Faculty/Student Lunch Seminars - Doctores Ecclesiae
Faculty/Student Lunch Seminar Series: Doctores Ecclesiae
The St. Anselm Institute for Catholic Thought initiated this popular Doctors of the Church faculty-student lunch seminar series in 2008 with the goal of providing a friendly intellectual setting for students and faculty from different parts of the University to meet and to discuss the life and works of one of the 37 Doctors of the Church. On occasion, we also take a closer look at a learned Saint or another great teacher who aided the Church in Her thinking. No prior academic experience is required, and first-year students to advanced graduate students regularly participate along with a changing set of University faculty. Space, however, is limited, so advanced reservations by individuals are strongly suggested. Interested undergraduate, graduate, Law, Medical, and Darden School students are invited to attend one (or more) of the scheduled sessions. A set of short readings for each lunch seminar will be posted to serve as a focal point for our discussion. If you haven't yet participated in one of these (free!) faculty/student lunch seminars, please don't be bashful: simply email the Institute at: info@stanselminstitute.org and reserve a place at the table!
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Past Events in this Series:
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Spring 2016
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October 30, 2015: Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) (Only 1-2 seats available)
Faculty Participants: Michael Root (Catholic University of America), Bill Wilson (Religious Studies), Michael Prosser (Communications), Betsy Ackerson (Education), Charles Kromkowski (Politics/Library), Tom Noble (History),Fr. Antoninus Niemiec, O.P.
Oct. 2, : Simone Weil (1909-1943) (Sorry, we're full; please join us at our next lunch).
Spring 2015 Schedule
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Spring 2014:
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Required Readings: 1) Letters from the Desert (Introduction); 2) On Prayer
March 7, 2014 (Friday): St. John Chrysostom (347-407)
Faculty Participants: Carrie Frost (Religious Studies), Anna Stelow (Classics), John Dobbins (Roman Art & Archaelogy)
Required Readings: Homily 20, On Ephesians 5:22-33
Fall 2013 Schedule
November 8, 2013 (Friday): St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Faculty Participants: Fr. David Link (Univ. of Notre Dame Law School), Fr. Bruno Shah,O.P.; Charles Kromkowski (Politics); TBA
Required Readings: 1) "Advise to Priests Who Minister to Those Condemned to Death"; 2) "Divine Love and the Means of Acquiring It"
October 25, 2013 (Friday): St. Augustine (354-430) (Sorry, we're at our limit. Please join us at the next lunch).
Faculty participants: Bill Wilson (Religious Studies); John Miller (Classics); Charles Kromkowski (Politics)
Required Readings: 1) Sermon 302: On the Feast of St. Laurence; 2) Lettters 133, 134, 139; 3) Sermon on the Sacking of Rome
Spring 2013 Schedule
April 19, 2013 (Friday): St. Ephrem the Syrian (c. 309-373)
Faculty Participants: Fr. Sidney Griffith (Catholic University of America); Charles Kromkowski ((Politics); Charles Dunkl (Mathematics); Karin Oberg (Astronomy/Chemistry); Fr, Giles Dimock, O.P., Jaeyuen Park (Medical School); Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P.
Required Readings: 1) Hymns on Paradise, VII; 2) On Human Language about God.
3): Sidney Griffith, "'Faith Adoring the Mystery': Reading the Bible with St. Emphraem the Syrian"
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February 6, 2013 (Wednesday): St. John Cassian (c. 360-435) (Please join us at our next lunch)
Faculty Participants: Fr. Peter Funk, O.S.B. (Prior of the Monastery of the Holy Cross), Br. Timothy Ferrell, Joseph Davis (Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture/Sociology); Bill Ferraro (Papers of George Washington); Charles Kromkowski (Politics); TBA
Required Readings: Conference 14
Additional Reading: Conference 6
January 18, 2013 (Friday): St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) (Sorry reservations now closed; please join us at our next scheduled lunch)
Faculty participants: Eleonore Stump (Philosophy, St. Louis University), Jorge Secada (Philosophy), Kate Burke (Drama), Tom Russman (Philosophy), Robert Kemp (Commerce); Charles Kromkowski (Politics)
Required Readings: Summa Theologiae--
1) I.II Question 27. The cause of love (Articles 1-4)
2) I.II Question 28. The effects of love (Articles 1-6)
3) II.II Question 28. Joy (Articles 1-4)
Fall 2012 Schedule
December 7, 2012: St. Leo the Great (c.390/400-461) (Sorry, we're at capacity).
Faculty Participants: Fr. Bruno Shah, O.P., Greg Goering (Religious Studies); Charles Kromkowski (Politics),
Required Readings: 1) Sermon XXVI (On the Feast of the Nativity); 2) Letter XXVIII (the Tome); 3) Sermon X (On the Collections); 4) Sermon III (on the Anniversary of his Elevation to the Pontificate)
Additional Reading: Roman Missal selections
(Sorry, reservations now closed: we look forward to seeing you at our next lunch seminar)
October 5, 2012: Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964)
Faculty Participants: Angela Alaimo O'Donnell (Fordham), Ed Stelow (Medical School), John Miller (Classics), Bruno Shah, O.P., Jeffrey Wills (Classics), Charles Kromkowski (Politics)
Required Readings: 1) A Good Man is Hard to Find; 2) The Catholic Novelist in the Protestant South
Supplemental Reading: Revelation
Reservations now closed; please consider our next lunch (Oct. 5)
September 28, 2012: Vatican II/Declaration on Religious Freedom
Faculty Participants: Fr. Gerry Fogarty, S.J. (Religious Studies), Charles Kromkowski (Politics); Jean Eby (Public Health Sciences)
Required Readings: Dignitatis Humanae (1965)
Spring 2012 Schedule
April 20, 2012: St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) (Reservations now closed: sorry, we're full).
Faculty Participants: Brad Gregory (University of Notre Dame); John Miller (Classics); Jorge Secada (Philosophy); Anna Stelow (Classics); Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P.
Assigned Readings: Introduction to the Devout Life, Part 1, Chapters 1-8, and Part 3, Chapters 1-2 and Part 3, Chapters 14-22.
(Reservations now closed, we hope to see you at our next lunch).
Feb.24, 2012: Francisco de Vitoria. O.P. (c. 1492-1546) and the "Doctor Eximius et Pius" Francisco Suarez, S.J. (1548-1617)
Faculty Participants: Jorge Secada (Philosophy); Alfredo Garcia (Systems & Information Engineering); Charles Kromkowski (Politics)
Assigned Readings: Vitoria, 1)"On Civil Power," 2)"On the American Indians," 3)"On the Evangelization of Unbelievers," 4)"Letter to Arcos" and
See also: "Suarez" in The Encyclopedia of Ethics
Fall 2011 Schedule
November 4, 2011 (Reservations now closed, please consider reserving a seat at a future lunch seminar)
St. Therese of the Child Jesus (1873-1897)
Faculty Participants: Fr. John Sullivan, OCD, STD; Anna Stelow (Classics); Charles Kromkowski (Politics)
Assigned Readings: Act of Oblation to Merciful Love
September 26, 2011 (Reservations now closed, please consider reserving a seat at our next lunch seminar).
St. John of Avila (the Newest Doctor!)
Faculty Participants: Alison Weber (Spanish), Javier Herrero (Spanish), Alfredo Garcia (Systems & Information Engineering), Jorge Secada (Philosophy); Charles Kromkowski (Politics); Jean Gaare Eby (Public Health Sciences); Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P.
Assigned Readings: Listen, O Daughter [Audi, filia], 1)Chapters 5-7; 2) Chapters 50-52; 3) Chapters 92-93.
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Bl. John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Faculty Participants: Reinhard Hütter (Duke University), Kathryn Sharpe (Darden), Walter Jost (English), Charles Kromkowski (Politics)
Assigned Readings: The Idea of the University (to be posted)
Part I: University Teaching, Ch. II: Theology a Branch of Knowledge, pp. 18-38
Part II: University Subjects, Ch. IV: A Form of Infidelity of the Day, 1854, pp. 287-307
Suggested Additional Reading: See online Newman Reader
Part I: University Teaching, Ch. III: Bearing of Theology on Other Knowledge, pp. 43-70.
Part I: University Teaching, Ch. IV: Bearing of Other Knowledge on Theology, pp. 71-98.
Spring 2011 Schedule
April 8, 2011 (Reservations now closed)
St. Gregory the Great (c. 540-604)
Faculty Participants: Thomas F.X. Noble (University of Notre Dame); Robert Louis Wilken (Religious Studies); Charles Kromkowski (Politics); Charles Dunkl (Mathematics); Anna Kim (Art History); Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P., Joe Davis (Sociology)
Assigned Readings: Pastoral Care, Part 1
Recommended Readings: Pastoral Care, Part 2
February 25, 2011
St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Faculty Participants: Thomas Russman (Philosophy); Charles Kromkowski (Politics); Anna Stelow (Classics),
Assigned Readings: 1) Spiritual Canticle: stanza 1; 2) Ascent of Mount Carmel; 3) The Living Flame of God; 4) The Dark Night, Bk I; 5) The Dark Night, Bk II; 6) Spiritual Canticle: stanza 12 & 38; 7) Spiritual Canticle: stanza 39.
January 27, 2011 (Reservations now closed)
St. Thomas Aquinas (c.1225-1274) and the Theological Virtues
Faculty Participants: Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P.; Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P., Kathryn Sharpe (Darden); Charles Kromkowski (Politics); Joseph Davis (IASC/Sociology)
Fall 2010 Schedule
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Boethius (480-524/25)--Christian martyr and the "last Roman"--on the Consolation of Philosophy
Faculty participants: Robert Louis Wilken (Religious Studies), John Miller (Classics), Charles Kromkowski (Politics), Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P.
Assigned reading: Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy, 1) Bk.1.1-6; 2) Bk.2.2; 3) Bk.3.9-10; 4) Bk.5.3
Supplemental Reading: St. Augustine, On Christian Doctrine; and The Teacher
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October 8, 2010 (Reservations now closed, please join us at the next Doctors lunch)
Blessed John Duns Scotus (1255/56-1308) and the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception
Faculty participants: Trent Pomplun (Loyola University-Maryland), Charles Kromkowski (Politics), Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P.
Assigned Readings: 1) St. Anselm, On the Virgin Conception and Original Sin, ch.18; 2) Scotus, "Question Two: Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary," pp. 30-62
Spring 2010 Schedule
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Doctor of the Church: St. Jerome (c. 347-420)
Faculty Participants: Robin Darling Young (Religious Studies), David Kovacs (Classics), Charles Kromkowski (Politics), Kathryn Sharpe (Darden); Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P.; Anna Stelow (Classics); David Warner (Theology)
Assigned Readings: Letter CXXXIII, To Ctesiphon; Letter to Marcella (XL); Letter to Marcella (XLIII)
Assigned Readings: 1) Song of Song Commentary, trans. Kilian Walsh, Vol. 1, Sermons 3 and 4, pp. 16-24; 2) Letters of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, trans. Bruno Scott James, pp. 222-231.
March 25, 2010 (Reservations now closed, please consider attending the next Doctors lunch)
Location: Hotel E, West Range
Doctor of the Church: St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Faculty Participants: Robert Louis Wilken (Religious Studies), Ed Stelow (Medical School: Pathology), Judith Kovacs (Religious Studies)
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Location: The Biltmore, 16 Elliewood Ave.
Time: 12:00-1:30pm
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Faculty Participants: Lynn Sanders (Politics), Rebecca Stangl (Philosophy), Charles Kromkowski (Politics), Anna Stelow (Classics), Kathryn Starpe (Darden) & Vincent Phillip Munoz (University of Notre Dame); Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P.
Assigned Readings: 1) "The Hidden Life and Epiphany" (1940); 2) The Significance of Woman's Intrinsic Value in National Life"; 3) Ethos of Women's Professions
Extra Reading: Selections on Empathy, pp. 81-89
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Location: Hotel E/West Range
Doctor of the Church: St. Bonaventure (1221-1274)
Faculty Participants: Thomas Russman (Philosophy), Charles Kromkowski (Politics); Fr. Stephen Alcott, O.P., Kathryn Sharpe (Darden) & Charles Dunkl (Mathematics)
Assigned Readings: 1) Commentary on Book II of the Sentences, X:347-356; 2) Commentary on The Gospel of Luke, ch5: v.30-32 (pp.443-46);
Extra Readings: Commentary on...Luke, ch 23: v.26 (pp.2136--37); and De Triplici Via [The Triple Way] pp. 71-72, 91-94.
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Location: Hotel E, West Range
Doctor of the Church: St. Ephrem the Syrian (c.309-373)
Faculty Participants: Robin Darling Young (Religious Studies), Alfredo Garcia (Systems & Information Engineering), Charles Kromkowski (Politics)
Assigned Reading: 1) Hymns on the Nativity, #11; 2) Hymns on Paradise, V; 3) Hymns on Paradise, X and XI
Suggested Extra Reading: Sidney Griffith, Faith adoring the mystery: reading the Bible with St. Ephraem the Syrian
October 1, 2009 (Please consider attending the next Doctors lunch on Oct. 16)
Location: Hotel E, West Range
Doctor of the Church: St. John of Damascus (c.676-749), plus St. Gregory Palamas (1296-1359)
Faculty Participants: Fr. Brendan McAnerney OP, Robin Young (Religious Studies), Charles Kromkowski (Politics), John Dobbins (Classical Art & Archaeology) & TBA
Assigned Reading:
1. St. John of Damascus, The Orthodox Faith, Bk. 4, chs. 15-16, [7pp]
2. St. Gregory Palamas, The Triads, Section D 33/66-68; and Section E 14-16 [6pp]
May 8, 2009
Location: Garrett Hall Seminar Room (N.B. New location to accommodate more reservation requests)
Doctor of the Church: St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Faculty Participants: Diane Gigantino Baltz (Spanish), Alfredo Garcia (Engineering), Javier Herrero (Spanish), Charles Kromkowski (Politics),
Assigned Reading:
1.The Interior Castle, ch. 4.3 [English] [Spanish]
2. The Book of Her Life, ch. 23 [English] [Spanish]
3. The Book of Her Life, ch. 25 [English] [Spanish]
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March 19, 2009 (12:00-1:30pm) (Reservations now closed, please consider attending our final lunch)
Location: Hotel E, West Range
Doctor of the Church: St. Anselm (1033-1109)
Faculty Participants: William Wilson (Religious Studies), Rebecca Stangl (Philosophy), Charles Kromkowski (Politics), Charles Dunkl (Mathematics)
Asssigned Reading: Prosologion, especially chapters 1-6 (pp.82-90)
February 13, 2009 (12:00-1:30pm) (We're at our limit, but please consider joining us at a future lunch).
Location: Garrett Hall Seminar Room, Lower Level
Doctor of the Church: St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Faculty Participants: Bernard McGinn (University of Chicago Divinity School), Kevin Hart (Religious Studies), Joseph Davis (IASC/Sociology), Fr. Gregory Maturi, O.P., Charles Kromkowski (Politics), and Lynn Sanders (Politics)
Assigned Reading: Letters to Fr. Raimondo, T273, T219, T272.
Extra Reading: The Dialogue, chs. 64, 76, and (On Tears) chs.88-91.
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November 20, 2008 (Thursday), 12:00-1:30pm (Session full, please consider one of the future sessions)
Location: Hotel E, West Range
Doctor of the Church: St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274)
Faculty Participants: Kevin Hart (Religious Studies), Rebecca Stangl (Philosophy), Charles Kromkowski (Politics), Tom Russman (Philosophy, formerly Univ. of St. Thomas, Houston)
Assigned Reading: Summa Theologiae on Love, Part 1, Question 20 (art. 1, 2, 3); and Part 2.2, Question 27 (art. 6)
Location: Hotel E, West Range
Doctor of the Church: St. Augustine (354-430AD)
Faculty Participants: Robert Wilken (Religious Studies), Brad Wilcox (Sociology), Ed Stelow, M.D. (Pathology), Charles Kromkowski (Politics),
Assigned Reading: St. Augustine, "The Excellence of Marriage," pp.1-16