Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Biographies & Memoirs

As the Society of Jesus approaches its 500th anniversary, the Jesuits make up the largest unified religious order of men in the Catholic Church. How did these "Soldiers of Christ" grow from their humble beginnings to become an order deeply engaged in ministries, learning, and society in 112 nations on all six inhabited continents? Whether you are a Jesuit yourself or a person touched by Jesuit education, ministries, and writings, you will love this course.

Experience Henri Nouwen's fullness of life spirituality with this new course presented by his official biographer. Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was one of the most popular and influential spiritual thinkers of the 20th century. Born in the Netherlands, Nouwen was ordained as a Catholic priest and trained as a psychologist. He spent much of his life in America, where he ministered and taught throughout the continent.

Follow the life and legacy of Ronald Reagan in this course by his acclaimed biographer Dr. Steven F. Hayward. Dr. Hayward is an accomplished scholar and conservative public intellectual who has taught and held fellowships at Georgetown University, UC Berkeley, and the American Enterprise.

Few Christian thinkers have brought such an array of intellectual, scientific, spiritual, and religious resources to bear on faith and society as Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984). A Jesuit philosopher and theologian, Lonergan worked to integrate faith with the promotion of justice. Taught by one of the world’s leading experts on Lonergan, this 12-lecture course introduces you to the breadth of Lonergan’s thought. You will focus on his method of better knowing yourself through your web of natural, social, and religious “ecologies”.

Revered as a consummate statesman who cemented America’s place on the global stage, Franklin Delano Roosevelt affected tremendous change in the United States in course of his career. To understand his life is to understand how the nation claimed world leadership in what many call the American Century.

In the final year before his death in 1996, Henri Nouwen wrote an account of the death of his friend Adam, a severely handicapped young man from L'Arche. In the story of Adam he found a way to describe his own understanding of the Gospel message. Adam could not speak or even move without assistance. Gripped by frequent seizures, he spent his life in obscurity. And yet, for Nouwen, he became his friend, teacher, and guide. It was Adam who led Nouwen to a new understanding of his faith and what it means to be Beloved of God.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

Perhaps no one had such a great influence on the Roman Catholic Church in the 20th century as Pope John XXIII, who was canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014. Born Angelo Roncalli (1881-1963), he rose from humble beginnings to become a passionate advocate for social justice and world peace. His papacy was marked by compassion, charity, and love. In this course you will join ecclesial expert and Georgetown professor Gerard Mannion in encountering the enduring charisma of Saint John XXIII.

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.

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.

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.

Your guide for this audio course is celebrated history professor Jeff Webb, voted Teacher of the Year at Huntington University. Each captivating lecture guides you through a different facet of Henry Ford’s life and accomplishments. Few industrial leaders rival Ford in their contributions to America’s global economic leadership, yet his life and views remain deeply controversial. Follow Ford’s path from his modest upbringing on a rural Michigan farm to his role as a titan of industry who revolutionized American automobile manufacturing.

Fr. Dan Crosby, OFM Cap., lived with and learned from Blessed Solanus Casey during the last year of Casey's life. Now Fr. Crosby shares his precious memories with you in this moving portrait of a holy and humble miracle worker.

In this insightful history course, you will take a deeper look at Abraham Lincoln's powerful presidency and the war that shook America 150 years ago. Presented by award-winning professor Dan Monroe (PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), these lectures brim with fresh insights. Raised in Kentucky and Indiana by a father who did not value education, Lincoln had only one year of formal education. Rented out for day labor by his father, the young Lincoln gained insight into the injustices of slavery and would go on to become a self-educated lawyer.