DESCRIPTION: With the countryside and cityscapes of Ireland and Northern Ireland as the backdrop for our explorations, this course will consider Celtic expressions of faith along with medieval worship and monastic devotion as modes of spiritual formation. From the book of Kells to Celtic cemeteries and ruins to Catholic and Protestant churches, the music and art of the Irish people will inform our consideration of their spirituality. Through visits to key historical sites, lectures, readings, discussions, viewing of local art, and engagement in local liturgies, students will become familiar with the patterns of prayer that have shaped Celtic and medieval devotion and continue to provide expression for contemporary people of faith. Topics to be explored include the shape of the Roman Mass and its theology; the similarities and differences between it and Protestant expressions of sacramental theology and piety; the practice of praying the hours; the place of preaching within worship; the development of monastic chant and Celtic sacred music; Celtic sculpture, architecture, and illustration; and the influence of St. Patrick on both Protestant and Catholic piety in Ireland. The course will be set in two locations: Glencree Center for Peace and Reconciliation (near Dublin) and Lakeside Manor (near Belfast).

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Christian spiritual practices are critical to the exercise of faith. Learning about and experiencing the practices of a key period in Christian history and of one culture's faith expressions will both enrich a person's own spiritual practice and provide a basis for discussing and teaching such practices in settings of Christian ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Course objectives are that students will (1) grow in their understanding of the medieval era and its spiritual practices, as well as Protestant and Catholic expressions of Celtic piety, (2) experience firsthand Celtic music, art, and spirituality and engage in the practice of these arts on a basic level, and (3) increase in awareness of how medieval and Celtic spiritual practices can inform and enrich spiritual life today.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for ten days in Ireland for lecture, reading discussion, and visits to museums, churches, cemeteries, and historic sites. Following the onsite portion, the course will conclude with a five-week Moodle component that will lead students into the exploration of additional reading and viewing materials, threaded online discussions, written assignments, and preparation for a final written or artistic project.

REQUIRED READING:

Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe. Anchor Books. ISBN: 0385418493, $15.00 (200 pages).

Jensen, Robin M. The Substance of Things Seen: Art, Faith, and Christian Community. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 0-8028-2796-9, $14.82 (150 pages).

Megaw, Vincent, and Ruth Megaw. Celtic Art: From Its Beginnings to the Book of Kells. Thames and Hudson, 2001; Yale University Press, 2006. ISBN: 0-500-28265-X, $25.51 (300 pages, select readings of 100 pages).

Okholm, Dennis. Monk Habits for Everyday People: Benedictine Spirituality for Protestants. Brazos, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-58743-185-2, $12.99 (135 pages).

Farrer, Lauralee, and Clayton J. Schmit. Praying the Hours in Ordinary Life. Cascade Books, 2010. ISBN: 9781608992782, $26.00 (200 pages).

Davies, Oliver, and Thomas O'Loughlin. Celtic Spirituality. Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press, 1999. ISBN: 0-8091-3894-8, $20.00 (350 pages, select readings of 100 pages).

Course Reader (covering topics of chant; medieval and Celtic music; the Book of Kells, art, and sculpture; and the shape of the Roman liturgy, 100 pages).

1. Attend the ten-day course in Ireland and prepare for brief daily reading assignments, attend lectures and discussions, and visit local sites (30% of grade).

2. Engage in worship experiences in Catholic and Protestant sites in Ireland including attendance at a daily Roman Catholic mass and participation in a 24-hour period of praying the hours as a class.

3. Keep a daily journal of activities and reflections (20% of grade).

4. Read approximately 800 pages of additional material during the online portion of the course and engage in online threaded discussion relating to each textbook (20% of grade).

5. Prepare a short reflection papers (online reflections with threaded discussions) on what was experienced and learned in Ireland (10% of grade).

6. Prepare a final academic paper or artistic project (20% of grade).