Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Biographies & Memoirs

As an influential religious founder and model of poverty, St. Clare of Assisi left us with a legacy that is at once humble and immense. In this audio course, you will join an internationally acclaimed expert on the life and literature of St. Clare. Drawing on decades as a scholar and translator of St. Clare, Sr. Joan Mueller, OSC, PhD invites you to explore Clare's rich literary heritage. Through her remarkable writings, you will discover a window into the timeless wisdom of 13th-century medieval women.

Despite her lack of formal education, Teresa of Avila became an inspirational mystic, an influential reformer, and the first female Doctor of the Church. Today, her spiritual works are widely acclaimed as timeless masterpieces. Now, guided by Carmelite spirituality expert Dr. Keith Egan, you will explore St. Teresa’s most beloved work, The Interior Castle.

Three men laid the groundwork for Christianity’s philosophy, theology, and learning. Seventeen centuries later, Thomas Merton, a spiritual visionary, taught gripping classes on these Church Fathers.

Taught by one of the world’s leading experts on Christian mystics, this stunning course reveals the powerful mysticism that inspired St. Ignatius and the charism he introduced. Your award-winning professor, Boston College’s Fr. Harvey D. Egan, is a Jesuit priest and professor who earned his theology doctorate under Karl Rahner. St. Ignatius the Mystic is the apex of his 50-year scholarly and devotional exploration of Christian mysticism. His 12-lecture audio course will both broaden your mind and elevate your spirit.

A voice for the voiceless and a champion of human rights, Blessed Oscar Romero (1917-1980) is beloved around the world. In six lectures, you are invited to explore his life and legacy.

Blessed John Duns Scotus, OFM, (1266 - 1308) lived at the height of medieval scholasticism and became one of its premier luminaries. Commended as the Doctor Subtilis (the "Subtle Doctor") for his keen yet nuanced insights, he is rightfully regarded as one of the greatest philosopher-theologians. He influenced a wide range of writers and philosophers from Hopkins to Heidegger, and his thought remains as important as ever.

How can Aristotle help you become a better person? In this course by award-winning teacher and leading Aristotle expert Prof. Cary J. Nederman (PhD, York University), you will become a more ethical person as you explore Aristotelian thought. The word "politics" is an often-controversial term in our day, conjuring associations with partisanship and subterfuge. But as conceived by the ancient Greeks, politics was essential for becoming a virtuous person. Learn from one of the leading experts on Aristotle and political theory.

Explore Thomas Merton’s encounter with Islam and its mystical tradition of Sufism with one of Catholicism’s great scholars. This captivating six-lecture audio course focuses on Merton’s engagement with Islam. Your presenter is Professor Sidney Griffith (Ph.D., Catholic University of America), an expert in Muslim-Christian relations and a lifelong reader of Thomas Merton.

Great Saint Teresa, the Spanish Carmelite of the 16th century, captured the imagination of those seeking God in her own time and beyond. It’s no surprise that she was quickly canonized and, in 1970, became the first woman Doctor of the Church. In this edifying 12-lecture audio course, you’ll understand why her teachings remain transformational today.

Explore the captivating contradictions of one of US history’s most divisive figures with the celebrated West Point professor and author of Confounding Father: Thomas Jefferson’s Image in His Own Time.

Jesus comes to me and you through thousands of years of imagery and writing - a vast web of material that often does more to obscure than reveal. Now, one of America’s greatest living storytellers retells the greatest story ever told with unprecedented clarity and insight.

When Thomas Merton published The Seven Storey Mountain in 1948, no one could have expected it to become an international sensation. An autobiography of his conversion to Catholicism, it became a wildly popular best seller, propelling this humble Trappist monk to literary fame. Today, it is widely regarded as a spiritual classic. While it remains his most famous work, The Seven Storey Mountain is only the tip of the iceberg in Merton's rich, multi-layered oeuvre.

Gerard Manley Hopkins is undoubtedly one of the greatest poets in the English language. Under the influence of Cardinal John Henry Newman, Hopkins became a Jesuit priest. Now celebrated as a masterful poet, he inspires people throughout the world with his words and example. Hopkins was not only a brilliant poet but also a deeply spiritual man whose works explored religious themes such as Jesuit spirituality and the presence of God in nature.

Alexander the Great (ca. 356-323 BCE) was a Macedonian general who brought Greek civilization to the edge of modern-day India. After studying the Iliad, he believed himself to be Achilles reincarnated, imitating the hero of the epic poem in his own military campaigns. Even before he died barely into his 30s, the legends surrounding him were larger than life. In this compelling new audio course, you’ll explore the history and lore surrounding this real man and mythic figure, often by consulting the ancient sources themselves.

St. Augustine of Hippo (354 - 430) is unquestionably one of the most influential figures in Western civilization. This audio course will bring you to the heart of St. Augustine’s works, revealing how his words speak to us across the centuries. According to his rival and contemporary St. Jerome, Augustine “established anew the ancient faith”.

You will explore Thomas Merton's remarkable life and works while actively developing a relationship with him. For many, Merton has become a lifelong mentor and spiritual guide, and he will bring you to new places with the questions he raises and the experiences he shares. Whoever you are and wherever you come from, Thomas Merton will speak to you.

What would it be like to listen to great figures of our faith discuss their struggles, life lessons, and spiritual insights? A number of remarkable Christians have bequeathed to us their autobiographies. Now, you can access their words and understand the contexts in which they lived with a master scholar and teacher as your guide.

Discover why St. Thérèse of Lisieux is, in the words of Pope Pius X, the “greatest saint of modern times.” When Thérèse Martin died not yet 25 years old in the small town of Lisieux, no one could have predicted that the Catholic Church would honor her as a saint and Doctor of the Church. Join Carmelite spirituality expert Dr. Keith Egan in exploring the life, works, and legacy of this inspiring saint.

The framers of the Constitution were in uncharted territory when they created the office of the presidency. No one at that time had a clear vision of what the president of a national republic would do, and only the vaguest notion existed when George Washington took the oath in 1789. For nearly 250 years, our elected Presidents have played a role in shaping what the office has become. Thomas Jefferson described the presidency as a “splendid misery,” John Quincy Adams felt it was “harassing,” and Warren Harding said simply, “It’s hell!"

George Washington came to be known as father of his country. In his role as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, George Washington defeated the British in the American Revolution and established the United States of America. Through his extraordinary military leadership, he guaranteed that the American Republic would move forward in its revolutionary experiment. So how was Washington able to win this seemingly unwinnable war? This compelling 15-lecture audio course answers this and many more questions about one of the most foundational figures in American history.