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Join celebrated Church historian John O'Malley in exploring the biggest meeting in the history of the world. The Second Vatican Council concluded 50 years ago, but it is a livelier topic today than it has been for decades. Basic questions are being asked. What did the Council do? Was it properly implemented? Are its decisions being systematically "rolled back"?

What can your spiritual ancestors teach you about holy living today? Although they led ascetic lives centuries ago, St. Benedict, the Desert Fathers and Mothers, and other early Christian saints have much to teach everyone in the 21st century. Through their enduring writings, they created blueprints of the spiritual life that remain as powerful in our time as ever.

In this eye-opening 15-lecture audio series from leading neuroscientist Andrew B. Newberg, M.D., you’ll learn how integrative medicine combines ancient wisdom on the nature of the human body with the most recent developments in modern medicine to create an approach in which the whole person is considered.

Fifty years of Jesuit spirituality and scholarship come to full expression in Fr. Harvey Egan’s audio collection, 77 Great Catholic Homilies. Divided into five subsections - by feasts, family occasions, Christ-focused subjects, and miscellaneous reflections - the series telescopes from the general to the particular in fluid motions.

In this revelatory audio course, you will explore the full reality of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, our Lord and Savior. Each of the course’s 12 lectures illuminates different portraits of Jesus: a man and mystic, a preacher and servant, a prophet and incarnation of God. Under the guidance of award-winning teacher Fr. Donald Goergen, you will explore the human, historic Jesus, drawing out the contours of the man who lived among us.

Recorded in 1964 at his monastery, Thomas Merton gave these lectures to novice Cistercians. Today, you are invited into Merton’s classroom for an intimate discussion about one of Christianity’s most influential figures. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, O. Cist. (1090 - 1153) is one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity: a founder, reformer, and Doctor of the Church.

You will explore key themes in spiritual theology from a Catholic perspective. It draws on the spiritual masters as well as core truths of the Catholic faith to elucidate the experiences of prayer, darkness, faith, hope, and love. Fr. Goergen helps you appropriate the spiritual wisdom of centuries passed so that you might deepen your interior life and relationship to God. His expert guidance will prepare you to face the challenges presented by our world and the Catholic Church today.

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.

This set of captivating talks brings you face-to-face with an intimate side of Thomas Merton - the monk, poet, scholar of literature, and social activist who rocked the 20th century. As with so many of the talks that Merton gave to his novice monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani, these talks put the progression of his thinking - from cloistered monastic life to issues of social justice and interreligious understanding - on view.

St. Francis of Assisi has for decades been depicted in illustrations, paintings, and even garden birdbaths as a saint with a love for animals. But he is not the only Christian saint associated with animals. In this series of lectures you will approach these stories as hagiography - that is, stories of the saints intended to edify, to communicate a spiritual meaning to their audience.

Explore the Franciscan view of Christ as the center of all creation and of what the incarnate word reveals about life in the Holy Trinity. The Blessed Virgin introduces us to the Franciscan reflection on the human person. Divine and human freedom are explored. Franciscan contributions to the study of Scripture will receive special attention. You will glimpse the inspiration that Francis gave to artists, musicians, novelists, and poets across the centuries.

Take solace in the Franciscans’ powerful faith with one of the world’s leading experts on St. Francis of Assisi. Throughout seven engaging lectures originally produced for Franciscan ministries, you’ll learn what defines the Franciscan view: a focus on the individual, a championing of interdependence, and a dedication to living with open hands.

Where did our modern notions about God, science, and humanity come from? Begin in the Mediterranean world of late antiquity, with the decline of Rome and the ascent of Christianity. Explore vigorous Christian debates over the appropriation of pagan thought along with the implications of these debates for medieval thinking. Follow the lively arguments over the origin of the cosmos, the laws of nature, and the extent of God's direct role in natural changes and miraculous events.

You likely have questions about Catholic canon law. Brilliantly taught and filled with helpful, real-world examples, this survey course was designed with your questions in mind. You are invited to join one of America's leading canon law experts in exploring the principles and rules that govern our religious conduct. In 12 lectures, you will see how religion and the lives of all Catholics are intertwined in spiritual, practical, cultural, and historical ways.

St. John of the Cross is one of the most inspiring figures in the history of Christianity: a saint of profound faith, a compelling mystic, and an immensely gifted poet. Now, you can explore the life, teachings, writings, and reflections of St. John of the Cross.

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.

Peek into the future of the Catholic Church with leading ecclesiology professor and author, Rev. Thomas P. Rausch. With the birth of the 21st century, the Catholic Church was thrust into its third millennium. It is the world's oldest institution, with a remarkable continuity of governance, structure, and faith. But the centuries have brought exciting developments in each of these areas. Catholicism remains a living tradition, and this course explores the likely future of that tradition.

Join monk and mystic Thomas Merton on a journey through monastic and contemplative history. In these talks delivered by Thomas Merton, you will gain a rich introduction to the monastic period of church history, encountering such figures as St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Benedict, John Cassian, Basil, and Charlemagne. As you will come to discover, the history of monasticism is deeply intertwined with the greater history of Europe and the Christian contemplative tradition.

New York Times best-selling author and monk, Thomas Merton, exploring the literature and spirituality of 20th century’s greatest novelist: James Joyce. Born in 1882 to a Catholic family in Dublin, James Joyce wrote some of the most acclaimed masterpieces of modern literature: Ulysses, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Dubliners, and Finnegans Wake. Educated by Jesuits and deeply influenced by Thomas Aquinas, Joyce wove Catholicism into his works.

In this 18-lecture course, Fr. Just explores the structure and contents of the Lectionary, examines its history and development, and suggests ways you can use it more fully. The content will be valuable not only for people already involved in liturgical ministries but also for anyone who wishes to become more familiar with the Lectionary and the liturgical year. Fr. Just will address all your questions about the Lectionary, including What is the Lectionary for Mass? How was it developed? How is it related to the Bible?