Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Religion & Spirituality

In this erudite and inspiring 12-lecture audio course, you will take a riveting journey through the history of the Catholic faith’s most vital celebration. The Liturgy of the Eucharist has deep roots in tradition. But the Mass has also enjoyed a dynamic history over the centuries. As you will discover, its ongoing evolution reflects the ever-changing world and Christ’s presence in it.

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.

Enter into the ancient world of the psalms in this essential audio course. You will explore the literary forms of the psalms, especially praise and lament. You will learn how the New Testament writers and early Christians used the psalms. The psalms have their origin in the worship and prayer of ancient Israel, and now you, too, can discover them as models and guides for your life of prayer.

Led by gifted professor, author, and contemplative retreat leader Fr. Donald Goergen, O.P., this life-changing series will capture your spiritual imagination and deepen your life with Christ. As Prof. Lawrence Cunningham writes, “Thomas Merton could easily be called the greatest spiritual writer and spiritual master of the 20th century in English-speaking America.” He was a monk and seeker - restless, deeply contemplative, and socially conscious.

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.

Explore the nearly 500-year-old Ignatian Examen with one of the world's leading Jesuit experts and experience its direct relevance to your life today. The Ignatian Examen is a daily renewal of your relationship with the loving God. The Examen comes from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and has a deep history in the Ignatian tradition. Today, we have received the Ignatian Examen as a prayer of consciousness of the divine partnership God holds out to us.

An atheist for the beginning of his adulthood, C.S. Lewis later converted to Christianity, largely due to the influence of Catholic writers J. R. R. Tolkien and G. K. Chesterton. He then went on to become one of the most powerful Christian writers of his time, penning such quintessential apologetic works as Mere Christianity. Today, he is cherished by Christians and non-Christians throughout the world.

Finally! A clear, concise, and informative overview of the beliefs and practices of the world’s great world religions. As both a wellspring of hope and an author of tragedy, religion has profoundly shaped the great civilizations of human history. An unequivocal force in the ancient world, religion continues to fire the imagination of millions in our own time and remains a fascinating index of human aspiration and creativity.

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.

What are the apocryphal gospels? Purporting to fill in the missing pieces of Jesus' life story, these books are often the subject of popular discussion and heated debates. Few, however, truly understand their context and meaning. In The Apocryphal Gospels: Exploring the Lost Books of the Bible, you have the opportunity to explore these gripping texts with one of Catholicism's great scholars.

Since the age of the apostles, great scholars and lay Christians alike have reflected upon the meaning of Scripture, the nature of divinity, the call to discipleship, and countless other topics in our religious tradition. This practice, known as theology, is as important to Christian life today as ever. And yet, theology can sometimes seem remote from the everyday life of faith; too often, we view it as an obscure activity conducted in the ivory towers of academic life.

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.

Immerse yourself in the diverse teachings of the world’s greatest spiritual masters through this illuminating and unifying audio course. Your guide is Dr. Kenneth Rose (PhD, Harvard University), an acclaimed expert in comparative religion. Under his tutelage, you'll discover the lives and teachings of 11 holy persons throughout the ages and from around the world.

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.

How would you like to join one of America's leading Jesuits in a retreat you can experience whenever and wherever you desire? These 12 presentations from internationally renowned Rev. Howard Gray SJ are designed for prayer.

William Faulkner was undoubtedly one of the greatest American writers. Now, you can take Thomas Merton as your personal guide in discovering the literary and spiritual genius of Faulkner’s works.

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.

In this fascinating series, the saints you’ll meet include a woman who didn't discover her true vocation until she was past sixty, a man who lived for years with a concubine and fathered an illegitimate son, a religious teacher and reformer who was repeatedly charged with heresy, three women who were wives and mothers before they became Sisters, and many more. The words of these great men and women may move you, but their actions will absolutely take your breath away.

Nearly eight years in the making, Mary: Mirror of God Who Sees, Hears, Cares, and Comes is neither “pious chatter” nor “frilly theology.” It is born, rather, of Fr. Crosby’s serious questions about Mary’s rightful place in Christian faith, his constant grappling with the “So what?” of effective preaching, and his insights into the importance that God desires Mary to have in our lives.

For centuries, Franciscan spirituality has brought Christians a fresh perspective on Christ with its simple and heartfelt approach. Now you can follow the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi in this special retreat experience with gifted Franciscan Br. Bill Short, O.F.M., as your guide. In this series of 12 retreat sessions, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your own spiritual journey with insights from the writings of Francis and Clare of Assisi.