Syllabus HS 4163 From Constance to Vatican II

Transcription

1 Syllabus HS 4163 From Constance to Vatican II Instructor: fr. John Hilary Martin, O.P. Class times: Tuesday 9:40-12:30 am Office Hours: Mon, :30 pm (DSPT ) Telephone: , at home (not after 8:30) The Councils of Constance ( ), Basel ( ; 1449) and Florence (1438) produced an effect that lasted well beyond the times that produced them. Constance was called to heal the disastrous papal schism caused by the double election of two popes within a few weeks in When Europeans became aware that the church was divided and that there was no immediate prospect of uniting the divided parts there were calls to recover unity, but how to do so was not obvious. As the schism continued a desire arose to reform of the whole church, in head and members. This would have to be a reform that did much more than correct old abuses because the conditions of church and society had changed. What we now call nation states were being formed and new developments were occurring in banking, the use of credit and money. Ecclesiastics and civil leaders had to listen carefully for new formulae that would both draw the different factions of the church together and at the same time would be acceptable to the new piety and social currents of the 14th century. This course will be concerned with theories of ecclesiastical reform and the reform of the church in head and members, ideas developed at Constance, Basle and Florence with echoes continuing to Vatican II. Method: In the first weeks the lecture method will be used to set the scene. After the third week the seminar method will be employed and students will read and discuss the theories of governance developed at Constance, Basel and Florence. After Reading Week discussion will focus on notions of shared governance becoming popular at the time. The seminar will conclude with an assessment of the influence of these medieval Councils had on the Second Vatican Council. Expectations Students will take an active part in the discussions, paying special attention to issues of church polity at Constance, Basel and Vatican II (20%) Students will review a book and make a short presentation of their review at one of the sessions (20%) An overview of the proposal for the final paper will be discussed in class and a final paper (20-25 pgs.) with appropriate bibliography (60%). Requirements Reading 1. Each week there will be a reading assigned which should be read before class to facilitate discussion. 2. A short paper (2/3 pages) outlining the meaning of the text to be handed in at the beginning of class on the following week. 3. A book review of a book listed under secondary sources or other approved text. a. 20% of final grade

2 4. Active, informed participation in the discussions 20% of final grade 5. A final paper on an approved topic discussed in class 60% of grade Written Work 1. Short papers on assigned readings. 2. Book Review 7-10 pages 3. A Final Paper pages. A short written proposal for the final paper will be presented in class 4-6 weeks before the end of term for discussion, criticism and support. Purpose, Outcomes and Grading rubrics for the course. Course Goals The goal of this course is to enable students to examine the working of an Ecumenical Council. The students will be expected to know the reasons for calling Councils, its membership (both traditional and non-traditional), voting procedures and publication of results. Students will learn of the successes and failures of the medieval councils of Constance, Basel and Florence in the light of the needs of the Christian community in the 15 th century. They will also see the importance and significance of them for later Councils, especially Vatican II. 1. To achieve an understanding of political and ecclesiastical problems using the weekly papers as evidence of an intellectual integration of the material 2. Promote a realization by students that the Christian community dealt with problems (schism and unity) that are still with us and so help the students acquire an intellectual humility as they look into the past. 3. The weekly papers, the book review and the final paper will encourage students to look beyond reporting from particular text books but to see the success and failures of significant thinkers and develop a sense of self-direction. 4. No paper should be written by a student entirely on their own. The discussion of papers at the beginning of each class and particularly the discussion of the proposal for their final paper in the presence of friendly classmates is designed to foster a sense of intellectual collaboration. 5. The three medieval councils and the later Vatican Councils all faced major challenges in their own day. Students will be encouraged to find some answers the prophetic challenge concerning church unity of our own day. Course outcomes 1. The ability to read conciliar texts with a critical understanding of what they meant at the time what it might mean for us now. 2. To communicate the fruits of their reading by their scholarly writing. 3. The ability to see a medieval text as offering solutions, or a least insights into contemporary ecclesiastical issues. 4. To examine the relation ideas, like collegiality, have for contemporary ecclesiastical concerns. 5. To remind students that the Eastern Churches living in another culture can have much to say about the non-christian religions of the Eastern Mediterranean world. 2

3 Grading Rubrics A The ability to read council texts, to know about the committee work that went into their construction. To have an understanding of the history of Constance, Basel and Florence and Vatican II. To follow the development of a theological theme (like collegiality) from Council to Council to Vatican II. To be aware of how one Council influenced another. To show some evidence of independent research, for example, into one of the figures at a council, or a theological text or tract that became important. To use secondary literature. Faithfulness to class discussion and the weekly papers. The ability to write a clear and concise final paper on the topic chosen and to prepare a bibliography for it. A- The ability to read a council text. To know how such tests were formed. To have an understanding of the history of Constance, Basel and Florence and Vatican II. To be aware of how one Council could influence another. Weaknesses would include a failure to recognise contemporary political problems. To over-look the secondary literature. Faithfulness to class discussion and weekly papers. The ability to write a clear and concise final paper on the topic chosen and attempt a bibliography for it. B+ Lack of clarity about the use and meaning of important council texts, gaps in an understanding of the history of the period. To recognize that while one Council did influence others, a failure to see any real connection. To overlook secondary literature Lack of faithfulness to class discussion and weekly papers. The final paper lacked a clear statement of the problem chosen for discussion. No very clear conclusion from the paper. A weak bibliography. B Lacking of understanding of the council texts that we have been reading. Notable gaps and mistakes about the whole 15 th century. Too much discussion of contemporary view points with no corresponding awareness of medieval ideas or else, a medieval discussion with no awareness of modern times. Lack of faithfulness to class discussion and weekly papers. The final paper not on the topic we had agreed on. A paper that was largely journalism, or an exchange of unsupported opinions without an awareness of the issues involved. A B in the first semester indicates the student shows some promise, but needs to see his or her advisor for basic instructions about what is expected. C You will get three credits for this course on your transcript, but the work is below graduate level. It fails to meet the standards set above for A and B. Plagiarism This is taking credit for the work of another without giving credit to your source. Sometimes this is unintentional, but you will have to prove that; you will be assumed to be guilty. Plagiarism includes, paraphrasing texts, lifting ideas from another without citing where you got them. The academic penalties for plagiarism are severe. An F or a O for the grade is common. Remember if you quote the full name of the author and the title of the work you are not committing plagiarism. Your paper may have a long string of quotes and little more, but at the end all you can be accused of is not being very original. 3

4 Class Schedule HS 4163 Constance to Vatican II # 1 Europe in the 1400 s. Changing economic and political patterns. The Western (Latin speaking) church, the churches of the East (Greek speaking). The Avignon Papacy. Theological uncertainties at the universities. Whither canon law. #2 The Great Western Schism itself ( ) The disputed papal election and its immediate aftermath. Assignment of blame, no substitute for a remedy. Ecclesiastical, national and theological issues. The significance of the failure of the via facti. #3 Initial theological efforts to heal the Schism are premature. The orchestration of a Council for Pisa (1409). A theological success, but a practical failure. Suggestions for the future all sides much be heard. Practical Session: How to read documents (GTU Library visit) #4 The Council of Constance ( ). The birth of the Council. It will be a council of nations. Various theologies and schemes for securing reunion. The effort to reform the whole church in head and members. More successful at reforming than is usually recognized. #5 The workings of the Council passing a bill. The happy conclusion, Reaching for subsidiarily. Martin V and the concordats with the nations. The minor councils of Pavia and Siena. #6 READING DAY aftermath of Constance. The spirit of the Council. #7 The Council of Basle ( ; 1449) The pope versus the conciliarists and nationalists the Pragmatic Sanction (France) and the Acceptatio of Mainz (the Empire). The church at a crossroads or at a standstill? Moving toward collegiality? # 8 Outreach of the Western church to the churches of the East and their response in time of need. The different agendas of the Basil, of Pope Eugenius IV and of the Imperial Government at Constantinople. The politics in securing the Council for Ferrara then Florence (1438) for reunion of all Christian communions. #9 The Council at Florence. Theological and ecclesiastical discussions between Latin and Greek speakers. The decree of union, Laetentur Coeli) and its affect East and West. #10 Presentation of Proposals for final papers. To be discussed in class as an exercise in collegiality. #11 The calling of the Second Vatican Council by John XXIII, great and little expectations for it. The decree Ecclesiam Suam #12 READING DAY #13 Discussion: The 15 th century councils and Vatican Councils as models for our time. 4

5 HS 4163 Bibliography Double-starred books (**) are obviously too large to be read for this course, they are the sort of text that is consulted from time to time, so do consult them. Black, Antony. Political Thought in Europe Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Black, Antony. Council and Commune, The Conciliar Movement and the 15 th century Heritage. Shepherstown: Patmos Press, Black, Antony. Monarchy and Community, Political Ideas in the Later Conciliar Controversy Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, Gill, Joseph, Constance et Bale-Florence, Paris: [Histoires des Concile Oecumeniques] Kegel, Rolf de. Johannes von Segovia, Liber de Magna Auctoritate Episcoporum in Concilio Generali, [Spicilegium Friburgense 34]. Freiburg Schweiz: Universitatesverlag, Martin, John J. Doctrinal Authority in the Church on the Eve of the Reformation. Ann Arbor: University Films International, Morrissey Thomas. The Decree Haec Sancta and Cardinal Zabarella, His Role in the Interpretation and Formulation. AHC 10 (1978) Oakley, F. Council Over Pope, Herder and Herder, Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima Joannes Dominicus, Mansi. Paris: H. Welter ( ). Often cited simply as Mansi. Stump, Phillip H., The Reforms of the Council of Constance ( ). In Studies in the History of Christian Thought, LIII. Leiden: E.J. Brill, Sieber Hermann, J. Tractate und Theorien zum Konzil von Beginn des Grossen Schimas bis um Vorabend der Reformation ( ). Frankfurt: Knecht, Stieber, Joachim W. Pope Eugenius IV, The Council of Basel and the Secular and Ecclesiastical Authorities in the Empire. Leiden: E.J. Brill, **History of Vatican II, ed. Guiseppe Albergo, Eng. trans. Joseph A. Komonchak. Maryknowl, N.Y.: Orbis, Lisska, Anthony J., Aquinas s Theory of Natural Law, Oxford: Clarendon Press, Maritain, Jacques, Man and the State, London: Hollis and Carter,

6 * Natural Law and Public Consensus, John Courtney Murray in Natural Law and Modern Society. Cleveland: The World Publishing Company, l hermeneutique de Vatican II, Revue Thomiste, janvier-mars 2010 and avril-juin 2010, Toulouse. **Vatican II The Concilliar and Post Conciliar Documents, ed. Austin Flannery, O.P. Northport NY: Costello Publishing Company, **Vatican II More Post Concilliar Documents, ed. Austin Flannery, O.P. Boston MA: St. Paul Edition, Vatican II Renewal Within Tradition, ed. Matthew L. Lamb and Matthew Levering. Oxford: Oxford University Press, **Congar, Yves, My Journal of the Council, ed. Denis Minns. Adelaide, S.A.: ATF Press,