Read by Fr. Anthony Ciorra, Ph.D

Explore the rich spiritual movements of the Catholic tradition. In this course, you will encounter seven powerful schools of spirituality, discovering what makes each school special and transformative. Your professor is celebrated spirituality expert Fr. Anthony Ciorra,, Ph.D., who will guide you through the development of insights and charisms through the centuries. Throughout this course, you are invited to deepen your personal relationship with God. First, you will journey to Egypt, where the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers will inspire you. Then, you will see how the Monastic Movement flourished throughout Europe. You will also meet the preeminent mendicant preachers, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Dominic, who each founded influential orders based on the charism of poverty. After that, you will travel to Mount Carmel to witness the founding of the Carmelites, whose mysticism flourished first under John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, and carried on with such twentieth-century saints as Thř̈se of Lisieux. Next, you will encounter St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose command to go forth and set the world on fire continues to guide members of the Society of Jesus throughout the world. You will also explore the impact of Salesian spirituality and the Vincentian-Setonian tradition. Seven Great Schools of Catholic Spirituality will spiritually inspire you with the richness of the Christian tradition, inviting you to open your heart to the new places the Spirit is leading the world today

Mode of access: World Wide Web