Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Christianity

What does it mean to be an imitator of Christ? Find out by exploring the life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi and the movements he inspired with one of the world's leading Franciscan experts as your guide.

"Thy kingdom come." Christians frequently recite these words. But what is God's kingdom? Such a question has fascinated the faithful for more than two millennia. Throughout history we have pondered our ultimate salvation and the "end times", from St. Paul's eschatological epistles to modern best sellers like the Left Behind series. Now this brilliant course introduces you to that history and practice of eschatology, or the study of the final events in history.

In the 20th century, Thomas Merton, one of Christianity's great mystics, encountered the ancient Eastern mystical tradition known as Sufism. The result was an outpouring of mystical insight and spiritual wisdom.

The Desert Fathers - Christian monks in the ancient Egyptian and Palestinian wilderness - strove to understand the causes and remedies of human sin and were the first to categorize temptations under the headings of the "deadly sins". This course will draw on their wisdom to gain a better understanding of how each deadly sin conflicts with God's plan of creation, redemption, and sanctification.

The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola has been one of the greatest classics of Western spirituality for more than 400 years. Whether you are discovering it for the first time or you are an expert seeking fresh insight into the Exercises, you will profit from this unique new series. Your guide is Fr. Brian McDermott SJ, former academic dean of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology.

The winner of the “Nobel Prize of Theology” guides you into the world of the first Christians to explore the circumstances, faith, and ideas that indelibly shaped Christianity. In this best-selling audio series by world-renowned patristic scholar Professor Brian E. Daley, S.J., you will encounter the first Christians and the beginnings of our Church.

Sometimes called “the gospel of the poor”, the Gospel according to Luke is known for its praise of the lowly, its meditations on forgiveness, and its preoccupation with women. Beginning with the Infancy Narratives - in which Luke helpfully instructs us how to read his text - Catholic philosophy professor Father Nick King, S.J., elucidates the distinctive features of Luke’s Gospel in 12 inspiring audio lectures.

Explore the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas with Thomas Merton as your guide. While he was a student at Columbia University, Thomas Merton stumbled upon The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy by renowned neo-Thomistic philosopher Étienne Gilson. An essential work on St. Thomas and other Christian philosophers, it led him down a path of spiritual seeking that would culminate with his conversion to the Catholic Church and entrance into a Trappist monastery.

For Merton, being contemplative meant living out the essential elements of the spiritual life. Having lived out the challenges and triumphs of a contemplative life, Merton had a plethora of practical advice to offer. If the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is truly at work daily, then what does it look like? How can we identify its authentic presence? If it's important to spend time in silence with God, how do we go about entering into it fruitfully?

Every week, Catholics profess their faith in a “world without end” and “the resurrection of the body.” How can eschatology - the study of the Last Things - strengthen your hope in these beliefs? Filled with fresh and fascinating perspectives, Eschatology: The Theology of Ultimate Hope gives you the tools to understand the Last Things. Your guide, veteran Boston College professor Father Harvey Egan, will change the way you think about existence, both in this life and beyond it.

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.

Born in the fourth century, Saint John Cassian (AD 360 - 435) lived when tensions between the traditional and innovative peaked. A monk and theologian, Cassian made the Christian tradition relevant for the needs of his day in his spiritual works. Indeed, his spirituality remains essential today; he influenced Saints Benedict and Ignatius of Loyola, and his works continue to be read worldwide.

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?

Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen were extraordinary architects of our spiritual landscape. A masterful study by the leading biographer of both men, this audio course brings two 20th-century titans together for the first time. Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen: Spiritual Guides for the 21st Century folds Dr. Michael W. Higgins’ lifetime of dedicated research, writing, and teaching into a single spiritually edifying series. In 12 exuberant lectures, you will take turns examining Thomas Merton’s and Henri Nouwen’s lives and legacies.

Pope Francis is a pope of firsts: the first Jesuit, the first to take the name Francis, and the first pope from the Americas. His papacy has been marked by a style of simplicity, warmth, and an emphasis on the heart of the Gospel. In his opening conference in a retreat to the bishops of Latin America, Francis said, "What moves us most is the desire to thank God and to praise him." Like Pope Francis, we are all called to conversion, impelled towards the renewal of our faith.

Peek into the mesmerizing imagination of C. S. Lewis with the world's leading authority on the beloved author. The Chronicles of Narnia is one of the best-selling book series ever. Its enduring success is no accident, but rather the result of C.S. Lewis's extraordinary imaginative skill. Few understand the full cosmological and theological depths of Lewis's world. In Christology, Cosmology, and C. S. Lewis, you will discover new dimensions that will enrich your enjoyment of these classic tales.

Most scholars agree that the Gospel according to Mark is the earliest of the four canonical gospels. It is also the shortest, with swift dramatic turns throughout its fast-paced narrative. Because of its brevity, Mark's Gospel leaves many questions unanswered, and it has often been overlooked in the history of Christianity. As you will discover, though, Mark's Gospel is compelling in its combination of simplicity and sophistication. This audio course guides you through Mark's Gospel sequentially, offering you fresh insights and a deeper understanding of its overall shape.

Encounter one of the most influential figures in Christian spirituality. "To be full of things is to be empty of God. To be empty of things is to be full of God." Said by Meister Eckhart, these words encapsulate the insight of a timeless philosopher, theologian, author, preacher, and mystic. Eckhart has contributed spiritual direction and knowledge to generations of Christians, yet his wisdom remains unknown to many.

You are probably more familiar with the Book of Revelation that you realize. Revelation directly inspired some of the most famous hymns, including "You Servants of God" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Now, you can engage more with this impactful book with the help of an expert guide through this 11-lecture audio series. Your teacher is Professor Bertrand Buby, SM, a leading theologian and author of A Journey through Revelation.

From the Virgin Mary and Francis of Assisi to the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and the French philosopher Simone Weil, this inspiring course introduces you to the mysticism of ten inspiring luminaries of faith. In 12 lectures, you will look carefully at the lives of these 10 beloved mystics - five men and five women - from the Christian tradition. Bookended by an introduction and conclusion, this series helps you understand mysticism at both the individual community level.