Who Are You, Lord? (Acts 9:5)

The Foundations of the Faith (Dogmatic Theology I & II)
St. Francis de Sales School for Pastoral Ministry, Year Two, 2014
Instructor:Fr. Dominic David Maichrowicz, OP
Email:
Phone:(510) 526-4811 x14

“Jesus then said to those Jews who had believed in him,‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” (John 8:31-32)

“Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5)

“In truth, there are only two kinds of people; those who accept dogma and know it, and those who accept dogma and don't know it.” (G. K. Chesterton)

“There is an organic connection between our spiritual life and the dogmas. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate it and make it secure. Conversely, if our life is upright, our intellect and heart will be open to welcome the light shed by the dogmas of faith.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 89)
Course Description
This two-semester course will provide an overview of the dogmatic theology of the Roman Catholic Church, focusing broadly on the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed as laid out in Part One of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Dogmatic theology concerns the doctrinal teaching of the Church, what we believe. Its source is Jesus Christ, emergingfromaliving dialogue between Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the intellectual currents of the day. It is a dialogue mediated by the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church. Dogmatic theology seeks to enable the faithful to think with the Church, understanding more deeply the Catholic faith in light of contemporary questions and intellectual currents, emphasizing both the reasonableness and the profound mystery of all that we profess.

Texts
Allstudents must have a copy of the Holy Bible (any standard Catholic translation is fine) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In addition to these, the primary text will be Frank Sheed’sTheology for Beginners (available cheaply – new, used, or e-book format – on Amazon or Barnes & Noble). Students will also need a copy of Lumen Gentium (The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), available in any collection of Vatican II documents and on the website of the Holy See ( Additional reading will be provided as handouts or with online references.

Written Assignments
After the introductory class, students will submit short written answers (one or two typed pages total) to a series of reflection questions based on the assigned readings each month.

Schedule

February 8Introduction
Jn 1:1-18 / Acts 15:1-35 / 1 Jn 1:1-4 & 5:1-12
Review Catechism 26-100 & 142-197
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapter 1 (“Why Study Theology?”)
Charles Cardinal Journet, “Dogma and Contemplation” (handout)
St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica, Part III, Question 46, Article 1(handout)

March 8The Existence & Nature of God
Ex 3:1-15 / Wis 13:1-9 / Job 38-41 / Ps 90
Review Catechism 198-231
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapters 2-3
Arguments for the Existence of God (handout)

April 12The Blessed Trinity
Gn 1:26, 11:7, & 18:1-15 / Dt 6:4 / Mk 12:28-30 / Jn 14:8-11 / 1 Jn 4:7-16
Review Catechism 232-267
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapters 4-6
Benedict XVI, 2008 Homily on Trinity Sunday (handout)
James V. Schall, SJ, “’The Reality of God’: Benedict XVI on the Trinity” (handout)

May 10Creation& the Fall
Gn 1-3 / Ps 104 / Ps 148 / Sir 42:15-43:35 / Dn 3:56-88 / Rom 1:19-23
Review Catechism 268-421
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapters 7-10

June 14Our Lord Jesus Christ, Part I: The Person of the Redeemer
Mt 16:13-20 / Jn 1:1-18 & 8:56-59 / Acts 7:54-60 / Phil 2:6-11 / Col 1:15-20 & 2:9
Review Catechism 422-483 & 512-570
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapter 11
C. S. Lewis, “What Are We to Make of Jesus Christ?” (handout)
St. Leo the Great, excerpt from “The Tome” (handout)

July 12NO CLASS

August 9Our Lord Jesus Christ, Part II: The Work of the Redeemer
Mt 26:26-28 / Rom 5:8 / 1 Cor 15:17-19 / 2 Cor 5:19 / 1 Thes 5:10 /
1 Pt 1:18-19 / Heb 2:15 & 7:25
Review Catechism 571-682
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapter 12

September 13The Church: Mystical Body of Christ & Communion of Saints
Ephesians (the whole letter)
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium
Review Catechism 748-975
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapters 13-14

October 11The Blessed Virgin Mary
Gn 3 / 2 Sam 6 / Lk 1 / Rev 11:19-12:6
Review Catechism 484-511
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapter 15
Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (widely available online)
Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (widely available online)

November 8The Holy Spirit, Sin, & Grace
Lk 11:9-13 / Jn 16:4-14 / Acts 5:1-11 / Rom 8:18-39 / 2 Cor 4:1 - 5:21 / Gal 5:16-26 /
1 Pet 4:10-11 / Jude 17-21
Review Catechism 355-421 & 683-747
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapters 16-18

December 6The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell
Mt 25:31-46 / Rev 21-22
Review Catechism976-1065 & 1471-1479
Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners, chapters 19-20and
Epilogue (“The Layman in the Church”)