"No Longer I Who Live, But Christ In Me"
St. Thomas's Commentary on the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians
Albert the Great Summer Program 2019 – USA
August 12 – 16, in Wausau, Wisconsin
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| The Angelic Doctor |
The Albert the Great Center, which has held summer programs in Norcia, Italy, for several years, is expanding its offerings by holding a summer theology program in the USA for the first time, in collaboration with The Aquinas Institute for the Study of Sacred Doctrine. The primary focus of this week-long intensive course will be St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, supported by St. Thomas Aquinas's superb commentary on the same.
According to St. Thomas, Galatians is about the grace of Christ as it exists in his Mystical Body, which is the Church, and in particular, as it exists in the sacraments of Church, for "in the letter ... superfluous sacraments are rejected against certain men who wanted to join the old sacraments to the new ones." Galatians and the commentary on it bring forward important considerations on the unchangeableness of sacred doctrine ("even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be anathema"), on the mystical identification of the Christian with Christ, on the setting-aside of the Old Covenant in consequence of its messianic fulfillment, and on the confrontation of Church hierarchs by their subjects -- all subjects under considerable discussion in our day.
In accord with the methodology of the Albert the Great Center, the daily academic schedule will include two seminars and a lecture. The seminars focus on a reading of the texts, the aim of which is to arrive at a deeper knowledge of truth through collaborative work. The lectures provide an opportunity for certain topics that arise out of the reading to be explored in greater depth. One of the highlights of the course is the formal scholastic disputation to be held on Thursday, August 15, in honor of the solemn feast of Our Lady's Assumption.
Faculty members leading the course include Dr. John Joy, who is the President of the Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies, and Dr. Alan Fimister, who is Assistant Professor of Theology and Church History at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver.
In addition to the academic program, there will also be ample opportunity to participate in the rich liturgical life of St. Mary's Oratory with the canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Daily Mass and prayers of the Divine Office will be available in the usus antiquior ('extraordinary form') of the Roman Rite, as well as the sacrament of confession. For our aim is not merely to study the sacred Scriptures but to contemplate the mysteries of the faith. Taking St. Thomas as our model both in study and in prayer, our studies draw their life from the sacred liturgy of the Church.
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| St. Mary's Oratory, Wausau (location of daily Mass) |
DETAILS
Eligibility: The 2019 USA Session is open to all applicants 18 years and older. The application process includes the completion of an application form and the submission of a letter of recommendation. Deadline for applications is May 1, 2019.
Location: The course will be held at St. Mary's Oratory, in Wausau, Wisconsin. Wausau is a city of about 40,000 people on the Wisconsin River in central Wisconsin. It is about 2 hrs by car from Green Bay; 2 hrs from Madison; 2.5 hrs from La Crosse; 3 hrs from Milwaukee; and 3 hrs from Minneapolis (MSP), a major airport with many connections.
Cost: Program fees are scaled as follows:
Option 1. Tuition only (for commuters): $250.
Option 2. Tuition plus accommodations in a shared double hotel room: $500.
Option 3. Tuition plus accommodations in a private single hotel room: $750.
We have reserved rooms at the Jefferson Street Inn in downtown Wausau. It is a 3 minute drive or an 11 minute walk from the inn to St. Mary's Oratory. If choosing to stay at the inn, please arrange it with us rather than booking directly with the hotel, so as to avoid unnecessary confusion.
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| Jefferson Inn |
Payment can be made by check or credit card. $250 deposit due upon acceptance of application. Remainder (if applicable) due by June 1.
Meals: Lunch will be provided each day on site for all participants. Breakfast will be available at the hotel for those staying there. For dinner, guests are welcome to make their own plans. There is a restaurant in the hotel as well as many other local eating places close by. If you have any special needs or requests, please contact us directly.
Course Book: Each participant will receive a beautifully bound hardcover volume of St. Thomas’ Commentary on the Letters of St. Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians in Latin and English (list price $47.95), courtesy of The Aquinas Institute for the Study of Sacred Doctrine.
Course Credits: The Saint Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies is not a degree granting institution, but we can provide documentation verifying 20 hours of coursework for those who need it. The Diocese of Madison, WI has already agreed to accept this course as credit toward catechetical certification through the Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute. If you are from another diocese and would be interested in a similar arrangement, please let us know.
To Apply: Complete the online application form and then upload a letter of recommendation. Once accepted, you will be asked for a $250 deposit to confirm your place on the course.
Questions? Please contact us directly!
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| Downtown Wausau by the Inn |
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| Dells of the Eau Claire Park (about 30 mins. from Wausau) |
