Announcing the Albert the Great Summer Program in Madison, WI, July 27-31

The Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies is offering a summer study program on St. Thomas Aquinas's Treatise on Faith from the Secunda Secundae of the Summa Theologiae. The location is Madison, Wisconsin, and the dates are July 27-31, 2020. In this Covid-19 world, it is a relief to know that some worthwhile social and ecclesial activities are getting underway again. The course will be accompanied by Traditional Latin Masses.

“Without Faith It Is Impossible To Please God” (Hebrews 11:6)

St. Thomas’ Treatise on Faith

The St. Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies will hold one of its annual summer theology sessions for the first time this year in Madison, Wisconsin, at the St. Paul University Catholic Center on the Campus of the University of Wisconsin. This program will be focused on a close reading of St. Thomas Aquinas’s treatise on the virtue of faith in his Summa Theologiae II-II.

The daily academic schedule will include lectures and discussion-style seminars. The seminars focus on a detailed reading of the great texts of the theological tradition, the aim of which is to arrive at a deeper knowledge of truth through a collaborative work of reasoned dialogue. The lectures provide an opportunity for certain topics that arise out of the reading to be explored in greater depth. One of the highlights of the course is the formal scholastic disputation to be held at the conclusion of the program.

In addition to the academic program, there will also be ample opportunity to participate in the rich liturgical life of St. Paul’s. Daily Mass will be available in the usus antiquior (‘extraordinary form’) of the Roman Rite. For our aim is not merely to study the sacred Scriptures but to contemplate the divine mysteries of the faith. Taking St. Thomas as our model both in study and in prayer, our studies draw their life from the sacred liturgy of the Church.

More details, including the profiles of the five faculty members, may be found here. 

Summer Theology Program: St. Thomas on Galatians with Daily Latin Mass

Each summer brings with it a number of opportunities for further education in congenial Catholic settings. This August 12-16, the Aquinas Institute for the Study of Sacred Doctrine and the Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies are partnering with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to offer a five-day theology program studying the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians with the aid of St. Thomas Aquinas's superb commentary.

Themes: Galatians as well as the commentary bring forward important considerations on the unchangeableness of sacred doctrine ("even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be anathema"), on the mystical identification of the Christian with Christ, on the setting-aside of the Old Covenant in consequence of its messianic fulfillment, and on the confrontation of Church hierarchs by their subjects -- all subjects under considerable discussion in our day. The daily schedule will include seminars as well as lectures. A highlight of the program is the formal scholastic disputation to be held on August 15 in honor of the solemn feast of Our Lady's Assumption.

Liturgy: The program will be held at St. Mary's Oratory in Wausau, WI, a parish of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The 19th-century church, renovated in the first years of the 21st century, is considered one of the most beautiful examples in North America of German High Gothic. Canons of the Institute will offer daily Mass in the usus antiquior ("extraordinary form") as well as hours of the Divine Office. The Assumption will feature a solemn high Mass and procession.

Faculty: We are happy to announce the faculty:

• Dr John Joy is Senior Theologian to the Bishop of Madison. He also serves as Managing Editor for The Aquinas Institute and President of the Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies. He has published on soteriology and ecclesiology.
• Dr Alan Fimister is Assistant Professor of Theology and Church History at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver and a Fellow of the Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies. He has published on European political history and Thomistic political philosophy.
• Rev. Dr Thomas Crean, O.P. is a friar of the English province of the Order of Preachers and a Fellow of the Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies. He has published on apologetics, liturgy, and natural theology.
• Dr. Taylor Patrick O'Neill is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Mount Mercy University. He specializes in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Thomistic commentatorial tradition.

Course Book: Each participant in the program will receive a beautifully hardbound copy of vol. 39 of the Aquinas Institute's Opera Omnia series, a volume that has the commentaries on Galatians and Ephesians.

To Apply: The 2019 USA Session is open to all applicants 18 years and older. No previous university-level theological studies are required. Deadline for applications is July 15, 2019. A simple online application form may be filled out online here.

Location: The course will be held at St. Mary's Oratory, in Wausau, Wisconsin. Wausau is a city of about 40,000 people on the Wisconsin River in central Wisconsin. The nearest airport, Central Wisconsin Airport (code CWA), about a 20-minute car or taxi trip, has daily connections to Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit. For those driving, Wausau is about 2 hrs by car from Green Bay; 2 hrs from Madison; 2.5 hrs from La Crosse; 3 hrs from Milwaukee; and 3 hrs from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Cost: Program fees are scaled as follows:

• Option 1. Tuition only (for commuters): $250.
• Option 2. Tuition plus accommodations in a shared double hotel room: $500.
• Option 3. Tuition plus accommodations in a private single hotel room: $750.

Payment can be made by check or credit card. $250 deposit due upon acceptance of application. Remainder (if applicable) due by August 1.

Hotel: We have reserved rooms at the Jefferson Inn in downtown Wausau. It is a 3-minute drive or an 11-minute walk from the inn to St. Mary's Oratory. If choosing to stay at the inn, please arrange it through us rather than booking directly with the hotel, so as to avoid confusion.

Meals: Lunch will be provided each day on site for all participants. Breakfast is included at the hotel for those staying there. For dinner, guests are welcome to make their own plans. There is a restaurant in the hotel and many other local eating places are found in the surrounding blocks. If you have any special needs or requests, please contact us directly.

Easter Sunday

Candlemas

Septuagesima

(For more information on the church and more photos, see the Facebook page or the parish website.)

Summer Program in Wisconsin, August 12-16: Study St Thomas on Galatians, with Daily Latin Mass

NLM has been asked to announce the following summer program.

“No Longer I Who Live, But Christ In Me”

St Thomas’s Commentary on the Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians

Albert the Great Summer Program 2019 – USA

August 12 – 16, in Wausau, Wisconsin

The Albert the Great Center, which has held summer programs in Norcia, Italy, for several years, is expanding its offerings by holding a summer theology program in the USA for the first time, in collaboration with The Aquinas Institute for the Study of Sacred Doctrine. The primary focus of this week-long intensive course will be St Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, supported by St Thomas Aquinas’ superb commentary on the same.

According to St Thomas, Galatians is about the grace of Christ as it exists in his Mystical Body, which is the Church, and in particular, as it exists in the sacraments of Church, for “in the letter ... superfluous sacraments are rejected against certain men who wanted to join the old sacraments to the new ones.” Galatians and the commentary on it bring forward important considerations on the unchangeableness of sacred doctrine (“even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a Gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be anathema”), on the mystical identification of the Christian with Christ, on the setting-aside of the Old Covenant in consequence of its messianic fulfillment, and on the confrontation of Church hierarchs by their subjects -- all topics under considerable discussion in our day.

In accord with the methodology of the Albert the Great Center, the daily academic schedule will include two seminars and a lecture. The seminars focus on a reading of the texts, the aim of which is to arrive at a deeper knowledge of truth through collaborative work. The lectures provide an opportunity for certain topics that arise out of the reading to be explored in greater depth. One of the highlights of the course is the formal scholastic disputation to be held on Thursday, August 15, in honor of the solemn feast of Our Lady's Assumption.

Faculty members leading the course include Dr John Joy, the President of the Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies, and Dr Alan Fimister, Assistant Professor of Theology and Church History at St John Vianney Seminary in Denver.

In addition to the academic program, there will also be ample opportunity to participate in the rich liturgical life of St Mary’s Oratory with the canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Daily Mass and prayers of the Divine Office will be available in the usus antiquior (‘Extraordinary Form’) of the Roman Rite, as well as the sacrament of confession, for our aim is not merely to study the sacred Scriptures but to contemplate the mysteries of the faith. Taking St Thomas as our model both in study and in prayer, our studies draw their life from the sacred liturgy of the Church.

St Mary’s Oratory, Wausau (location of daily Mass).

Eligibility: The 2019 USA Session is open to all applicants 18 years and older. The application process includes the completion of an online application form and the submission of a letter of recommendation. Deadline for applications is May 1, 2019.

Location: The course will be held at St Mary’s Oratory, in Wausau, Wisconsin. Wausau is a city of about 40,000 people on the Wisconsin River in central Wisconsin. It is about 2 hrs by car from Green Bay; 2 hrs from Madison; 2.5 hrs from La Crosse; 3 hrs from Milwaukee; and 3 hrs from Minneapolis (MSP), a major airport with many connections.

Cost: Program fees are scaled as follows:

Option 1. Tuition only (for commuters): $250.
Option 2. Tuition plus accommodations in a shared double hotel room: $500.
Option 3. Tuition plus accommodations in a private single hotel room: $750.

We have reserved rooms at the Jefferson Street Inn in downtown Wausau. It is a 3 minute drive or an 11 minute walk from the inn to St. Mary's Oratory. If choosing to stay at the inn, please arrange it with us rather than booking directly with the hotel, so as to avoid unnecessary confusion.

Payment can be made by check or credit card. $250 deposit due upon acceptance of application. Remainder (if applicable) due by June 1.

Jefferson Street Inn

Meals: Lunch will be provided each day on site for all participants. Breakfast will be available at the hotel for those staying there. For dinner, guests are welcome to make their own plans. There is a restaurant in the hotel as well as many other local eating places close by. If you have any special needs or requests, please contact us directly.

Course Book: Each participant will receive a beautifully bound hardcover volume of St Thomas’ Commentary on the Letters of St Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians in Latin and English (list price $47.95), courtesy of The Aquinas Institute for the Study of Sacred Doctrine.

Course Credits: The Saint Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies is not a degree granting institution, but we can provide documentation verifying 20 hours of coursework for those who need it. The Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, has already agreed to accept this course as credit toward catechetical certification through the Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute. If you are from another diocese and would be interested in a similar arrangement, please let us know.

To Apply: Complete the online application form and then upload a letter of recommendation. Once accepted, you will be asked for a $250 deposit to confirm your place on the course.

Questions? Please contact us directly!

Downtown Wausau by the Inn

Dells of the Eau Claire Park (about 30 mins. from Wausau)

Announcing the 2018 Norcia Summer Theology Program

William Blake, Job

From June 17–28, 2018, the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, in partnership with the Monastero San Benedetto, will hold its seventh summer theology program in Norcia, Italy.

This summer’s program will be: “Human Suffering and Divine Providence: Thomas’ Commentary on the Book of Job.” We will do a close reading of Thomas’ Commentary on Job, considered one of the saint’s finest and most interesting Biblical commentaries, written about an Old Testament book that has always been a favorite with preachers, moralists, and artists.

The affliction of just men is what seems especially to impugn divine Providence in human affairs. For although it seems irrational and contrary to Providence at first glance that good things sometimes happen to evil men, nevertheless this can be excused in one way or another by [invoking] divine compassion. But that the just are afflicted without cause seems to undermine totally the foundation of Providence. Thus the varied and grave afflictions of a specific just man called Job, perfect in every virtue, are proposed as a kind of theme for the question intended for discussion. (From Aquinas’ Prologue)

This year, the program is pleased to welcome as a guest tutor Dr. Michael Sirilla, director of the graduate theology program at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Additionally, Fr. Thomas Crean, OP, of the Dominican priory in Leicester, England, and Fellow of the AMCSS, will be joining us. Fr. Crean is currently teaching at Newman College, Ireland. Besides the daily seminars and lectures offered by the tutors, there will be a guest lecture by Fr. Benedict Nivakoff, OSB, Prior of the monastery, as well as Fr. Cassian Folsom, OSB, its founder. The two-week program culminates in an authentic scholastic disputation, moderated by one of the tutors.

In addition to the academic program, there is the opportunity to participate in the daily life of worship of the Benedictine monks who live and pray in the mountains overlooking the birthplace of SS. Benedict & Scholastica. Optional excursions include a trip to Orvieto, where St. Thomas lived while he was writing the Commentary on Job. 

Participants are encouraged to plan for extra time before or after the program in order to explore Rome, the glorious foundation seat of the Church. Indeed, the program ends on the day before the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, so participants could attend the Papal Mass at St. Peter’s on that day. Tickets will be arranged for all who are interested.

For more information, including costs and registration, visit the Summer Program details page.

The St. Albert the Great Center is dedicated to the revival of theology undertaken according to the mind and method of the great scholastics, and in particular, the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. All are welcome to apply, including graduate students, seminarians, clergy, and religious. The AMCSS will issue an official transcript with a grade for any who requests it.

Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving at the Monastery of Norcia

Today, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the issuance of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, the Benedictine Monks of Norcia celebrated a solemn High Votive Mass of St. Benedict, with prayers of thanksgiving added as a second set. The participants of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies’ Summer Theology Program were present (that’s how I happened to be there) and one of them, a seminarian, took some photographs that he shared with me for NLM. The liturgy began with the office of Terce, as indicated by the use of the cope.

The photos permit us a glimpse of the new chapel that the monks have built with the help of many neighbors and visitors from Italy and abroad. This new chapel will serve the monastery’s needs until, at a future date, it becomes possible for the community to proceed with a new and much larger Italian Gothic church akin to the basilica in town that now lies in ruins.

Spending these days in an agriturismo right below the monastery has given me a new appreciation for the spirit of zealous determination that characterizes these faithful sons of St. Benedict, who truly embody the motto succisa virescit (cut down, it grows back again).

 

Continue Reading this Article. . .

Norcia Summer Theology Program: Syllabus & Last Call for Applications

The 2017 Norcia Summer Theology Program of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, "Divine Power in a Hidden Way," will be starting up in a month's time: July 2-14.

We still have room for last-minute applications, so if you've been tottering on the edge about coming, now's the time to make the final decision. A full description of the program and practical details may be found at the above link.

We now have the syllabus for the seminars and would like to share the topics with NLM readers. Each seminar will be based on a reading from St. Thomas Aquinas's Commentary on the Sentences IV.

1. Monday, July 3: Introduction to program, author, book, and themes
2. Monday, July 3: Definition of sacrament; whether sacraments were necessary after the fall; whether sacraments consist of words and things
3. Tuesday, July 4: Whether sacraments of the New Law are a cause of grace; whether sacraments of the Old Law confer grace
4. Tuesday, July 4: Whether sacraments are remedies for evils; why there are seven; how these ought to be ordered; why the sacraments were instituted at a certain time 
5. Wednesday, July 5: Definition of baptism; the formula of baptism; why water must be used
6. Wednesday, July 5: The sacramental character; the effects of baptism; the three kinds of baptism
7. Thursday, July 6: The Eucharist as a sacrament; its unity, names, figures, and institution
8. Thursday, July 6: The words of consecration of the host and the chalice
9. Friday, July 7: Understanding the Mass: St. Thomas’s commentary on the Roman rite
10. Friday, July 7: The reception of the Eucharist
11. Monday, July 10: The Real Presence
12. Monday, July 10: Transubstantiation
13. Tuesday, July 11: The matter of the Eucharist
14. Tuesday, July 11: The effects of the Eucharist, and how frequently it is to be received
15. Wednesday, July 12: The minister of the Eucharist

As one who has worked closely on these texts, I can assure you that they make for incredibly interesting and enlightening reading.

During the program, there will also be formal lectures by

• Fr. Martin Bernhard, OSB
• Fr. Thomas Crean, OP
• Gregory DiPippo
• Fr. Cassian Folsom, OSB
• Dr. Peter Kwasniewski
• Fr. Benedict Nivakoff, OSB, Prior
• Christopher Owens

The monks of Norcia look forward to welcoming all participants in the Summer Theology Program, especially as they open their new chapel to the public (which will be inaugurated this Pentecost Sunday). The best part of the program, in my opinion, is studying the rich readings of Aquinas in the context of attending the daily usus antiquior Masses and the chanted Divine Office. It is the sort of combination that ought to be the norm in Catholic life but is so rarely met with.

Reminder: Summer Theology Program in Norcia Accepting Applications

As announced here on February 21, the sixth annual Summer Theology Program of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, held in Norcia, Italy, is accepting applications from prospective students. With the program running from July 2-14, now is the time to apply!

In addition to our usual heady round of prayer, study, conversation, quiet walks, and ample Italian meals, this year's program is going to be special in two ways.

First, we will be studying the sacraments in general, and baptism and the Holy Eucharist in particular, using the first-ever English translation (with facing-column Latin original) of St. Thomas Aquinas's first mature theological work, the Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard. As a major participant in the project to get this work translated and published, I can assure you that it is an intensely interesting and provocative text to work with -- not as lapidary as later Aquinas, and rather adventuresome in its objections and arguments. It should be a great text for seminar discussions. This commentary was, for many centuries, one of the most influential texts in Catholic theology due to the way it readily lined up with Sentences commentaries by a host of great scholastics (e.g., Albert, Bonaventure, Scotus).

Second, we will be spending our study, prayer, and discussion time up in the quiet and beautiful hills above the ancient town of Norcia. The view from there is stirring. We will be living near the new location of the Benedictine Monks of Norcia and assisting at their chanted office and Mass. It is an exciting time to be part of the spiritual and material rebuilding of Christendom at its symbolic heart, the birthplace of the Patron of Western Monasticism and Co-Patron of Europe. The Albertus Magnus Center has always been and will always be devoted supporters of the Monks of Norcia, with whom we wish to show our solidarity.

Allow me to emphasize that this is not a program for academic specialists but for anyone who is seeking a deeper grasp of Catholic theology at the feet of the Angelic Doctor and who is willing to do the reading and be involved in the discussions. Past participants have included grad students, married couples, retirees, priests, religious, and seminarians.

If you are considering taking part in the program and have any practical questions about it, please feel free to write to the director, Mr. Christopher Owens.

An appeal to our readers

Although we have not raised our tuition compared with former years, our overall per-person expenses this summer are higher, due to logistical difficulties following from last year's earthquakes. We believe that this Summer Program, so beneficial to students from around the world and to the Monks of Norcia themselves, is a worthy endeavor that deserves to keep going long into the future. In particular, we are eager to find sponsors for seminarians and graduate students who demonstrate their worthiness and financial need. Any readers who would like to make a tax-deductible donation to ensure that the program continues should contact the director Mr. Christopher Owens, or, if they prefer, use the online donation page. Thank you for your prayers and your support!

Now Available: Lectures and Disputed Questions on the Letter to the Hebrews

Praelectiones et Quaestiones Disputatae -- On St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews. Proceedings of the 2016 AMCSS Summer Theology Program. Ed. John P. Joy. Strathcona, MN: Libri Albertini, 2017. Paperback, 140pp. $18.99. Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk

NLM readers are most likely already familiar with the work of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies (AMCSS). The theme of last summer's program was "The Transcendent Christ: On St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews." This just-published volume collects the lectures delivered over the course of the program as well as the culminating scholastic disputation, which involved several disputed questions, conducted at a very high level -- but with some entertaining elements, too. As one who was present for all the lectures and involved in the disputed questions, I can say that this is a most helpful book for those interested in the theology of the liturgy, the sacrifice of Christ, the Mass as a true and proper sacrifice, and the headship of Christ over the Church.

CONTENTS 

“The Sacrifice of Christ as an Act of Vicarious Satisfaction”
John P. Joy, S.T.L.

“How Is the Mass a Sacrifice?”
Rev. Thomas Crean, O.P., S.T.D.

“The Symbolism of the First Entrance of the Holy Synaxis in the Mystagogy of St. Maximus the Confessor”
Rev. Yosyp Veresh, S.T.D.

“Biblical and Liturgical Typology in the Letter to the Hebrews”
Rev. Cassian Folsom, O.S.B., S.L.D.

“The Christian Liturgy as Sacrificium Laudis in the Epistle to the Hebrews”
Peter Kwasniewski, Ph.D.

“‘Credere oportet accedentem ad Deum’ – On the Nature and Necessity of Faith”
Br. Evagrius Hayden, O.S.B., S.T.M.

“Christ as Head of the Human Race”
Daniel Lendman, S.T.L.

Quæstiones Disputatæ 
Rev. Thomas Crean, O.P., S.T.D.
Q. 1. Whether he who performs the rites of the Old Law offends God?
Q. 2. Whether the shedding of blood is necessary for the remission of sins?
Q. 3. Whether to please God it is sufficient to believe that he is and is a rewarder of those who seek him?

Also, a reminder to readers that the AMCSS is now welcoming applications for the upcoming Summer Theology Program in Norcia in July, dedicated to St. Thomas's sacramental theology. See here to read NLM's announcement. The online application page is here.

Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies Announces 2017 Norcia Theology Summer Program

Agriturismo Casale - the base of our operations

The Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies is happy to announce that registration is now open for the July 2017 summer theology program in the town of Norcia. This will be our sixth summer program since 2011. We are especially excited to be studying the sacraments, with a close look at baptism and the Holy Eucharist, through the lens of Book IV of the Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard by St. Thomas Aquinas, which has some of the Angelic Doctor's most extensive and intriguing discussions of sacramental theology from his entire career. The tutors will be Fr. Thomas Crean, O.P., Christopher Owens, and Peter Kwasniewski. Fr. Cassian Folsom, O.S.B., the founding prior of Norcia, will join us for a lecture and conversation.

"Divine Power in a Hidden Way:

Thomas' Commentary on Sentences IV"

July 2nd - July 14th in Norcia, Italy

"These are the sacraments, in which, under the cover of visible things, divine power works our healing in a hidden way, as Augustine says."
~St. Thomas Aquinas, Prologue, Commentary on Sentences IV

Program Description 

The theme for the 2017 Summer Program is Sacramental Theology. We will be undertaking a close reading of selected texts from the Commentary of Aquinas upon the Fourth Book of the Sentences of Peter Lombard. The Sentences was the standard "textbook" of the 13th and 14th century University of Paris, and all bachelors were required to write a commentary. Thus, in this work we find the thought of a relatively young Thomas Aquinas, having begun his writing of it at around 28 years of age.

This study is a particularly noteworthy one, as it will be the first time a study of Aquinas' Commentary on the Sentences will be accessible to all, thanks to a new translation into English. A taste of the commentary, from its prologue:

He sent his Word and healed them, and delivered them from all their destructions (Ps 107:20). By the sin of the first man, the human race incurred two things, namely, death and infirmity. Death, because of its separation from the principle of life, of which it is said, with you is the font of life (Ps 36:9); whoever is separated from this principle necessarily dies, and this happened through the first man. Hence it is said, by one man sin entered the world, and by sin, death (Rom 5:12).
          But a sufficient remedy could be obtained for this only from the word of God, which is the font of wisdom on high (Sir 1:5) and, accordingly, the source of life: for wisdom endows its possessor with life (cf. Sir 7). Thus it is said, as the Father raises up the dead and gives life, so the Son also gives life to whom he will (Jn 5:20). The word is the power of God, by which all things are upheld: upholding all things by the word of his power (Heb 1:3). And this is why it is efficacious for removing infirmity.
          Therefore in this way three things are touched upon in the words above: namely, the preparation of this medicine, healing from infirmity, and liberation from death. The preparation of the medicine is touched upon when it says, he sent his word. This should be understood as referring to the incarnation of the Word, who is said to be sent by God because he became flesh: God sent his Son, born of a woman (Gal 4:4).
          It should also be understood as referring to the institution of the sacraments, in which "the word is combined with the element and the sacrament is made"; so that in this way a sacrament is similar to the Incarnate Word. For sensible creation is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer (1 Tim 4:5).

In accordance with the particular mission of the Saint Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies, which seeks to promote the study of theology according to the mind and method of the great scholastics, the core of every summer program lies in the attentive reading and thoughtful discussion of the great texts of the Catholic theological tradition. After Scripture itself, pride of place belongs to the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and especially to St. Thomas Aquinas.

Seminar

Our verbal commentary on these texts, carried out in a formal seminar setting, is intended to approximate the scholastic practice of written commentary undertaken by the theological "bachelors" of the day. Participants in the program will be expected to read the assigned selections before each seminar in order to come prepared to participate in group discussion of the texts. Although every participant is expected to contribute his or her insights to aid the entire group in coming to a deeper understanding, these seminars will be guided by our program directors, Fr. Thomas Crean, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, and Mr. Christopher Owens, who have advanced degrees in theology, competency in the subject matter, and experience in the seminar method of pedagogy.

Lectures

The second part of the program consists of a series of lectures delivered by our "masters" of theology, who consist of the Fellows of the Center, joined by members of the monastery of St. Benedict in Norcia. A keynote will be given by Fr. Cassian Folsom, O.S.B., the founder of the community. Topically, the lectures will complement the subject-matter of the seminars.

Scholastic Disputation

The program reaches its culmination with our authentic scholastic disputation: the questions to be disputed will be announced at least one day in advance, and the participants divided into teams, which will be assigned to argue either for or against each question. Each participant will be expected to form his or her own thoughts on the questions, and attempt to answer them. At the disputation itself, members of each team will offer arguments in scholastic style as an objection or a ‘sed contra’ (“it seems that…” or “it seems not…”). After each team has argued its case, the "Master" of the disputation will give his solution, and then reply to each of the arguments posited by the participants.

Liturgy and Spiritual Life

Throughout the two weeks of the program there will be ample opportunities for spiritual activities. Even though this past year has seen the devastation of the town and of the monastery, the monks are working with us to ensure that the spiritual needs of the program participants will be met. Holy Mass in the usus antiquior will be available daily, as well as various hours of the Divine Office. The priests of the monastery will be available for spiritual counseling, guidance, and/or confessions upon request.

Relaxation

The enrichment of mind and spirit fostered by attentive reading of the Scriptures and participation in the prayers and liturgies of the monastery will be complemented by moments of relaxation and cultural activities. Optional excursions will be organized to nearby towns (places to be announced; in the past, we have traveled to Assisi and Cascia).

Eligibility

The 2017 Summer Program is open to all applicants 18 years and older. The application process includes the completion of an application form and the submission of a letter of recommendation.

Cost

Inclusive of course materials, classes, full board, and housing, as follows:

Quadruple room: 1050 Euro
Triple room: 1175 Euro
Double room: 1300 Euro
Single room: 1550 Euro

Camping (bring your own equipment): 550 Euro
Camping (rental equipment provided): 800 Euro

(See our Housing Page for more details.)

Participants should plan some extra money for excursions, souvenirs, etc. Payment can be made by check, credit card, or paypal account. If paying with U.S. Dollars, simply calculate the amount necessary based on the exchange rate at the time of payment.

Course Book: We are very blessed to be in partnership with the Aquinas Institute, who is giving us a substantial discount on the beautifully bound volume of St. Thomas' Commentary on IV Sentences (Retailed at $40). This will be included as a part of the program fees!

Location: The 2017 Summer Program will be held in Norcia, Italy. Norcia is a small town in the province of Perugia in southeastern Umbria. For directions on reaching Norcia, see Getting to Norcia.

Course Credits: The Saint Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies is not a degree granting institution, but we will assign grades and provide official transcripts verifying completion of a four credit-hour course for those who are interested.

To Apply

Apply now online and complete the application form, and have your letter of recommendation emailed to the following address:
Chris.Owens@AlbertusMagnusCSS.org

A 350 Euro deposit is due upon acceptance. The deadline for applications is May 16, 2017. The remainder of payment is due by June 1.

For online application and more information, visit the website.

The location of the 2017 program, nearby the monastery "in monte"

Refectory

The view from the rooms

Norcia 2016 Summer Program -- Tuition Scholarship for Priest, Deacon, Seminarian, or Religious

Back in January, NLM announced the 2016 Summer Program of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies (AMCSS), taking place in Norcia from July 10-24. Applications are still being accepted for this program, which is looking to be one of the best yet. This year's theme is "The Transcendent Christ: The Epistle to the Hebrews."

Meanwhile, the director of the Program, Mr. Christopher Owens, was pleased to inform me that the AMCSS is now able to offer a full tuition scholarship for a priest, deacon, seminarian, or religious. This would cover the cost of the program (900 Euros or ca. $1,025). The recipient would be responsible for getting to and from Norcia.

Mr. Owens also mentioned that he would like to create more such scholarship opportunities so that the theological riches of the summer course and the rich traditional liturgical life of the monks of Norcia, could benefit more of the Church's future leaders and contemplatives. Hence, he is appealing to any potential donors out there to contact him about the possibility of contributing to the scholarship fund or even creating a regular named scholarship. The AMCSS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Inquiries (either about applying or donating) should be made to Mr. Owens at this email address.

Donations may also be made simply by visiting this page.

Summer Theology Program in Norcia with Dr. Kwasniewski, Fr. Crean, and the Benedictine Monks

Since 2012, the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, in cooperation with the Benedictine Monks of Norcia, has offered a two-week summer theology program at the birthplace of SS. Benedict and Scholastica. This year, for their fifth summer, the Center has planned a truly marvelous program: “The Transcendent Christ: St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.” Participants will study St. Thomas Aquinas’s commentary on Hebrews, exploring its rich teaching on Christology, priesthood, sacrifice, sacraments, and worship. The Epistle offers the opportunity to explore the topic of grace as it is found in its source, Jesus Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body, and, in particular, on how the excellence of the work of Christ has a three-fold extension: to the whole of creation, to the rational creature, and to the justification of the saints.

The faculty will include NLM’s own Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, as well as Fr. Thomas Crean, OP, Br. Evagrius Hayden, OSB. John Joy, Christopher Owens, and Daniel Lendman. Guest lectures will be delivered by monks from the monastery, including its prior, Fr. Cassian Folsom, OSB. (It bears noting that, over the years, we have featured numerous items in connection with Fr. Cassian, such as this talk on sacred music, an article by Br. Evagrius, and the superb photography of Mr. Owens.)

The goal of the AMCSS is to offer a meaningful academic experience of scholastic theology in its original fullness: studying Sacred Scripture, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Fathers of the Church, in the peaceful and enchanting setting of a medieval Italian town, imbued with the spiritual and liturgical life of the traditional Benedictine monks (daily traditional Latin Masses, Low and High, and chanted monastic office), and all the culinary delights of the prosciutto and black truffle capital of Italy — in other words, an authentically Catholic feast for mind, soul, and body. This year the course dates include Norcia’s festive celebration of the feast of St. Benedict on July 11th. Pilgrimages to the nearby towns of Assisi and Cascia are included in the cost, with the option of participating in a weekend trip to Rome at the end.

The dates for the Summer program are July 10–24, 2016. Most remarkably, the cost for tuition, room, and half-board (a light breakfast and an authentic five-course Italian dinner every day) is 900 Euros. Tuition includes a hardcover bilingual edition of the Commentary on Hebrews as well as other course materials. A background in academic theology is not required. Students working towards degrees may request a summary of the program with faculty credentials and a certificate of completion that they may submit for possible course credit elsewhere.

For more information, please visit the AMCSS website.

Fr. Cassian Folsom, OSB

The old residence of the governor who represented the Papal States

Mass at the monastery

Continue Reading this Article. . .

Albertus Magnus Center Announces 2015 Summer Program

This has just come in from the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, which holds a delightful summer program each year in Norcia, Italy, benefiting from the presence and the liturgies of the Benedictine monks who reside there at the birthplace of SS. Benedict and Scholastica. I highly recommend checking it out -- the academic programs are always very solid and worthwhile, the participants have a jolly time of it, the monastery is a taste of heaven on earth, and the town of Norcia just glorious at that time of year. So, without further ado, here's the announcement:

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The theme for the 2015 Summer Program is St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. We will be undertaking a thorough reading of the Letter, following St. Thomas's commentary upon the epistle as our guide. The Epistle offers the opportunity to explore in depth the subject of grace as it is found principally in the sacraments. In particular, St. Paul's letter focuses on the sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, and the Eucharist, and so participants will gain a greater understanding not only of these sacraments, but also an understanding of how grace works through the sacraments so as to order man to his end.

In accordance with the particular mission of the Saint Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies, which seeks to promote the study of theology according to the mind and method of the great scholastics, the core of every Summer Program lies in the attentive reading and thoughtful discussion of the great texts of the Catholic theological tradition. After Scripture itself, pride of place belongs to the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and especially to St. Thomas Aquinas. ...

Throughout the two weeks of the program there will also be ample opportunities for spiritual activities. Holy Mass is available in Norcia several times per day. Our schedule is constructed in such a way as to encourage participation in the daily Conventual Mass of the Benedictine monks, which is offered in Latin (usus antiquior) in the Basilica of St. Benedict. Participants are also invited to join the monks in praying the divine office: Lauds, Vespers, Compline, or even Matins at 4:00 A.M.! The priests of the monastery will of course be available for spiritual counseling, guidance, and/or confessions.

Finally, the enrichment of mind and spirit fostered by attentive reading of the Gospels and participation in the prayers and liturgical celebrations of the monastery will be complemented by moments of relaxation and cultural activities. The picturesque medieval town of Norcia is located right at the edge of the beautiful Mount Sibilini National Park. Optional excursions will be organized to nearby towns (places to be announced) - in the past, we have traveled to Assisi and Cascia. In addition, we will plan a longer weekend trip to Rome at the end of the program in order to have a relaxing but formative experience in the Eternal City, the glorious foundation seat of the Church – optional, but highly recommended!

Calendar of the program:

July 12. Sun. Arrival Day.

July 13. Mon. Normal Program Schedule.

July 14. Tues. Normal Program Schedule.

July 15. Wed. Normal Program Schedule.

July 16. Thur. Optional Excursion (Location to be announced).

July 17. Fri. Normal Program Schedule.

July 18. Sat. Normal Program Schedule.

July 19. Sun. Optional Excursion to Cascia.

July 20. Mon. Normal Program Schedule.

July 21. Tues. Normal Program Schedule.

July 22. Wed. Modified Program Schedule.

July 23. Thur. Modified Program Schedule.

July 24. Fri. Optional Excursion to Rome.

July 25. Sat. Optional Excursion to Rome.

July 26. Sun. Departure Day.

Cost: 675 Euro. As of December 29, 2014, this was roughly $825 (exchange rate 1.121). This covers tuition, room, and half-board in Norcia. Half-board includes a light breakfast and a multi-course Italian style dinner, leaving the midday meal to be arranged individually by the participants. It does not cover the cost of our trip to Rome.

For more details, see the full announcement here.

Norcia News

I had occasion to mention recently the theology program taking place this summer in Norcia. (This program is highly recommended for anyone looking for an immersion in Scripture, scholastic theology, traditional liturgy, a pilgrimage or two, and some fine Italian cuisine. A hard combination to beat!)

Here is some other Norcia news that deserves to be passed along to readers of NLM.

(1) Back in October 2013, Fr. Cassian Folsom, O.S.B., Prior, gave a series of ten conferences on "Praying without Ceasing" to the monastic community at Still River in Massachusetts. The monastery is making these talks available via the internet, one per week until a little before Easter. The conferences can serve to enrich our Lenten observance, and help make our prayer more fruitful.

(2) His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke will be offering the keynote address at the monks' annual fundraising gala in Connecticut on Friday, May 9th. If anyone is interested in attending, he or she should contact Bryan Gonzalez, Director of Development, here.

(3) The Monks are also organizing a pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Benedict", where participants will trace the places that St. Benedict lived: Norcia, Rome, Subiaco, and Montecassino. A few extra trips will be included (for instance, Assisi and Cascia), but for the most part, the trip will focus on visiting Benedictine shrines. Fr. Cassian will be the chaplain for the full nine days. More info here and here.

Norcia

Montecassino

Subiaco

Announcement of Summer Study Program in Norcia, Italy

I am pleased to share with NLM readers the following announcement, received from Christopher Owens of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies.

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Dear Friends of Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies,

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding our second Summer Program in Norcia, Italy, from June 16th-29th, 2014.

This year's theme is "By Faith in Jesus Christ: Paul's Letter to the Romans". The two-week program will consist of a thorough reading of the Pauline Epistle, as well as selected readings from the interpretive tradition of the Church, with a particular emphasis on the masterful commentary written by St. Thomas Aquinas.

In many ways, the epistle is already an early synthesis of the Faith that the Evangelists witness to, and it offers us the opportunity to explore in depth many theological questions such as grace, justification, the relationship between the Old Covenant and the New, and the salvation of the Jews, to name a few.

In addition to the academic program, we will, of course, be participating in the daily life of worship (High Mass, Divine Office) of the Benedictine monks who live and pray at the birthplace of SS. Benedict & Scholastica. There will be excursions to Assisi and to Cascia, as well as attendance at the Papal Mass in Rome for the Feast of SS. Peter & Paul at the conclusion of the program.

For more information about the Summer Program, please visit our website: http://www.albertusmagnuscss.org

We hope that you will consider joining us as we contemplate the truths of our Faith and worship the Lord together in Norcia this summer!

In Domino nostro,

Christopher Owens
Co-Director
Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies