Barbara Nicolosi, PhD
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei verbum)
Guest Presenter: Dr. Andre Villeneuve, PhD Professor of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit
Leading Post-Modern Souls to Jesus: Paul VI on the Urgency of Evangelization
In this session, we will consider the epic work by Pope St. Paul VI on how to present Jesus to people in this post-modern moment.
The Church and Science in the Writing of Pius XII and St. JPII
This presentation will be a fascinating consideration of the Church’s actual teaching on the origins of our species. It will be of particular interest to anyone who is interested in science or works in a scientific related field.
On Sacred Music (Musicam Sacram) by Pius XII
Following on our discussion of basic Catholic moral theology in Veritatis Splendor, we next delve into the specific moral questions surrounding the beginning and end of life.
St. John Paul II on The Splendor of Truth
We continue our survey of key papal teachings in the modern era with the monumental work by St. John Paul II, “The Splendor of Truth” (Veritatis Splendor). One of the most comprehensive treatments of moral theology ever composed, the document discusses man’s ability to discern good from evil, the nature of evil, the role of human freedom and conscience, and the authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Finding Your Family Mission: St. JPII on the Domestic Church
In this session, we consider the extraordinary role that the Christian family plays in the sanctification of the world. Pope St. John Paul II notes that, “The future of humanity passes by the way of the family.” Written in 1981, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World was the second Apostolic Exhortation written by this great pope.
The Means of Universal Salvation: Vatican II on the Church
In this presentation, we consider one of the two dogmatic documents issued by Vatican II. A statement of profound mercy, Lumen Gentium (“The Light to the Nations”) considers the question of universal holiness and salvation.
Pope St. Pius X on Modernism
We continue our survey of key papal teachings of the 20th century by considering Pope St. Pius 10th brilliant encyclical On the Doctrine of the Modernists.
The Apostolate of the Laity
On June 12th, we continue our survey of key magisterial teachings for the modern era by breaking open The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (“Apostolicam Actuositatem”) of Vatican II.
Of Human Life and the Theology of the Body: An Island of Sanity in the Post-Sexual Revolution Chaos
On June 5th, we begin our fourth series in the Mystagogy program with ten weeks dedicated to “The Riches of Magisterial Teaching.” We are blessed to have an amazing guest presenter to kick-off our summer series. Sr. Helena Raphael Burns, fsp, to discuss Humanae Vitae and the Theology of the Body.
Paradiso III: The Garden of the Mystical Rose
We have made it to the last few cantos in Dante’s epic work, The Divine Comedy. This coming Monday (April 3rd) will be our last session for this series. We will complete The Paradiso, and then have time for a bit of a debrief and discussion about our individual take-aways from the whole journey through hell, purgatory, and heaven. Please read as much of cantos XX-XXXIII as you can for our discussion.
Paradiso II: The Heaven of the Warriors of God
In this session on March 27th, we accompany Dante the Pilgrim as he traverses the middle levels of the Heavenly Kingdom. In this session and the final one next week, we will encounter many of the greatest heroes of the first thousand years of Christendom, including St. Benedict, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas,…
Dante’s Paradiso: Beyond Time and Space
Mystagogy finally makes it to heaven! And it’s literally out of this world. Our consideration of the last of the three parts of Dante’s epic poem covers Cantos I-VIII. You might find this short video which summarizes The Paradiso helpful:
Purgatorio: Healing Carnality and Reclaiming the Earthly Paradise
Our consideration of Dante’s Purgatorio concludes with his remedies for the sins of the flesh, and then moves onto the ascent into the earthly paradise which kicks off the greatest parade in history.
The Sin of Pride and Remedies
This session covered Dante’s Purgatorio, Cantos X-XII, examining the sin of pride and proposing remedies to do battle with this devastating sin
Temptation in Dostoevsky’s “Grand Inquisitor”
This episode is a discussion of the three temptations of Christ through the lens of the Grand Inquisitor in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Healing Envy, Anger, Sloth and Greed
In this session, we cover cantos of The Purgatorio which touch upon healing remedies for the sins of envy, anger, sloth, and greed.
Beginning the Climb up Purgatory Mountain: Souls Who Just Made It
We enter the second phase of our journey through the afterlife as we begin Dante’s Purgatorio. We will be considering Cantos I-VII, much of which is dedicated to considering those souls who just make it to salvation, whom Dante calls “the Late-Repentant.”
Rejecting God’s Sovereignty: Sins Against Truth in Dante’s Inferno
In this session, we complete our journey through Dante’s Inferno, looking specifically at Cantos XVIII, XX, and XXIII-XXVIII. Imagining the darkest paces in hell, Dante will compel us to consider sins of deceit, disloyalty, betrayal, deceit, and treachery. Our journey concludes with the encounter with Lucifer himself in the deepest circle of hell.