catholic church thesis topics

59 Catholic Church Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best catholic church topic ideas & essay examples, ✅ most interesting catholic church topics to write about, 💡 good research topics about catholic church.

• The Catholic Church and the Black Death in the 14th Century Therefore, the essence of this research paper is to investigate the role of Catholic Church during the Black Death, specifically paying attention to the steps the church used to prevent the disease, the Flagellants and […]
• The Corruption of the Catholic Church in Chaucer’s Works Using the central theme of religious hypocrisy, Chaucer successfully used the Pardoner, the Friar, and the Summoner characters to expose the church representatives’ corruption and evil practices.
• Catholic Church View on Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery Therefore, the authors had a negative stance on cosmetic surgery performed on women, stating that it was a betrayal of the “truth of the feminine self” and a contribution to the exploitation of the female […]
• History of Catholic Church Catholic religion dominated the lives of the medieval people between the 5th and the 15th century. It was not easy to dislodge Christianity from the lives and minds of the medieval men and women, as […]
• The Catholic Church in the Roman Empire In its ethical concepts, the Roman Catholic Church developed from Stoicism, which was in great harmony with the public mood of the Roman Empire.
• Indulgences in the Catholic Church The Pope is the highest level of clergy in the Catholic Church, with explicit respect and authority granted by the Christian ecclesiological doctrine.
• The Separation of the Catholic Church This paper highlights the premises of the schism between the Roman Church and the Protestants. That was a basic reason for split and separation of the Catholic Church.
• Controversial Topic Within Modern Catholic Church These and the abundance of the other places from the Holy Scriptures establish God’s position as the Giver of life, and the only person having a right to operate the gift of life which stem […]
• Roman Catholic Church: Congregational Worship Experiences The largest of the Christian churches which entails the Roman Catholic church, although present in all parts of the world, is identified as Roman because of its historical roots in Rome and because of the […]
• Galileo’s Defence and Roman Catholic Church I will persuade religious leaders of the positive effects of separating science from religion, and illustrate that the design of the solar system was a part of God’s plan to protect planet Earth.
• Pope Francis and His Effect on the Roman Catholic Church Whilst Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he also held membership in a number of bodies associated with the Catholic Church in Argentina. There are a number of ways, in which Pope Francis has influenced the Roman […]
• Miracle of the Sun in the Catholic Church The major things I doubt, are that the children had seen anything miraculous at all; that what the children had actually seen was the image of the Lady, Jesus and other saints; that all the […]
• Lent History and Meaning in the Catholic Church The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that the aim of Lent is to make people ready for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ.
• The Politics of the Catholic Church in Latin America Both the church and the state eagerly waited for the arrival of the Pope the reform minded Catholics believed the Pope would support their efforts.
• Role of Catholic Church During Ns Regime One religious organization that strongly opposed the extension of the Gleichschaltung into the realm of religion was the Roman Catholic Church. One of the institutions that the government failed to disband was the church.
• Important People and Events in the Formation of the Catholic Church
• Catholic Church: Colonial Times to Present Day
• African Catholic Church and the Church of South Africa
• Relationship Between the Catholic Church and Chivalry
• Preparation for Baptism and Confirmation in the Roman Catholic
• The Catholic Church and Its Views on Homosexuality
• Catholic Church People Papacy Dissatisfaction
• Australian Governments’ and Catholic Church’s Attitudes on the Practice of Euthanasia
• Catholic Church Abuse Priests Clergy
• Middle Ages and Roman Catholic Church Corruption
• American Politics and the Catholic Church
• Crisis Analysing: Young People Leaving the Catholic Church
• Catholic Church’s Official Position on Abortion and Contraceptives
• Challenges Facing the Australian Catholic Church of the 21st Century
• Catholic Church During the Protestant Reformation
• Galileo’s Discovery Put the Catholic Church Into Unrest
• How the Catholic Church Built Westen Civilization
• Dante and Chaucer: Towards the Renovation of the Catholic Church
• Birth Control and the Catholic Church
• Catholic Church and Byzantine Empire
• Explaining Why the Catholic Church Was Weakened My Renaissance Popes
• Analyse the Role and the Influence of the Catholic Church in the Irish Education System to Date
• Catholic Church Architecture Analysis
• Catholic Church From Apostolic Times Until the Present+
• Erasmus Against Catholic Church
• Abortion and Birth Control Rights in the Catholic Church
• Holocaust and the Response of the American Catholic Church
• Decision About Life and Death and the Catholic Church’s Position on Euthanasia
• Fundamental Problems with the Catholic Church in 15th Century and How Martin Luther Faced Them
• Relationship Between Baptism and the Catholic Church
• Discussing the View That the Reformation Was an Unsuccessful Rebellion Within the Catholic Church
• Features of Art and the Roman Catholic Church
• Comparing and Contrasting the Roman Catholic Church With the Baptist Church
• Catholic Church Corruption and the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
• Indulgences and the Role They Played on the Reformation of the Catholic Church
• Jesus and the Role of Sin in the Catholic Church
• How the Catholic Church Survived Two Thousand
• Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church
• Latin America and Marriage Ceremonial Changes Before and After the Catholic Church Introduction
• Allegory Essay Titles
• Monarchy Research Topics
• Christianity Topics
• Holy Spirit Titles
• Jesus Christ Research Ideas
• Witchcraft Research Ideas
• European History Essay Titles
• Religious Conflict Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, September 26). 59 Catholic Church Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/catholic-church-essay-topics/

"59 Catholic Church Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 26 Sept. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '59 Catholic Church Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 26 September.

IvyPanda . 2023. "59 Catholic Church Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "59 Catholic Church Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "59 Catholic Church Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .

EWTN News, Inc. is the world’s largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Catholic Church.

• National Catholic Register
• News Agencies
• Catholic News Agency
• CNA Deutsch
• ACI Afrique
• ACI Digital
• Digital Media
• ChurchPOP Español
• ChurchPOP Italiano
• ChurchPOP Português
• EWTN News Indepth
• EWTN News Nightly
• EWTN Noticias
• EWTN Pro-life Weekly
• Register Radio

Get HALF OFF the Register!

National Catholic Register News https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-95-theses-8-things-to-know-and-share

• Synod on Synodality
• Most Popular
• Publisher’s Note
• College Guide
• Commentaries
• Culture of Life
• Arts & Entertainment
• Publisher's Note
• Letters to the Editor
• Support the Register
• Print subscriptions
• E-Newsletter Sign-up
• EWTN Religious Catalogue

The 95 Theses: 8 Things to Know and Share

The 95 Theses deal principally with indulgences, purgatory, and the pope’s role with respect to the two.

In 1517, Martin Luther drafted a document known as The 95 Theses , and its publication is used to date the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

The recent 500th anniversary of that event focused a good bit of attention on the 95 Theses.

Here are 8 things to know and share . . .

1) What are The 95 Theses ?

The 95 Theses are a set of propositions that Martin Luther proposed for academic debate. As the name indicates, there are 95 of them.

Despite the fact they played a key role in starting the Protestant Reformation, they do not deal with either of the main Protestant distinctives. They do not mention either justification by faith alone or doing theology by Scripture alone.

Instead, they deal principally with indulgences, purgatory, and the pope’s role with respect to the two.

2) Did Luther nail them to a church door?

Despite constant statements to the contrary, the answer appears to be no, he didn’t .

3) Are they all bad?

No, they’re not. It can come as a surprise to both Protestants and Catholics, but some of them agree with Catholic teaching.

Here are the first three of Luther’s theses, along with parallel statements from the Catechism of the Catholic Church :

Thesis 1: When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

• CCC 1431: Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed.

Thesis 2: This word [i.e., Christ’s call to repent in Mark 4:17] cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.

• CCC 1427: Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent , and believe in the gospel” [Mark 4:17]. In the Church's preaching this call is addressed first to those who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel . Also, Baptism is the principal place for the first and) fundamental conversion. 

Thesis 3: Yet it [i.e., the call to repent in Mark 4:17] does not mean solely inner repentance; such inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortification of the flesh.

• CCC 1430: Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures, and works of penance .

4) How did the Church respond to The 95 Theses ?

In 1520, Pope Leo X published a bull known as Exsurge Domine (Latin, “Arise, Lord”) in which he rejected 41 propositions taken from the writings of Martin Luther up to that time.

However, only a few of the rejected propositions came from The 95 Theses . Most were based on things Luther said in other writings.

5) Which of The 95 Theses did Exsurge Domine reject?

The rejected propositions in Exsurge Domine are formulated from things Luther said, but they are not verbatim quotations.

Three of the rejected propositions—numbers 4, 17, and 38—are drawn from The 95 Theses . In each case, the rejected proposition is based on two of Luther’s original theses.

Here are the rejected propositions along with the corresponding theses:

Proposition 4. To one on the point of death, imperfect charity necessarily brings with it great fear, which in itself alone is enough to produce the punishment of purgatory and impedes entrance into the kingdom.

Thesis 14. Imperfect piety or love on the part of the dying person necessarily brings with it great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater the fear.

Thesis 15. This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, to say nothing of other things, to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near the horror of despair.

Proposition 17. The treasures of the Church from which the pope gives indulgences are not the merits of Christ and of the saints.

Thesis 56. The treasures of the church, out of which the pope distributes indulgences, are not sufficiently discussed or known among the people of Christ.

Thesis 58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, for, even without the pope, the latter always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outer man.

Proposition 38. The souls in purgatory are not sure of their salvation, at least (not) all; nor is it proved by any arguments or by the Scriptures that they are beyond the state of meriting or of increasing in charity.

Thesis 19. Nor does it seem proved that souls in purgatory, at least not all of them, are certain and assured of their own salvation, even if we ourselves may be entirely certain of it.

Thesis 18. Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or Scripture, that souls in purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love.

Exsurge Domine thus rejected things it saw expressed in theses 14, 15, 18, 19, 56, and 58.

6) What did Exsurge Domine say about the rejected propositions?

The bull closes with the following censure:

All and each of the above-mentioned articles or errors [i.e., all 41 of them], as set before you, we condemn, disapprove, and entirely reject as respectively heretical or ( aut ) scandalous or ( aut ) false or ( aut ) offensive to pious ears or ( vel ) seductive of simple minds and ( et ) in opposition to Catholic truth.

This kind of condemnation is sometimes referred to as an condemnation in globo (Latin, “as a whole”). They are rejected as a batch, but without indicating which censure applies to which proposition.

The condemnation has to be read with care because in Latin, aut indicates an exclusive “or” (i.e., this or that, but not both) while vel indicates an inclusive “or” (i.e., this or that, but possibly both).

Thus Exsurge Domine indicates that some of the 41 rejected propositions are heretical, some are scandalous, some are false, some are offensive to pious ears—but they are not all four.

The use of aut between these censures tells you that a given proposition may fall into one of these four categories.

The only time an inclusive “or” is used is before the fifth and sixth categories: Some propositions may be “seductive of simple minds and ( et ) in opposition to Catholic truth.” Here vel is used because things that are heretical (etc.) can also be seductive of simple minds (the fifth category) and obviously would be opposed to Catholic truth (the sixth category).

7) What does that mean for The 95 Theses ?

It means that Exsurge Domine rejected things expressed in Theses 14, 15, 18, 19, 56, and 58, and it thus warned Catholics away from these theses. However, it does not tell us what the problem was in particular cases. It could have been any of the following:

• The thesis is heretical
• The thesis is scandalous
• The thesis is false
• The thesis is offensive to pious ears
• The thesis is seductive of simple minds
• The thesis is opposed to Catholic truth

The difference between these is significant:

• If something is heretical then it is both false and contrary to a divinely revealed dogma
• If it is scandalous then it can lead people into sin
• If it is false then it is not true, though it may not be opposed to a dogma
• If it is offensive to pious ears then it is badly and offensively phrased
• If it is seductive of simple minds then it can mislead ordinary people
• If it is opposed to Catholic truth then it could be opposed in one of the five ways named above.

It is important to note that if the problem is (1) or (3) then the Thesis is necessarily false.

However, if the problem is (2), (4), or (5) then the Thesis is not necessarily false—it could be technically true but phrased offensively, phrased in a misleading way, or phrased in a way that could lead people to sin.

Because Exsurge Domine doesn’t assign particular censures to particular propositions, it doesn’t tell us what the status of the theses in question are. It warns us away from them but leaves it up to theologians to classify the particular problem with a thesis.

8) Does the fact that Exsurge Domine only rejects things said in six of the theses mean that the other 89 are okay?

No. This does not give the rest of The 95 Theses a clean bill of health. They can also be problematic, they just weren’t among those dealt with in Exsurge Domine .

It would be interesting to go through The 95 Theses and analyze of the degree to which each of them fits or doesn’t fit with Catholic thought, but that would be a lengthy effort that would go far beyond what can be accomplished in a blog post.

Jimmy Akin Jimmy was born in Texas and grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant pastor or seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith. Eventually, he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, “A Triumph and a Tragedy,” is published in Surprised by Truth . Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine , and a weekly guest on “Catholic Answers Live.”

• Related Stories
• Latest News

Post-Debate Explainer: The Truth About Late-Term Abortions in the United States

Although ABC’s debate moderators intervened to “fact check” Trump on several of his arguments, neither of them corrected Harris to inform viewers where late-term abortions are legal and occur in the United States.

‘The Incorruptibles’: Who Are These Mysterious Saints?

‘We have over 100 documented cases of incredible examples of saints whose mortal bodies have not fully decayed…’

North Dakota Judge Strikes Down State’s Abortion Restrictions

North Dakota Right to Life says the ruling is dangerous for both women and unborn children.

Catholic Charities Seeks Volunteers in Louisiana as Hurricane Francine Floods the Region

The hardest-hit diocese in southern Louisiana has been Houma-Thibodaux, as well as parts of the Dioceses of Baton Rouge and Lafayette and the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Why I’ll Never Remove My Scapular Again, The Only Way to Remove a Demon, and More Great Links!

The Best In Catholic Blogging

The Holy Name of Mary Is Our Weapon and Shield

The Sept. 12 feast of the Holy Name of Mary reminds us of its stirring history and, above all, the reason why her name is a most powerful prayer.

Satan’s Protection, An Oxford Professor Gave a Public Lecture About Belief in God, and More Great Links!

September 11: A Plea to Pray

How this tragic day in our nation's history shaped my faith.

We Are All Liberal Protestants

Canceled in china, catholic church is in the midst of a growth spurt in singapore, trump, harris argue abortion policy and records on immigration and economy in debate, there is no shame in being catholic, pew poll shows slim majority of u.s. catholics voting for trump in november, opus dei prelate asks prayers for new statutes and to share ‘the fire of the lord’, subscription options.

Subscriber Service Center Already a subscriber? Renew or manage your subscription here .

Subscribe and Save HALF OFF! Start your Register subscription today.

Give a Gift Subscription Bless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register.

Order Bulk Subscriptions Get a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization or school.

Sign-up for E-Newsletter Get Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox.

Home > Academic Departments > School of Theology and Seminary > Graduate Papers/Theses

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

Submissions from 2022 2022.

(Graduate Paper) The Role and Characteristic of Love in 1 Corinthians 13 , Ninh Van Nguyen

(Master's Thesis) Synodality as the Listening Church: Pope Francis Continues and Expands Vatican II's Teaching on Collegiality , Toan Van Phan O.Cist

Submissions from 2021 2021

(Graduate Paper) Pauline Theology: The Interdependently Called Body of Christ , Katryna Bertucci

(Master's Thesis) The Glory of the Lord Whose Likeness is as the Appearance of a Human Being/Adam: A Study of Ezekiel’s Son of Man/Adam Anthropology , Timothy R. Schmeling

(Graduate Paper) The Power, (Problem), and Potential of Prayer , Meghan E. Stretar

Submissions from 2020 2020

(Graduate Paper) How Can Catholic Youth Programs Improve the Youth’s Connection To the Mass? , Elizabeth Cook

(Graduate Paper) Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall: A Glimpse Into the Theme of Righteousness Through the Anthropology, Theology, and Spirituality of the Psalms , Elizabeth Cook

(Graduate Paper) Introducing Queer Theology , Cole Epping

(Graduate Paper) Taking Care of the Forgotten: A Pastoral Response to the Hospice Care Professional , Constance Friebohle

(Graduate Paper) A Global Church in the Local Parish: Fostering Intercultural Competency for Indonesian Catholic Ministry in the United States , Janice Kristanti

(Graduate Paper) The Indispensability of Inculturation For Effective Evangelization: Revisiting The Evangelization of Sub-Saharan Africa , Mark Obeten

(Graduate Paper) Seeking a New Paradigm for Youth Ministry of Waegwan Abbey, South Korea , Cyprian Ji-Eung Ryu

(Graduate Paper) The Catholic Church and the Turn of the 20th Century: An Anthropology of Human Flourishing and a Church for Peace , Maria Siebels

(Graduate Paper) The Wounded Body of Christ: Social Trauma in Pastoral Care , Kelsi Watters

Submissions from 2019 2019

(Graduate Paper) A Non-Dualistic Reading of Body and Soul in the Gospel of Matthew: Focusing on Matthew 10:39 in the Context of Discipleship , Alexander Blechle

Submissions from 2018 2018

(Graduate Paper) Catholic Social Teaching and the Christian Responsibility to the Poor , Rose Aspholm

(Master's Thesis) Not Quite Calvinist: Cyril Lucaris a Reconsideration of His Life and Beliefs , Stephanie Falkowski

(Graduate Paper) Life or Death and Other False Dichotomies: A Theology of Hospice , Kayla Stock

Submissions from 2017 2017

(Master's Thesis) On Dionysian Theological Methodology , Joseph Arrendale

(Graduate Paper) The Transcendence of the Apprehension of Beauty , Mary Abigail Coleman

(Graduate Paper) The Paradox of Remarkable/Unremarkable Julian of Norwich , John P. Fitzgibbons

(Book Chapter) Agape Unbound in Silence and Deep River , Elizabeth Cameron Galbraith

(Graduate Paper) Formed for Diverse Communion: Toward Developing An Ecumenical Formation Process for New Members of Holy Wisdom Monastery’s Sunday Assembly , Rosy Kandathil OSB

(Graduate Paper) A Garden Enclosed, A Fountain Sealed Up: Paradoxical and Generative Metaphors of Enclosure in Medieval Female Anchoritism , Cody Maynus Obl.S.B.

(Graduate Paper) The Gospel of Mark , Nancy McCabe

(Master's Thesis) A Theological Retrieval of Communal Parenting as a Moral Response to Baby Stealing and Childlessness in Nigeria , Henry U. Omeike

(Graduate Paper) Do This, in Memory of Me! , Joseph Qiu-Lin Zhang

Submissions from 2016 2016

(Master's Thesis) A Church Built on Charity: Augustine's Ecclesiology , Michael J. Clinger Jr

(Graduate Paper) A Story of Identity in the Christian East , Manya Gustafson

(Graduate Paper) Jude's Enochian Apocalypse , Lucian López OSB

(Graduate Paper) Matthew's Least Brothers and It's Application in the Catholic Church , Runbao Zhang

Submissions from 2015 2015

(Electronic Book) Illuminating Christ , Jessie Bazan

(Master's Thesis) Gifting Freedom to the Samaritan: Considerations on access to both the sacramental event and salvation for those who, for whatever reason, find themselves outside the Church, and the consequences of identity for the Church in gifting such access , C. A. Chase

(Graduate Paper) My Brother's a Jerk and Dad's Gonna Spank Him: Roles and Relations in Obadiah , Aletta Stumo

Submissions from 2014 2014

(Graduate Paper) Christology, Theology, & Evolution in Celia Deane-Drummond's Christ and Evolution , Trevor Beach SJ

(Graduate Paper) Joy as Illumination: Participation in God's Life-giving Trinitarian Love , Trevor Beach SJ

(Graduate Paper) Consideration of the Church's Identity and Mission, Predicated on the Church Be-ing 'Ligamen' (Bond) , C. A. Chase

(Graduate Paper) Observations on the Performative Force of the Qyama and the Ihidaye, and its Pertinancy Today , C. A. Chase

(Graduate Paper) Christ, the Meeting Point of Sacramental and Trinitarian Theology , Nathan Peter Chase

(Graduate Paper) The Christological Remnants within Eucharistic Prayers , Nathan Peter Chase

(Master's Thesis) With Eyes That See: The Role of Spiritual Vision in the Ascent of Nyssen Noetic Theology , Benjamin Rush

(Master's Thesis) St. John of the Cross and the Denudation of the Soul , Wesley Sutermeister

Submissions from 2013 2013

(Graduate Paper) A History and Analysis of the Missel Romain pour les Diocese du Zaire , Nathan Peter Chase

(Graduate Paper) The Development of the Epiclesis: Alexandrian or Syrian? , Nathan Peter Chase

Submissions from 2011 2011

(Graduate Paper) Short-Term Solution, Long-Term Problem: The Rite of Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest and its Use in the United States of America , Christopher Angel

(Graduate Paper) Welcome (Back): The Use of Initiatory Elements in the Reconciliation of Heretics to the Early Church , Christopher Angel

(Graduate Paper) The Gospel of Matthew: The Temple Cleansing in 21:12-17 , Kasey Devine

(Graduate Paper) The "Ladder" of the Lord's Plagues , Kasey DeVine

Submissions from 2010 2010

(Graduate Paper) St. John Chrysostom and His Message of Social Justice Today , Joel Cassady

(Graduate Paper) Trinitarian Christology: The Grammar of The Christian Faith and the Foundation for a Theology of Religious Pluralism , Eric Christensen

(Graduate Paper) Entering into the Profound Mystery: Yves Congar’s Via Media on the Salvation of People of Non-Christian Religions , Elizabeth M. Cunneen

Submissions from 2009 2009

(Graduate Paper) Ego Eimi Formula and a Sense of Continuity in John’s Gospel Chapter Sixth (Jn 6: v.20, vss.35-58) , John Changjin Bai

(Graduate Paper) Jesus the Christ as a Jun-Zi in Confucian Perspectives , John Changjin Bai

(Graduate Paper) An Exegesis of 1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:1-3 , Gregory Congote OSB

(Graduate Paper) Gregory Palamas and Hesychasm , Gregory Congote OSB

(Graduate Paper) Modern Usury: The Moral Challenge of Credit Cards in Light of Catholic Teaching and Practice in the Past and the Present , David R. Smoker

Submissions from 2008 2008

(Graduate Paper) Community in the Theology of Søren Aabye Kierkegaard , Nicholas Coffman

(Graduate Paper) Jean-Luc Marion’s Theology of Eucharistic Presence , Nicholas Coffman

(Graduate Paper) Proclaiming the Truth of Beauty , Larry Fraher

(Graduate Paper) Augustine of Hippo and Elizabeth de la Trinite: A Conversation across the Centuries , Vernon W. Goodin

(Graduate Paper) "Who Do You Say That I Am?" The Role of Story in Christology , Vernon W. Goodin

(Graduate Paper) Sufficere, “It Is Enough”: Avarice vs. Simplicity and Detachment in the Rule of Saint Benedict , Arlen M. Hanson

(Graduate Paper) Stories in Stained Glass: An Analysis of the Stained-Glass Windows at Saint Norbert Abbey in De Pere, Wisconsin , Timothy A. Johnston

(Master's Thesis) Wittgenstein and Worship: Investigations of Liturgical Language-Games and Their Formative Role in Christian Identity , Michelle Kathleen Weber

Submissions from 2007 2007

(Graduate Paper) Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Prophet & Martyr , Fr. Michael Calhoun OSB

(Graduate Paper) Saint Basil: Monastic Reformer , Fr. Michael Calhoun OSB

(Graduate Paper) Looking at Conflict Diamonds Through the Lens of Catholic Social Teaching , Heather Cherpelis

(Graduate Paper) “Allegorical Typologies” of the Eucharist: An Analysis of Some Eastern Liturgical Commentaries , Nathaniel G. Costa

(Graduate Paper) “For All the Saints”: A Feast for All People and All Time , Nathaniel G. Costa

(Graduate Paper) Eternal Hope: The Story of Sr. Mary Luke Tobin and Other Women who Participated in Vatican Council II , Megan S. Enninga

(Graduate Paper) Vulgar and Ascetic Christians: the Myth of a Higher Spirituality The rhetoric of monastic profession as a second baptism , August L. Gothman

(Graduate Paper) Active Participation and the Song of the Assembly , William Griffiths

(Graduate Paper) Transforming both the gifts and the people: Eucharistic presence , William Griffiths

(Graduate Paper) “You Can Become All Flame”: Do the Desert Fathers Have Anything to Say to Us Today? , Arlen M. Hanson

(Graduate Paper) Toward a Domestic Ecclesiology: The "Domestic Church" Finds Articulation in Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" , Craig James St. Clair

(Graduate Paper) Celebrating the Communion Rite , Jay Stimac

(Graduate Paper) Karl Rahner: On Grace and Salvation , Nicole Streit

(Graduate Paper) One Body, One Spirit, One Priesthood; Many Members, Many Charisms, Many Ministries: Reflections Anglican and Catholic , Cody C. Unterseher

(Graduate Paper) Arianism, Athanasius, and the Effect on Trinitarian Thought , Andy Witchger

(Graduate Paper) How the Parish and School of St. Agnes Creates Vocations , Andy Witchger

Submissions from 2006 2006

(Graduate Paper) How Paul and the Jerusalem Council Might Speak to Division in the Twenty-First Century Church , Mary Birmingham

(Master's Thesis) Becoming One Spirit: Origen and Evagrius Ponticus on Prayer , Hilary Case OSB

(Graduate Paper) Syncletica: Urban Ascetic and Desert Mother , Susan Dreyer OSB

(Graduate Paper) The Education of Heloise in Twelfth-Century France , Susan Dreyer OSB

(Graduate Paper) A Woman of the Reformation , Megan S. Enninga

(Graduate Paper) A Key and Classic Text: Ephesians 5:21-33 , Katinka Nadine Ellen Evers

(Graduate Paper) Concealing to Reveal: Modesty in Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body , Katinka Nadine Ellen Evers

(Graduate Paper) Sex in the City of God , Diana Macalintal

(Graduate Paper) The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ecclesial Discipleship and Redemption , Diane Draxler Pederson

(Graduate Paper) The Spiritual Potential of Poetry , Carl Schlueter

(Graduate Paper) Complicating the Poor Widow’s Gift: Exegesis on Mk. 12:41-44 , Timothy Traynor

(Graduate Paper) "We Should Glory in the Cross:" The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and its Contemporary Liturgical Significance , Cody C. Unterseher

Submissions from 2005 2005

(Graduate Paper) Hermeneutics and Liturgical Space: Interpreting the Domus Ecclesiae - Domus Dei , Gregory Reed Beath

(Graduate Paper) Eros: Human and Divine , Denae M. Fielder

(Graduate Paper) And the Question Became Flesh: Jesus the Catechist in the Gospel of John , Diana Macalintal

(Graduate Paper) Hesychast Prayer: Attending the Cosmic Banquet of the Heart , Tamara Ann Moore

(Graduate Paper) A Study in Spiritual Lineage: The "Influence and Noninfluence" of Pseudo-Dionysius on The Cloud of Unknowing , David M. Odorisio

(Graduate Paper) The Cistercian Spirit in Stone , David M. Odorisio

(Graduate Paper) Architectural Reforms of Eucharistic Reservation , Diane Draxler Pederson

Page 1 of 20

Advanced Search

• Notify me via email or RSS
• Collections
• Disciplines

Author Corner

• Submit Research
• School of Theology and Seminary Website

Library Links

• CSB/SJU Libraries

Home | About | FAQ | My Account | Accessibility Statement

Privacy Copyright

• Church Essay Topics Topics: 156
• Temple Topics Topics: 122
• Old Testament Paper Topics Topics: 74
• Judaism Topics Topics: 130
• Hinduism Research Topics Topics: 105
• Jesus Christ Essay Topics Topics: 105
• Theology Topics Topics: 188
• Bible Topics Topics: 132
• Buddhism Research Topics Topics: 132
• Christianity Research Topics Topics: 470
• Baptism Topics Topics: 51
• Quran Essay Topics Topics: 50
• Protestant Paper Topics Topics: 61
• God Essay Topics Topics: 227
• Islam Essay Topics Topics: 272

55 Catholic Church Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on catholic church, 🎓 most interesting catholic church research titles, 💡 simple catholic church essay ideas.

• The Role of Gothic Cathedrals in the Popularization of the Catholic Church
• Catechism of the Catholic Church on Jesus Christ
• The Catholic Church and Western Classical Music
• The Catholic Church’s Deontology and Utilitarianism Perspectives
• Catholic Church’s Contributions in Medieval Europe
• The Catholic Church and the LGBT Community
• Brand Luther and Reform the Catholic Church
• Establishment of the Papal Supremacy in the Catholic Church
• Catholic Church and Sexual Abuse in “Doubt” Film
• The Catholic Church and People’s Mental Health
• Catholic Church as Social and Spiritual Organization
• Abortion and Catholic Church’s Attitude
• The St. Patrick Catholic Church
• Catholic Church: Religious and Imperial Expansion Impact
• Latin America and the Catholic Church
• The Role of the Catholic Church in the Spanish Education System
• A Concise History of the Roman Catholic Church
• The Common Good and the Catholic Church’s Social Teaching
• The Impact of the Catholic Church on Morality Policies in Western Europe
• Vatican City: Sacred Heart of the Roman Catholic Church
• The History of the Catholic Church: From the Apostolic Age to the Third Millennium
• History of the Catholic Church: From the Renaissance to the French Revolution
• The Catholic Church Intervention and the Formation of Conservative Parties in Spain and Poland
• Challenges Facing the Catholic Church in the 21st Century
• The Catholic Church’s Influence on Women’s Conditions and Lifestyle in Europe
• Same-Sex Marriage and the Catholic Church in Europe. Any Chance for Understanding?
• The Role of the Catholic Church in the Politics of Abortion in Ireland and Poland
• The Geopolitics of the Catholic Church
• Role of the Catholic Church in Resisting Communist Rule in Poland
• The Catholic Church During the Middle Ages and Through the Seventeenth Centuries
• The American Catholic Church as a Political Institution
• Architectural Features of Catholic Churches
• The Role of the Catholic Church During the Civil Rights Movement
• Morality and Ethics in AI: The Catholic Church’s Perspective for Facing Technological Dilemmas
• The Four Pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• The Role of the Vatican and the Catholic Church in Venezuela
• Debunking Myths: The Catholic Church’s Impact on Poverty and Social Welfare
• The Catholic Church, Human Rights, and Democracy
• Trinity From the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church
• The Catholic Church as a Global Political Player
• Contributions From the Catholic Church to Ethical Reflections in the Digital Era
• The Catholic Church’s Biggest Crisis Since the Reformation
• Possession, Psychopathology, and the Catholic Church
• The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church
• The Attitude of the Catholic Church Towards Witchcraft and the Allied Practices of Sorcery and Magic
• The Catholic Church and Politics: Historical and Institutional Background
• Espionage and the Catholic Church From the Cold War to the Present
• The Capacity of the Catholic Church’s Legal Order for International Relations
• Catholic Church and Climate Change: Why Catholics Care About Climate Change
• The Catholic Church and Political Parties in Europe
• The Pope’s Role in the Roman Catholic Church
• Administrative Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church
• The Catholic Church’s Teaching on Marriage and Family
• The Role of the Catholic Church in Latin America in the 1960s–1980s
• The Catholic Church and the Global Crisis of Religious Liberty

Cite this post

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2024, July 23). 55 Catholic Church Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/catholic-church-essay-topics/

"55 Catholic Church Essay Topics." StudyCorgi , 23 July 2024, studycorgi.com/ideas/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2024) '55 Catholic Church Essay Topics'. 23 July.

1. StudyCorgi . "55 Catholic Church Essay Topics." July 23, 2024. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "55 Catholic Church Essay Topics." July 23, 2024. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2024. "55 Catholic Church Essay Topics." July 23, 2024. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/catholic-church-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Catholic Church were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on August 20, 2024 .

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

DOCTORAL THESIS: Synodality and Authenticity: Towards a Contemporary Ecclesiology for the Catholic Church

2020, A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Divinity, Australia

The purpose of this thesis is to establish foundations from which an ecclesiology of synodality can be developed. Synodality marks a new era of meaning for the Catholic Church and work in this area is breaking ground every day. The unique contribution of this thesis to the field of ecclesiology is through its engagement with Lonergan’s insights into transcendental consciousness and its relationship to theological method, in order to investigate and provide foundations for synodality, and to define synodality as the Catholic Church being authentic in the contemporary world. The self-understanding of the Catholic Church in the contemporary world requires development of an ecclesiology that is dynamic and relational, and supportive of a vision of mature and co-responsible members of the Church. Foundations for such an ecclesiology will ground this vision, pointing to it as a journey that supports growth in authenticity, and therefore the healing, co-responsibility, and missionary activity of the People of God. This thesis describes what it means for the Catholic Church to exercise synodality in its praxis and governance, while demonstrating that synodality is already emerging and impacting upon all of the Church’s relationships.

Related Papers

Jos Moons SJ

Full text: https://ojs.tnkul.pl/index.php/rt/article/view/16777 --- This article contributes to the growing body of literature on synodality with a comprehensive introduction. Firstly, the author observes the link between the synodal approach promoted by Pope Francis and the Second Vatican Council. With the help of Myriam Wijlens' term 'reconfiguration,' he then discusses the theological foundations of a synodal understanding of the Church. Synodality recontextualizes the bishop's responsibility by situating it within the community of the faithful. In addition, as the Holy Spirit is the main actor in the synodal process, all the faithful, including bishops, have to listen to what He is saying, a task that requires discerning the spirits. In the third place, the author focuses on the reconfiguration of ecclesial practice. In a synodal way of proceeding, the traditional virtue of obedience is complemented by various other virtues, such as speaking out, listening with interest, and a deep openness to the Spirit's newness. Finally, the author identifies practical issues that need attention.

Rafael Luciani

The Church has been convoked to a Synod with the motto: For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mis- sion. It is perhaps the most important event since the Sec- ond Vatican Council, because it represents the beginning of a process of rearticulation of the conciliar hermeneutics in the light of a new reception of the Ecclesiology of the People of God. The aim is to situate Chapter II [People of God] of Lumen Gentium as the normative criterion that redefines the identity and mission of all ecclesial subjects, and consequently the relationships, the communicative dynamics and the structures for a synodal Church whose challenge is to achieve a new theological institutional model for the third millennium.

Luigi Gioia

Paper delivered at the American Academy of Religion, Atlanta 21 th-24th November 2015, at the seminar 'What is point of Synods?' organized by the Ecclesiological Investigations Group. The theology and the practice of synodality in the Catholic Church are reviewed in the light of Pope Francis’ encyclical Evangelii Gaudium, of his recent declaration that “The path of synodality is that which God expects of the Church of the third millennium” and of his highly symbolical gestures in connection to the two sessions of the recent synod on family. Pope Francis is slowly overcoming a one-sided approach to collegiality through a practice of synodality which re-establishes the link between conciliarity and local churches and tries to root ecclesial discernment in the prophetic character of the whole people of God.

AUC Theologica

Josef Mikulášek

This article addresses one specific aspect of the synodal vision of the Church which is currently discussed in the Catholic Church. This aspect consists of the vision of a Church that is still a Church learning who to be and how to be. Using the construct of a community of practice, adopted from the field of the sociology of learning (Etienne Wenger), I analyse how the synodal Church, preferring the theology of the local Church, is open to new learning. As I demonstrate in the article, such an understanding contains within it a rich heuristic for our understanding of Revelation of God, including implications for an understanding of continuing revelation, as well as a revision of the Church's concept of the Magisterium (sg.) in favour of the Magisteria (pl.). The article, therefore, shows a surprising point of view: How basic ecclesiological themes help us illuminate the Christian understanding of divine Revelation as an ongoing Revelation in human history.

Acta missiologica

Robert Svatoň

The text deals with the current topic of the sixteenth regular assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church, the first phase of which includes not only the active participation of all Catholic faithful, but is also open to Christians of other churches. The text first shows that the invitation addressed to non-Catholics to participate in the synodal process is based on the ecclesiological foundations established by the Second Vatican Council. In the second part, the article places the synodal process within the framework of Pope Francis' reform efforts, which includes the missionary renewal of the Church and have its important ecumenical impact. The third part deals with the analysis of the character of the synodal process in terms of ecumenical hermeneutics, focusing on its pastoral and spiritual dimension.

Nihal Abeyasingha

The present article seeks to highlight two issues and set them against each other. On the one hand is the vision of Pope Francis “Towards a synodal Church: Communion, Mission, Participation”. This vision is established on the nature of the Church as sign of communion and instrument of attaining the intimate union with God and the unity of the whole human race. This vision is to operate with maximum cooperation of the entire people of God. It is not a new institution that the Pope seeks to inaugurate; but a new mindset – the church always repenting and preaching repentance (ecclesia semper reformans). Is this possible? This is the second issue. The Pope points out elements of a contrary mind-set. This article highlights various other elements of sinfulness that are embodied in the functioning of the Church and calls for a reform, such as clericalism, poor theology and magisterium functioning as control. However conversion is possible – it needs to be preached and lived. Then, we can begin to move to be a synodal church. The articles begins with a diagram. The article seeks to see what blocks/ hinder the interaction towards discernment at the centre of the process.

Catholic Voyage: African Journal of Consecrated Life

INNOCENT CHIAWA IGBOKWE

The synodality of Pope Francis comes with lots of excitement, misgivings and misconceptions. Some have asked whether it is a product of coercion or freedom. Some have wondered whether it is a true renewal or a disguised trap. Some have questioned the intention of this synod. It is factual that every synod is shrouded in mystery and the Holy Spirit is the principle of communion and mission in the Church, the principle of synodality. The fears, anxiety, tensions, joys and excitement this synod has generated seems unprecedented in the recent history of the Church. The processes of this synodality will determine the ‘shape of the future of the Church. We shall therefore examine in this paper the virtues and vices that can make or mar the processes.

The Synod of Bishops: An Instrument towards a Synodal Church through Baptism

Brenda Prato

The shifted role of the Synod of Bishops from its establishment by Paul VI until Francis was analysed in this study. It was noted how this institution was discovered at the time of Peter, the apostles as well as the first Christians and how it was then rediscovered and thus, established by Paul VI. Pope Francis’ aim towards a Synodal Church and thus, a Listening Church was analysed and discussed in order to understand what the role of the Synod of Bishops is today in 2021, provided the updates brought about by Episcopalis Communio. What was highlighted throughout this study was how Pope Francis has been aiming, since the beginning of his papacy, to unify the Church. This was demonstrated through his focus on what makes all the members of the Church in communion: the sacrament of baptism. The Synod of Bishops has been upgraded in such a way that all the members can make their voice heard either through their bishops, or through the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. In doing so, Pope Francis has been trying to reduce the mentality of clericalism in order to create a Church that listens, and thus, a Church that walks together with all the members. Episcopalis Communio highlights a number of points such as the concept of Papal Supremacy. While the Roman Pontiff enjoys supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power (c.331), how much space for discussion is there through the Synod of Bishops? Another point that is brought up in Episcopalis Communio is the concept of a Listening Church. The question that arises here is whether actions are being executed or is the Church stuck at the listening phase? One other essential point in Episcopalis Communio, is since focus is being put on the sacrament of baptism rather than on ordination, does it mean that all members, men and women, may in the near future enjoy roles in the Church’s authority? Canon law assists the Church in creating her own binding rules but its pastoral aspect is not to be put aside. If these changes truly reflect the Church’s mission, ought they not be safeguarded by canon law? Through this study, such issues were raised to provide caution as well as insights to such upgrades. Ultimately, the Synod of Bishops is the instrument through which all the members of the Church can come together and provide solutions which concern the salus animarum suprema lex (c.1752).

Pope Francis’s Synod on Synodality and Modern Sociology: Exploring the Synod’s Behavioral and Research Aspects

Dr. Vivencio (Ven) Ballano

This chapter discusses the sociological significance of providing clear conceptualization and operationalization of the major terms, which are broadly and theologically defined, in Pope Francis’s ecclesial project called the Synod on Synodality (SoS). It argues that Francis’s SoS has behavioral and research aspects despite primarily being an ecclesial and theological project in the Catholic Church. This synod is primarily social rather than doctrinal in nature, aiming to fundamentally realize Vatican II’s concept of the Church as an intimate community of the People of God and adapt the church mission in contemporary society. This chapter attempts to conceptualize and provide research indicators for the synod’s two major theological concepts, namely, synodality and synodal church, as well as to provide a sociological methodology for Francis’s SoS.

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

Roczniki Teologiczne

Ramiro Pellitero Iglesias

Irish Theological Quarterly

Bradford Hinze

in Naiju Jose Kalambukattu (ed.), Mystery of the Church. Models and Images, ISPCK, Delhi, 2022, 311-333.

Joseph Scaria Palakeel

Peter De Mey

Ecumeny and Law

Tomasz Gałkowski

Perspectiva Teológica

Massimo Faggioli

Asian Horizons, Vol. 14, No. 1, March 2020 Pages: 119-136

MA Thesis, University of Manitoba

Nicholas Jesson

Martin Kirschner

Richard Gaillardetz

Internationale Kirchliche Zeitschrift 103 (2012), 64-89

Radu Bordeianu

Asian Horizons

Inocent-Mária V L A D I M Í R SZANISZLÓ

Nikola Derpich

Jakob K Rinderknecht

Annales Thologici

Robert Józef Woźniak

Elaine GRAHAM

New Horizons

Mark Joseph Lacanilao Guevarra

Przemysław Sawa

Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Ilia (Irakli) Jinjolava

Theologica Xaveriana

Sandra Arenas

Przemysław Kantyka

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

School of Canon Law

• Current Students
• JCD Dissertations
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Required Books

JCD dissertations are available through CUA Press: http://cuapress.cua.edu/books/series.cfm 

Dissertations Completed 1916-Present

• Skip to main content
• Accessibility information

• Enlighten Enlighten

Enlighten Theses

• Latest Additions
• Browse by Year
• Browse by Subject
• Browse by College/School
• Browse by Author
• Browse by Funder
• Login (Library staff only)

In this section

Church liturgy and catechesis: a critical examination of liturgical development in its relationship to catechesis in the modern Catholic Church

Smith, Josephine Mary (2013) Church liturgy and catechesis: a critical examination of liturgical development in its relationship to catechesis in the modern Catholic Church. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Why this study now? As the Catholic Church advances through the twenty first century it continues to be deeply influenced by the great legacy of its previous pontiff Pope John Paul II (1920- 2005). This legacy includes his championing of a new evangelisation; the pivotal role that he gave to catechesis in this process and his desire to eliminate unacceptable departures from liturgical norms. Recalling his own words at the Congress of Liturgical Commissions (1984) Pope John Paul II stated: In the work of liturgical renewal, desired by the Council, it is necessary to keep in mind "with great balance the part of God and the part of man, the hierarchy and the faithful, tradition and progress, the law and adaptation, the individual and the community, silence and choral praise. Thus the Liturgy on earth will fuse with that of heaven, where ... it will form one choir ... to praise with one voice the Father through Jesus Christ" (Vicesimus Quintus Annos #23). The words of Pope John Paul II call for a liturgical perspective which is characterised by moderation and an appreciation of the eschatological dimension of the sacred liturgy. Through his liturgical writings, Pope John Paul II sought to be a corrective voice in trying to ensure universal fidelity to the liturgical law. This is exemplified in his exposition of the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church in Ecclesia de Eucharistia (2003), a work that was intended to remedy the liturgical ‘abuses’ that had become apparent in the Church’s worship. It is acknowledged here that the word ‘abuse’ carries connotations associated with offenses of a moral nature. Turner (2012), expresses caution about an overuse of the word ‘abuses’ in the context of how the Church prays and the manner in which the sacred mysteries are celebrated (p,169). In this discussion on the liturgy (and throughout this thesis) the word ‘abuse’ is applied in a technical manner to describe 2 significant departures from liturgical norms which falsify and damage the Church’s liturgy as well as the tradition and authority of the Church in relation to public worship 1 In Ecclesia de Eucharistia Pope John Paul II recognises the positive signs of Eucharistic faith and then he refers to “the shadows” (#10) identifying these as the abandonment of Eucharistic adoration and also those unorthodox liturgical practices which resulted in confusion and a weakened understanding of liturgy: It is my hope that the present Encyclical Letter will effectively help to banish the dark clouds of unacceptable doctrine and practice, so that the Eucharist will continue to shine forth in all its radiant mystery (#10). Redemptionis Sacramentum seeks to develop a deeper appreciation of the value of liturgical norms so that the whole Church, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and lay faithful can carry them out according to their responsibility. There is also recognition of a clear link between the liturgy of the Church and its faith and the use of unapproved rites, texts or practices damages this link. The use of the word ‘banish’ in the words cited above is interesting since it denotes a dramatic and immediate attempt to dispel rather than a gradual elimination or negotiation. This communicates the urgency and the level of concern about the unacceptable practices that have obscured the Eucharistic celebration. In Spiritus et Sponsa (2003), in observance of the fortieth anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, Pope John Paul II reflects on the degree to 1 The Instruction from the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship Redemptionis Sacramentum (2004) states: “Certainly the liturgical reform inaugurated by the Council has greatly contributed to a more conscious, active and fruitful participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar on the part of the faithful” (#4). Even so, “shadows are not lacking”(10). In this regard it is not possible to be silent about the abuses, even quite grave ones, against the nature of the Liturgy and the Sacraments as well as the tradition and the authority of the Church, which in our day not infrequently plague liturgical celebrations in one ecclesial environment or another (11). Whenever an abuse is committed in the celebration of the sacred Liturgy, it is to be seen as a real falsification of Catholic Liturgy (171). Among the various abuses there are some which are objectively graviora delicta or otherwise constitute grave matters, as well as others which are nonetheless to be carefully avoided and corrected. 3 which the spirit and liturgical mandate outlined in Sacrosanctum Concilium has been implemented by the Church. Pope John Paul’s "chirograph" on sacred music, in observance of the 100th anniversary of Pope Saint Pius X's document on the same subject, Tra le sollecitudini (1903), was also intended “to offer the Church practical guidelines in that vital section of the liturgy…presenting a juridical code of sacred music” (#1) In all of these writings his deep concern for the sacred liturgy is clearly evident. Pope John Paul II’s successor to the See of Peter, Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), has continued and developed this focus on the centrality of the liturgy in the life of the Church, although he has approached the matter from a different perspective. Benedict is a prolific writer on liturgical matters and the dominant focus of his work on the liturgy is to establish an understanding of its objective nature. As the current pontiff he is leading the Church into the twenty first century during what is a challenging and also a privileged time. The English speaking world is both cautiously and eagerly undertaking the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal (Advent 2011) - a process which will continue to require significant and sustained programmes of Liturgical Formation and Liturgical Catechesis over several years. At this stage in its history the Catholic Church faces various other concurrent pastoral and liturgical challenges in terms of dwindling congregations, a diminishing number of priests and what some perceive to be a widening of the perceived gap between the Church and people in the context of a dramatically changed social landscape (Taylor 2007, p513-516). Despite these massive societal and ecclesial changes and their sometimes pernicious effects, (or perhaps because of them), there is also a sense that the Church is entering a vital and exciting era in liturgical and catechetical development. 4 The major themes of this thesis are ‘Church’, ‘Liturgy’ and ‘Catechesis’ from which an associated secondary theme of Liturgical Formation emerged. Part of the discussion will explore the relationship between these various elements. The current relevance of this study comes from three main sources. Firstly, the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI is signalling a new phase in the life of the Roman Catholic Church where sociological influences, ecclesial concerns, catechetical endeavour and a liturgical agenda are meeting and interacting. His pontificate is producing a creative synthesis leading the Church into a new stage in the organic development of the sacred liturgy and the result is prolific liturgical homilies and writings. Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy is characterised by a desire to ensure a deeper understanding of the essence of liturgy coupled with a leadership which demonstrates a reforming zeal for the sacred liturgy. At the centre of the pontiff’s vision to restore the liturgy (as expressed in The Spirit of the Liturgy), is a belief that a deeper understanding of, and fidelity to, its objective nature, will help to restore reverence and beauty in the celebration of sacred rites (2000, p9). He also insists on fidelity to the authentic vision of liturgical renewal expressed by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council (2000, p, 8; p,171). 2 Nearly five decades after this Council, Pope Benedict XVI is acutely aware that there continues to be a pressing challenge to ensure accurate translation of the primary conciliar liturgical directive as expressed in Sacrosanctum Concilium: Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that full, conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people’ (1Pt 2:9;cf.2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism” (#14). 2 Address to the Roman Curia (22 December 2005): AAS 98 (2006), 44-45 5 The liturgical mandate given above has been subject to a misinterpretation of the mind of the Council Fathers in relation to active participation. Pope Benedict is eager to focus on this concept as a ‘spiritual’ rather than a physical one. His pontificate is one of four clearly identifiable and critical chronological junctures in the history of the organic development of the liturgy. Three other significant crossroads will be examined in this thesis: The Council of Trent; the Liturgical Movement and The Second Vatican Council. Each of these vital historical ‘moments’ has made a vital and transforming contribution to the development of the Church’s liturgical understanding, its liturgical practice and its educational mission. The second reason offered for the current relevance of this research is that the introduction of a new English translation of the Roman Missal and the associated formation and catechesis that is required, dominates contemporary liturgical debate. Thirdly, this thesis takes cognisance of societal changes including changes in patterns of religious allegiance; diminishing Mass attendance and the erosion of family life. This sociological shift means that there is now less evidence of a gradual, traditional, guaranteed socialisation into liturgical awareness, understanding and behaviour. In this process the sacred liturgy has become somewhat devalued presenting the Catholic Church with the urgent challenge of restoring a sense of liturgical literacy, liturgical awareness, liturgical confidence and liturgical vitality. In addition to developing an appreciation of the educational dimension of the liturgical action, a long process is now at hand to educate and re-educate about the role of the sacred liturgy in Catholic life. Part of the response to this challenge is to put robust, systematic and integrated Liturgical Formation and Liturgical Catechesis at the top of the Church’s agenda. The research process investigated and explored these issues within the Roman Church. Chapters Four and Five have been devoted entirely to these aspects. Part of the aim of 6 this thesis is to encourage courageous and imaginative action particularly in the area of formation and catechesis as part of the Church’s ongoing conversation on the liturgy. Chapter six, therefore, includes some predictions, proposals and recommendations for the liturgical journey ahead, with important questions being raised concerning the organic development of liturgy and its attendant catechesis within the specific context of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.

Actions (login required)

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

The University of Glasgow is a registered Scottish charity: Registration Number SC004401

Church Life Journal

A Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life

• Home ›

Seven Theses on Catholic Theology

by Anne M. Carpenter January 18, 2022

I t is a fact that theologians and theology departments in Catholic institutions of higher education struggle to justify their existences before their colleagues and before the world. Many a genealogy has been written to trace the blame for our dire circumstances. What follows below is not another one.

Instead, I make an argument about what Catholicism intends in its faith, about what its institutions therefore intend with it, and about what theology is and means for a faith with institutions built on such intent. It is a kind Collect for the beginning of a divine task accomplished only together. It is meant to be compact. It is meant for meditation. For what it gives is not a set of practical tasks, but a set of reasons to act, reasons to act in ways that rise responsibly to their situations.

In practical terms, in terms of brass tacks, Catholic theology departments are shrinking, Catholic colleges and universities are closing, and Catholic theology requirements for attending students regularly face the chopping block. I know of no way to confront such realities without searching out the marrow of Catholicism, of sourcing it again, in a ressourcement that is also a révolution . A revolution, argues Charles Péguy, “is a call from a less perfect tradition to a more perfect tradition, a call from a less deep tradition to a deeper tradition, a reversal of tradition, a going beyond in depth.” [1]

For Bernard Lonergan, what Catholics today believe is not different, but the world within which such faith believes is different. [2] Lonergan saw this crisis as a divine calling, a calling to proclaim the faith fixed forever upon the Trinity in this, the nighttime sea that is all human history, ad maiorem Dei gloriam . The fixity is God’s; the movement in the night is the pilgrim Church’s; their communion with one another in us, who are the Church in its pilgrimage, brands each new hour with the newness that does not die, that overcomes death itself. “Our course is in the night,” Lonergan says, “our control is only rough and approximate; we have to believe and trust, to risk and dare.” [3]

Readers will discover that I sharply distinguish between theology’s contribution to Catholic institutions and those various contributions that other disciplines make to Catholicism, Catholic reflection, Catholic tradition. I do this partly for reasons of strategy, as theology’s tasks have been increasingly lent to and replaced by other disciplines and departments over many decades and in many different ways, across many institution types.

This lending derives some of its power from theology itself, which perpetually borrows from the things of the world to say things about God, and about God as present in the world. But I make my sharp distinction for methodical reasons, too. Theology’s borrowing is not to be understood as if theology were not its own discipline with its own horizon of questions, very real and very particular and very exacting, wondrously built on an impossible straddling, a double intention, a stereoscopic vision, of the world and of the God who is not the world, not of the world, not an object in the world, not an object at all.

I do not desire a Catholic theology that is only a dogmatic theology. If I seize on what makes theology uniquely an expression of and a commentary on what is unique in the Christian claim about God and human history, it is because this uniqueness is what animates all theological borrowing, whether of Plato or of historical science or of psychological science. Not every theologian is a figure of dogmatics. But every theologian is a figure in whom, as Maurice Blondel says, dogma is literally practiced.

The Christian spirit itself is the unity of dogma and history through literal practice. [4] And it is the theologian who reflects on the divine revelation that is literally practiced—in all its forms, in all its times and places, in all those in whom grace and thought unite in a shared life, most of all in the life and the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [5]

The theses are meant to be understood together. They build in a logical succession, but in such a way that each new thesis contains the others. Thus, the first set of theses anticipate the appearance of theology; thus the last thesis cannot be understood without the first. The design intends a “yes, and” between each pause in the argument. No move is sudden or from the air. I say this in order to emphasize how the turn to history, to people of color, to the oppressed in the seventh thesis is self-coherent, with a Catholic self-coherency. In that sense it is not a turn at all, but the realization of an eternal, divine meaning for history in the present hour. But I also say this to emphasize how I speak theologically from beginning to end, articulating theological meanings.

I am aware of the secularizing impulse that would “read” this Catholic concern for justice with an eye only for what it understands, thus silently removing the head from an entire body of religious thought. I am equally as aware of the jealous tenacity (often enough my own) that would resist all mention of race, colonialism, “identities,” and so on as foreign ephemera. But Catholic reasons, says Blondel, must be simultaneously “of a supernatural order and of a natural order,” in what he calls a Catholic “double faith.” [6] Thus worldly struggle and divine grace meet, not as strangers, but as intimacy: in the interior coordinates of nature’s secret desire for its supernatural destiny. [7]

In faith, hope, and love, the Catholica is the unity of countless ages and their faces, and it is summarized by none. For all is summed up by the Word of the Father, he who in the Spirit became flesh, died, and rose again. “Certainly Christianity is also a religion of the redemption of the world,” says Hans Urs von Balthasar. “But strangely enough, it does not proceed by fleeing from suffering upward, or downward, or ahead, but by affirming the world as it now is, from God.” [8]

• Catholicism is an absolute commitment to the Trinity, and, with the Trinity, to that which the Trinity has made. A single, absolute (since divine) commitment with two objects, Trinity and world, but oriented in one direction: God’s own direction, which is toward the world. So, whatever else Catholicism is, it is an unreserved affirmation of what is—of being.
• This unreserved affirmation means that any discipline, any human being, anything at all, can reveal to us, by analogy, the God who is. It is an analogy because all things reveal, at the same time, that which they are, and this is their own, their genuine contribution to being’s revelation of God. Thus, the entire operation of any Catholic institution in all its parts can be, could be, is hoped to become, a transparency, a window to the world that is, and to absolute mystery, without the loss of either. Who, then, “holds” the Catholic mission of an institution—such a word!—in their hands? Everyone, or else no one.
• But Catholics are committed unreservedly to the world “with” none other than the Triune God. Catholics look at the world with a divine intention, and that divine intention is to bring about a divine goodness for the sake of the world, a divine goodness that is God’s work, a goodness that is no less than God. This Catholics call “grace.” This grace is Trinitarian: there is a divine Word of the Father in the Spirit, eternally, a Word spoken and breathed into all of created being, imparting an absolutely divine meaning to all that is. This divine meaning we are to reverence and to love as such.
• The “with” of Catholicism, the intending with God’s own intention, is also an asking of questions about the God who intends, an asking about what God is doing in this world of ours, and an asking about what that doing means. This “with” in its asking is theology’s, and it is theology’s alone, since it asks about God by asking with God.
• So theology is that discipline that most explicitly articulates, articulates because it also is, the Catholic inquiring about and the Catholic expression of a commitment with God to the world. 
• Theology is not the Catholic mission by itself, no. A theology department and a theology requirement are not themselves a college or university. But theology is the Catholic contribution to how Catholics understand their commitment to God and to the world; theology is the symbol and the word of a further notion, a beyond, a divine meaning in things and beyond all things, without which Catholicism does not understand itself.
• There is no either/or: God or history, the Incarnation or people of color, the Trinity or the oppressed, all that is divine and all that is just. Catholics need not stop short. We need not refuse the divine meaning surging through history in the forgotten of history. We need not say that it is enough, somehow, to have a diverse humanities, to study diverse sciences, and not to ask what this “diversity” means to God. Our refusal to draw back from the height residing in the depths would be a radical transfiguration of Catholic theology, and also its coming back to itself.

[1] See Charles Péguy, “Avertissement,” Cahiers V, XI in Oeuvres Complètes I from Oeuvres en prose complètes I-III (Paris: Gallimard, 1987-1992), 1305-1306.

[2] Bernard Lonergan, “Dimensions of Meaning,” Collection , CWL 4, 244.

[3] Bernard Lonergan, “ Existenz and Aggrionamento ,” Collection , CWL 4, 224.

[4] Cf. Maurice Blondel, Philosophical Exigencies of Christian Religion , trans. Oliva Blanchette (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2021).

[5] Maurice Blondel, “History and Dogma,” The Letter on Apologetics and History and Dogma, trans. Alexander Dru and Illtyd Trethowan (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1964), 287: “The synthesis of dogma and facts is scientifically effected because there is a synthesis of thought and grace in the life of the believer, the unity of man and God, reproducing in the individual consciousness the history of Christianity itself.”

[6] Maurice Blondel, Une alliance contre nature: catholicisme et intégrisme: La Semaine sociale de Bordeaux 1910 (Bruxelles: Éditions Lessius, 2000), 11.

[7] Blondel, Une alliance contre nature, 11. Cf. Bernard Lonergan, “The Natural Desire to See God,” Collection, CWL 4, 81-91.

[8] Hans Urs von Balthasar, “The Claim to Catholicity,” Explorations in Theology, vol. IV: Spirit and Institution (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1995), 103.

Featured Image: Paul Gauguin, Yellow Christ, 1889; Source: Wikimedia Commons, PD-Old-70. 

Anne M. Carpenter

Read more by Anne M. Carpenter

Not Two Things: Introducing the Incarnation in Eight Steps

December 14, 2021 | Lewis Ayres

Newsletter Sign up

• Biblical Studies
• Catechetics
• History of Christianity and Church History
• Historical and Systematic Theology
• Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology
• Moral Theology/Ethics
• Pastoral Studies
• Spirituality

School of Theology and Religious Studies

• Doctor of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)

Doctor of Sacred Theology in Church History

• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
• Licentiate (S.T.L.)

The S.T.L. is a prerequisite for the S.T.D.  The requirements for the S.T.D. consist of: a limited number of seminars chosen with a dissertation topic in mind, ongoing direction from a faculty adviser, and the preparation and defense of a dissertation that i) defines an original research topic, ii) makes use of primary sources in the original languages, and iii) contributes to scholarship.

Prerequisites for Admission:

• The S.T.L. from the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America, or its equivalent from another ecclesiastical faculty, as determined by the Ecclesiastical Degrees Committee; in the case of an S.T.L. earned elsewhere, additional seminars in the area of Church History and related fields may be required.  Students whose preparation (S.T.L. or its equivalent) is in an area of concentration other than Church History will be required to take additional courses and/or pass the Licentiate comprehensive examination (with a minimum grade of 3.0) in the area of Church History
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 for the S.T.L. or its equivalent.
• A letter of intent stating the proposed area of concentration within Church History, and detailing the student’s previous coursework, research, and language preparation.
• The results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), and, as required by University guidelines, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), taken within the last 5 years.
• Three letters of recommendation by persons who are in a position to judge the applicant's ability for doctoral studies in Church History.
• Applicants who are priests, deacons, seminarians or members of religious communities are required to submit a letter of endorsement from their Bishop or Religious Superior, as well as a separate letter from their Bishop or Superior attesting that their Diocese or Religious Community will provide funding for the applicant's studies.

Four semesters of residence are required.  If the student has completed the S.T.L. at The Catholic University of America, only two semesters of residence are required, followed by continuous registration during the preparation of the dissertation.

Course requirements

All students are required to attend the four proseminars that are offered for S.T.L and S.T.D students, if they have not already done so during their prior studies at Catholic University; students are required to take four doctoral seminars in Church History and related fields, at the 700 and 800 level, in which a research paper of approximately 8,000-10,000 words is required; students are required to take TRS 724 Methods in Church History and Historical Theology; students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. 

Registration requirements

No more than six credit hours of courses in addition to dissertation guidance may be taken during any of the student’s four semesters in the program.  Students must register for dissertation guidance (997) for each of their four semesters in the S.T.D. program. Students should choose a dissertation director, with the approval of the area chair, early in the program. Students must maintain continuous registration until completion of their requirements. 

Language requirements

Candidates for the S.T.D. degree must fulfill the following language requirements.  With the approval of the area director and the student’s adviser, language examinations passed in fulfillment of the S.T.L. do not need to be repeated:

• Latin: Successful completion of the Latin examination, normally at the Doctorate level, administered by the Church History academic area. The Latin requirement should ordinarily be satisfied by the end of the first semester in the program.
• Greek: Successful completion of i) a reading course in either biblical or patristic Greek or ii) an examination in either biblical or patristic Greek, depending on the student’s area of concentration, administered by the Church History academic area.
• Modern Language: Reading ability in German and a Romance language (French, Italian, Spanish), demonstrated by the successful completion of an examination, administered in the Church History academic area.  The German requirement may be fulfilled by passing TRS 501 “Theological German.”  Another modern foreign language, relevant to the student’s doctoral research, may be substituted either for German or for the Romance language, with the approval of the student’s dissertation director and the area director.
• Some exceptions may apply, at the discretion of the Church History academic area.

To be eligible for admission to candidacy for the S.T.D. degree, a student must have i) satisfied the language requirements, ii) completed the required coursework (see above), and iii) presented a document to the area director requesting admission to candidacy.

Dissertation

The student must write a dissertation that i) defines an original research topic, ii) makes use of primary sources in the original languages, and iii) contributes to scholarship.  The format of the dissertation must conform to the guidelines presented in the current version of the Dissertation/Thesis Handbook published by The Catholic University of America, which is available online from the Office of Graduate Studies.

A dissertation proposal must be approved by the director and two readers (who are ordinarily faculty members of the School of Theology and Religious Studies). After approval by the director and two readers, the proposal is circulated by email to the Church History academic area faculty for consideration. After receiving the approval of the Church History faculty, the proposal is then submitted to the Dean and the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies for final approval.

Upon the student’s completion of the dissertation. the director and the two readers signify their approval in writing. The director of the dissertation will then arrange for the lectio and for the defense of the dissertation through the School of Theology and Religious Studies office.

Before defending the dissertation, the candidate for the S.T.D. must pass an oral examination on the historiography, historical context, and primary sources of the major area of the dissertation. At least one month prior to the defense of the dissertation, the candidate must present a list of five topics related to, but not identical with, the topic of the dissertation to the dissertation committee, who will serve as examiners for the lectio. The dissertation director and the two readers collaborate with the candidate in drafting the topics for the lectio, which are then submitted to the area director for final approval. The lectio topics are to be related to the topic of the dissertation, but should not render the dissertation defense unnecessary. For example, the lectio topics might involve questions of historiography, context, and method other than those covered in the dissertation.

Five days prior to the lectio, the Dean will determine which of the proposed topics is to be presented at the lectio and will notify the members of the examining board. Twenty-four hours prior to the examination, the area director will notify the candidate of the topic.

The candidate prepares and delivers a 25-minute lecture on the assigned topic. The candidate may use a one-page outline as lecture notes to guide the presentation. If the lectio presentation includes commentary on a text or texts, then the candidate may use that material in the presentation as well.

The candidate's major professor will serve as chair for this examination. The time for questioning (30 minutes in total) will be allotted to the members of the board, as they determine. Each examiner will give a secret grade, and the final grade will be the average of the three grades.

The grading system will be as follows:

• 3.75   or above:  Excellent
• 3.50   or above:  Outstanding
• 3.25   or above:  Superior
• 2.50   or above:  Pass

A grade below 2.50 is a failure. A candidate who fails the lectio will not be permitted to defend the dissertation. The area director, in consultation with the major professor, will determine when the lectio may be repeated; ordinarily, a second lectio, with new topics, should not be scheduled earlier than a month after the initial lectio. A second failure means that the candidate is no longer eligible for the degree.

Defense of the Dissertation

When the members of the dissertation committee have received the dissertation in final written form, the area director will ask them to submit within twenty-one class days a simple affirmative or negative judgment as to whether the dissertation is ready for defense. In signifying that a dissertation is “ready for defense,” the examination board may still require or recommend further emendations to the dissertation.

The examination board for the defense shall include two faculty members from outside the School of Theology and Religious Studies, who shall serve as chair and secretary for the examination. At the defense, the candidate will first present a summary of the dissertation, giving particular attention to the status quaestionis , the method and primary sources used, and the principal conclusions of the research. For this presentation, the candidate may refer to a copy of the dissertation, but may not use other notes.

Each member of the board will then be given time to question the candidate on the dissertation. Time will be allotted as determined by the examining board, but the examination should not exceed two hours, nor be shorter than one hour and thirty minutes.

At the end of the defense, the dissertation will be graded by the three members of the dissertation committee and the oral defense will be graded by all the members of the examining board. The vote will be taken in secret and supervised by the chair of the board. The final grade in each case is the average of the grades given by all. The grading system will be the same as that used at the lectio (as explained above).

A candidate who fails this examination must obtain permission from the Dean to retake the examination. A candidate will not be permitted to retake the examination until at least one semester, or an equivalent period of time, has elapsed from the date of failure. A candidate who fails a second time in the oral examination ceases to be a candidate for the doctoral degree.

After the defense and prior to depositing the dissertation, the candidate must incorporate any corrections that the major professor and/or readers consider necessary, while the recommended corrections may be incorporated at the discretion of the student. The candidate must make any such required corrections and then submit the revised version to the major professor, who will ensure that all required corrections have been satisfactorily made.

Final Grade for the S.T.D. Degree

To be eligible for the degree, a candidate must obtain a 3.3 average in coursework and in both the lectio and dissertation defense.

The final grade for the degree shall be computed as follows:

• 30%  Course work
• 50%  Dissertation
• 10%  Lectio
• 10%  Defense

• Bibliography
• More Referencing guides Blog Automated transliteration Relevant bibliographies by topics
• Automated transliteration
• Relevant bibliographies by topics
• Referencing guides