Credit Hours: 3Caldwell 432Classtime: W 1:10-3:40
Instructor: Fr. Regis J. Armstrong O.F.M. Cap.
Office Hours: by appointmentE-mail:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Short Catalog Description: An introduction to the study of mysticism. Issues include the relationship of mystical experience and doctrine, the cross-cultural study of mysticism, and an analysis of various philosophical, theological, natural, and social scientific methods employed in the study of mysticism.
Longer description: An examination of the foundations of Christian Mysticism through the lens of Bonaventure’s “summa mistica,” Itinerarium Mentis in Deum,De Triplici Via, and Soliloquium.Each of these texts relies on the writings of the earlier Christian tradition, especially those of Augustine, the Pseudo-Dionysius, Bernard of Clairvaux, the Victorines, and Francis of Assisi. Furthermore the first two of these texts influenced the subsequent tradition of mysticism. In order to grow sensitive to the nuances of these texts, a part of each class will be devoted to translation of a select Latin passage.
Broad Purpose of Course:To provide an understanding of the fundamental issues of the first millennium of mystical theology and the contributions of the theology of love of the twelfth century Cistercian school and of the theology of creation expressed in Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of Brother Sun. To acquaint the student with the influence of Bonaventure’s mystical writings on the subsequent tradition of the English mystics of the fourteenth and the Spanish of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Instructional Methods: Lectures utilizing Blackboard attachments and class discussions that will accentuate contemporary implications of various historical themes of spirituality.
REQUIRED TEXTS
- The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism. Edited with an Introduction by Bernard McGinn. New York. The Modern Library, 2006.
- Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, “The Journey of the Mind into God.” Edited Cousins wiill be available on-line. Until then, use that of Ewert Cousins in Bonaventure: The Soul’s Journey into God, the Tree of Life, and the Life of Saint Francis. Classics of Western Spirituality. Introduction and translation by Ewert H. Cousins. Preface by Ignatius C. Brady. (Mahwah, New York: Paulist Press, 1978).
- Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, The Enkindling of Love, trans. Regis J. Armstrong, unpublished manuscript. Will be available on-line.
- Bonaventure of Bagnoregio,Soliloquium, edited manuscript. Also available on line.
SUGGESTED READING:
- Bernard McGinn, The Presence of God: A History of Western Christian Mysticism, Volume I, II, and III. New York, Crossroad, 1991, 1994, 1999.
- Andre Louth, The Origins of The Christian Mystical Tradition: From Plato to Denys. Oxford. The Clarendon Press, 1981.
- Required articles and documents available in electronic reserve through Blackboard. (
GOALS OF THE COURSE
- To explore the principal literature of medieval mystical theology through summa mystica of Bonaventure.
- To develop a sensitivity to the differing expressions of the mystical lie in the writings of Augustine, Gregory the Great, Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure, et al..
GOALS FOR STUDENT LEARNING
- The student will have a deeper understanding of the literature and vocabulary of the mystical tradition of the Middle Ages and a broader appreciation of its contributions to paradigms of spiritual development.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
- (25%) Active presence and attendance. “Active” means participating in class discussions, formulating questions related to the readings and lectures, etc.
- (50%) There will a paper due at the end of the second third of the course based on the presence of an earlier mystical writer in Bonaventure’s Itinerarium and how Bonaventure incorporates it. This should be at least 25 pages of double-spaced text and following the style sheet of Kate L. Turabian, cf. infra.
- (25%) During the last third of the semester, the student will be expected to lead a class discussion on the role of that writer in Bonaventure’s Soliloquium.
Expectations and policies
Academic honesty: Academic honesty is expected of all CUA students. Faculty are required to initiate the imposition of sanctions when they find violations of academic honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a student’s own work, cheating, and fabrication.
The following sanctions are presented in the University procedures related to Student Academic Dishonesty (from
“The presumed sanction for undergraduate students for academic dishonesty will be failure for the course. There may be circumstances, however, where, perhaps because of an undergraduate student’s past record, a more serious sanction, such as suspension or expulsion, would be appropriate. In the context of graduate studies, the expectations for academic honesty are greater, and therefore the presumed sanction for dishonesty is likely to be more severe, e.g., expulsion. ...In the more unusual case, mitigating circumstances may exist that would warrant a lesser sanction than the presumed sanction.”
Please review the complete texts of the University policy and procedures regarding Student Academic Dishonesty, including requirements for appeals, at and
Campus Resources for student support: Remember that the University has a Writing Center and Counseling Center for your assistance. Please take full advantage of the Theology Library on the fourth floor. Many resources are available on the internet and you should take full advantage of ATLA and Catholic Periodical Literature Index.
Accommodations for students with disabilities: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact Disability Support Services (at 202 319-5211, room 207 Pryzbyla Center) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. To read about the services and policies, please visit the website:
ASSESSMENT
1.Evaluation of written work considers the following elements:
- Comprehension of the material under discussion
- Ability to write one’s understanding clearly
- Correct usage of standard English grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- Organization of material
- Ability to see relationships and synthesize ideas
- Ability to reflect on the material and to see implications or issues.
2.Assignments are due in class on the day indicated.
- Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated; either will result in a grade of F for the course. Refer to your student handbook concerning consequences of plagiarism. If you use any words, ideas, images, etc. directly or indirectly, that are not your own, you need to note it according to the style indicated in the Chicago Manual of Style or the Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, sixth edition.
- The final grade is the average of the student’s grades. If the result borders one letter grade and another, then quality participation in class may move the student to the higher grade.
University grades:
The University grading system is available at for graduate students.
Reports of grades in courses are available at the end of each term on .
This is the point scale equivalent to the University grade system:
A 95-100
A-92-94
B+89-91
B84-88
B-81-83
C80 - 74
F0 - 73
COURSE OUTLINE
1.W, Jan 14Definitions and Approaches
Background for next class:
Read McGinn, Foundations 3-84
2.W, Jan 21Jewish-Christian Foundations
Background for next class:
Read Louth, Origins 1- 74
Augustine, Exposition of Psalm 41
Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons 23 and 47
3.W, Jan 28Patristic-Monastic Foundations
Notes on University of Paris
Article, “Bonaventure” from Catholic Encyclopedia
Ilia Delio, Simply Bonaventure
Thomas of Celano,
Bonaventure, Major Legend XIII
“The Facile Princeps of Mysticism”
The Mystical Journey
4.W, Feb 4Background
Bonaventure, Itinerarium, Prologue, Chapters I & II, III
5.W, Feb 11Itinerarium mentis in Deum, Prologue, Chapter I & II, III
Itinerarium Chapters IV
6.W, Feb 18Itinerarium mentis in Deum, Chapter IV
Itinerarium Chapters V & VI, VII
7.W, Feb 25ACADEMIC MONDAY, ASH WEDNESDAY
8.W, Mar 4SPRING BREAK
9.W, Mar 11Itinerarium mentis in Deum, Chapters V & VI, VII
De Triplici Via, Prologue, Chapter I-III 1-6
“The Facile Princeps of Mysticism”
The Daily Spiral
10.W, Mar 25De Triplici Via: Literary Genre
De Triplici Via, III 7-14
11.W, Apr 1De Triplici Via: Other Perspectives
SoliloquiumChapter One
“The Facile Princeps of Mysticism”
Questions for an Interior Dialogue
from Four Pauline Perspectives (cf. Soliloquium 1)
12.W, Apr8Soliloquium I Questions about What is Within
SoliloquiumChapter Two
13.W, Apr 15Soliloquium II Questions about What is Without
Soliloquium, Chapter Three
14. Apr 22Soliloquium III Questions about What is Below,
Soliloquium Chapter Four
15.W, April 29Soliloquium IV Questions about What is Above
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TRS 703Spring 2009 Syllabus