The Spirituality of an Institute of Consecrated Life: Living a Charism

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course contents utilizes the spirituality of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as a foundational method to study the terminology, issues, and challenges pertinent to the practice of and the theological reflection on the spirituality of other Charismatic families. Students are accompanied in applying this methodology to their founding figure and spirituality.

It is being offered asynchronously online only and the students are expected to participate and interact in the forums and through the assignments. It counts for a total of two credits for M.Div and Certificate students, and 3 for MA students..

GOAL OF THE COURSE

• • • •  To provide the students with a basic knowledge of the sources, contents and development of Mazenodian spirituality throughout its history

      • To assist the students to appropriate and express their own spiritual journey 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion the students will

Objective 1: identify and explain the major elements of Mazenodian spirituality

Objective 2: demonstrate an understanding of Mazenodian spirituality as a living tradition which continues to offer means for a contemporary application 

Objective 3: integrate key themes from the Mazenodian tradition into their own ministerial and personal practice

COURSE CONTENTS

1/        INTRODUCTORY PRINCIPLES 

The concept and definitions of spirituality 

A brief overview of the history of spirituality – contextualizing the place of Eugene de Mazenod and the Oblate family in the overall picture

The key elements of the life and history of Eugene de Mazenod and the history of the Missionary Oblates and their Associates (1816 – 2018)

Relationship between charism and spirituality

Sources and bibliography

2/        THE “SPIRIT” OF THE MAZENODIAN FAMILY 

How the “spirit” has been expressed since 1816

Review of authors who have written on the “Oblate Spirit”

Post Vatican 2 teachings on charism expressed in the Missionary Oblates and their Associates 

The 1976 charism congress and the 1982 Constitutions and Rules as major expressions of Mazenodian spirituality. 

3/        THE COMPONENTS OF MAZENODIAN SPIRITUALITY

Each area will be handled under the headings: 1/ Eugene de Mazenod; 2/ In the life of the Oblate Congregation; 3/ Teaching of Superiors General; 4/ General Chapter documents; 5/ Current expressions

3.1       Jesus Christ, the Savior

3.2       Evangelization 

The apostolic model (Mark 3:14)

The Church

The beneficiaries: the most abandoned

Methods: mission preaching and permanent mission centers

·Eugene de Mazenod as Bishop of Marseilles: an Oblate evangelization

Appropriation: the person of the missionary

 3.3       Religious life

Apostolic community – ideal

Need for vowed commitment

The state of perfection

Evangelical counsels

Oblation

Vatican 2 – changes as shown in the CCRR

 3.4       Living out the charism and spirituality

Mary Immaculate

Oblate models

Patrimony and practices

Sources…

3.5       The Mazenodian Family (the spirituality of laity and religious as protagonists of the charism)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

All necessary material will be provided online.