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

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Pontifical Vesture: Putting on the Full Armor of God (Guest Post)

Courtesy of photographer and NLM reader Christopher Owens, we have a feature article on the traditional vesting prayers, as recently witnessed at the Pontifical Mass at St. Peter's celebrated by Cardinal Burke. (The vesting prayers themselves were published in Latin and English at NLM a few years ago by Gregory DiPippo, with his learned commentary.)

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During the Solemn Pontifical Mass last week at St. Peter’s, I was remarkably struck by the image of the Bishop fully vested for liturgy, and, in this manner, leading his flock through the tumult of this world toward the heavenly gates. In the more ancient use of the Roman Rite, the Bishop wears the vesture fitting to all of the levels of orders, since, as Bishop, he possesses the fullness of orders.

As a photographer, I got the opportunity to witness up-close the vesting of His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, and the humility with which, as bishop, he submits himself to the Church’s liturgy in order to put on the full armor of God. Fortuitously, the epistle for this past Sunday, the 21st after Pentecost, was the passage from Ephesians, imploring the brethren to do likewise, to “put on the armor of God.” In this light, the cleric properly vested for the liturgy is an exemplar for us in our own daily spiritual battle. I thought I would share these photos with you, and the corresponding vesting prayers. (The prayers will be given here in English only; the Latin prayers may be found in the DiPippo article.)

The Buskins  Shod my feet, Lord, unto the preparation of the gospel of peace, and protect me under the cover of thy wings. (Ephesians 6, 15 and Psalm 60, 5)

When the Cappa is removed  Take off of me, Lord, the old man with his manners and deeds: and put on me the new man, who according to God is created in justice, and the holiness of truth. (Ephesians 4, 22 and 24)

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