course begins.