St. Patrick’s Seminary
320 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 325-5621
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Master of Divinity
Sacred Scripture
SS-4102: Pentateuch and Historical Books (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the Hebrew Scriptures through an examination of its first five books (Gen to Deut) and the historical books (Josh, Judg, I-II Sam, I-II Kings, I-II Chr, Ezra, Neh, I-II Macc). The course will focus on the interaction between God and his people in the Old Testament. The scriptures will be examined in both their literal and spiritual understandings. Special emphasis will be placed on the Catholic interpretations of these books as well as their usage in the liturgy and the lectionary.
SS-4104: Prophets (3 credits)
In this course, students are introduced to the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. Focus will be on the three Major Prophets (Isa, Jer, and Ezek), with some discussion of each of the twelve Minor Prophets (Hos, Joel, Am, Ob, Jon, Mic, Nah, Hab, Zeph, Hag, Zech, and Mal) and Daniel, Baruch, and Lamentations. The course will place each of these prophets in his historical and literary context. Focus will also be given to the Christian interpretation of these texts, their uses in the New Testament, and their application to Christian liturgical worship.
SS-4109: Gospel of John (3 credits)
This course discusses the biblical texts written by St. John. The primary focus of the course will be on the Gospel of John, with some discussion on the letters of St. John. The course will provide a solid literary and historical framework for these various works. This will serve as the foundation for discussing the spiritual and theological meanings of the texts, especially as understood in the Catholic tradition. Some attention will be paid to its liturgical use, especially the use of the Gospel of John in the seasons of Lent and Easter.
SS-5211: Pauline Corpus (3 credits)
The class introduces students to St. Paul and his writings. Students will learn about St. Paul himself, what is known about him through his writings and as described in the Acts of the Apostles, his historical context, and his missionary work. The various letters of St. Paul will be examined in the light of history, literary genre, and especially their spiritual meaning. The course will examine the significant theological themes in St. Paul, including their Christological, sacramental, moral, and soteriological meanings. The course will also examine the Jewish and Greek influences on St. Paul as well as the more important Catholic interpretations of the Pauline works.
SS-5213: Wisdom Literature (2 credits)
The course is intended as a survey of wisdom literature in the Old Testament (Prov, Job, Eccl, Sir, Wis, Ps, Song, and Tob). The class will examine the history of the various books, examine the wider genre of wisdom literature, present the more significant Catholic uses and interpretations of wisdom literature, and study their use in the New Testament.
SS-5215: Hebrews, Catholic Epistles, and Revelation (2 credits)
The class introduces students to the Catholic epistles of the New Testament and the Book of Revelation. The class will discuss the historical development of the literary form, questions of authorship, audience, and dating of each. This will serve as the foundation for the more in-depth analysis of the liturgical imagery and major theological themes of each, including notions of sacrifice and the priesthood. Special attention will be paid to the Letter to the Hebrews, both in its context and its importance in the history of Christian theology. The course will also examine the question of the authorship of Hebrews and its connection to the Pauline texts.
SS-5217: Luke-Acts (2 credits)
This course serves as an introduction to the revelation of Jesus Christ focused on the writings of St. Luke. The Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles form a literary whole that not only shed light on the work of salvation accomplished through the ministry of the Risen Lord but also how this was communicated through the Gift of the Holy Spirit in the Apostolic Church. Students will learn of the various historical and literary approaches to the study of Luke-Acts, including their connections to the other Synoptic Gospels and the Johannine texts. The spiritual and theological meanings of the Lukan corpus in the Catholic tradition are a special focus of this exploration.
SS-5218: Matthew-Mark (2 credits)
This course serves as an introduction to the written revelation of Jesus Christ focusing on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Students will learn of the various historical and literary approaches to the study of the Synoptic Gospels, their advantages and disadvantages. The emphasis of the course will be on understanding the revelation of the Gospels in informing Catholic theology.
Dogmatics (including Liturgical and Church History)
SD-4101: Fundamental Theology (3 credits)
This course discusses the nature, object, normative sources, and methods of Catholic theology. It also examines the transmission and development of revelation (Tradition, Scripture, and its canonicity, inspiration, and inerrancy) as well as theories of revelation and faith in conversation with the First and Second Vatican Councils. Additionally, the course discusses the nature and principles of legitimate development of doctrine.
SD-4103: Theological Anthropology (3 credits)
This course studies the biblical foundations and theological development of the Christian understanding of man. It examines human beings as created in God’s image, their vocation to share in the life of the Holy Trinity, their fall into sin and its consequences, and the missions of the Son and the Holy Spirit to redeem them and bring them to their eschatological fulfillment. Dogmatics (including Liturgical and Church History) Specific topics include the theology of the body and the essential sexual differences that both separate and unite men and women, the realization of the purpose of the sexual difference in marriage or celibacy, the relation of human nature to grace, the relation of uncreated to created grace, and a biblical and Christological theology of death and bodily resurrection.
SD-4122: Church History I: Early to Medieval Church History (3 credits)
This course surveys the first millennium of Christianity and considers the historical, theological, spiritual and cultural developments therein. Topics include the conversion of Constantine and the Church’s rise as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the role of the emperor, the Christian monastic movement, the Fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of Byzantium, the development of the Petrinal ministry, the conversion of the barbarians, the rise of Islam, the lengthy and traumatic dispute about iconoclasm, and the crowning of Charlemagne. Important figures such as Constantine and Justinian, the great popes (Damasus, Leo, Gregory, Stephen II), Charlemagne, Antony of Egypt, and Benedict of Nursia will be discussed. Important contributions the Church made to building Western Civilization will be highlighted in the areas of learning, art and architecture, law and governance.
SD-4124: Patristics (2 credits)
This course is an introduction to the spirituality and overall theological vision of the Greek and Latin Church Fathers from the first to eighth centuries. Students will read some of the most important theological, spiritual, and exegetical texts of the patristic period, including those authored by Ignatius of Antioch, Justin, Irenaeus, Origen, Athanasius, the Cappadocian Fathers, Hilary, Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, John Chrysostom, Cyril, Maximus the Confessor, and John Damascene.
SD-5211: The Trinity (3 credits)
This course approaches the mystery of the Trinity from three perspectives: Scriptural foundations, historical development of doctrine, and systematic exposition. The development of the doctrine is explored at length by examining the teaching of the Fathers, relevant councils and creeds, major controversies, medieval and scholastic theologians, as well as contemporary efforts to synthesize Greek and Latin Trinitarian thought.
SD-5213: Christology/Soteriology (3 credits)
This course investigates the biblical foundations, historical development, and some systematic expositions of Christology, by examining the understanding of the person and mission of Christ in the writings of the Fathers, the councils and creeds, medieval and scholastic theologians, and various contemporary efforts to synthesize the tradition.
SD-5226: Church History II: Late Medieval to Modern Church History (3 credits)
This course traces the history of the Church and its contribution to Western civilization, circa AD 900-1650. Covering the development the Church’s governing institutions (e.g., the Roman Curia), its internal movements of spiritual, intellectual, and artistic renewal, and its relationship with the surrounding world, the course foregrounds the importance of the Gregorian Reform both for the distinctive features assumed by the Church in the second millennium of her history and for the part played by the Church in the emergence, by 1300, of a distinctive Western European civilization. In its later stages, the course examines the long crisis of this civilization from the so-called Avignon Captivity via the Renaissance and Protestant Reformation to the Council of Trent. It concludes with the Catholic revival visible in the founding of the Society of Jesus, the discovery of the New World and establishment of the Church in Asia, Africa, and the Americas as well as the new style of Catholic culture that emerged with the Baroque in the setting of the early European Enlightenment.
SD-7328: Sources of Renewal: A Theological & Historical Reading of the Church in the 20th-21st Centuries (2 credits)
Building upon the foundations laid in Church History I & II, this course begins with an examination of the historical, theological, and philosophical scene in which the Church found itself at the beginning of the twentieth century and the challenges posed to it, under the general rubric of “modernity”, by Marxism, liberalism, and secularization. Thereafter the course explores the nature of the Church’s response to these challenges, with particular reference to the ressourcement movement and the Second Vatican Council.
SD-8431: Ecclesiology (3 credits)
This course examines the origin, nature, and mission of the Church in its biblical foundations, and especially those relevant passages in the Acts of the Apostles and key moments of its historical understanding throughout its history. Topics – including the mystery, constitution, character, and end of the Church – are presented within the context of magisterial documents and especially those of the Second Vatican Council. It includes a study of the marks of the Church, the relation between the local and Universal dimensions of ecclesial reality, and an introduction to ecumenical and inter-religious issues.
SD-8433: Mariology (2 credits)
This course surveys the Catholic Church’s doctrine of Mary, the Mother of God, from biblical, historical, spiritual, liturgical, and dogmatic perspectives. By examining the major biblical texts that support a theology of Mary, a foundation is laid for a treatment of patristic understandings of Mary as well as the development of Marian spirituality and piety in the Middle Ages. The four defined dogmas concerning Mary and major approved apparitions are discussed, as well as Marian devotion as it relates to the priesthood.
SD-8436: Apologetics and the New Evangelization (2 credits)
This course equips students to use their knowledge of scripture, theology, and philosophy to give an account of the rationality and truth of the Catholic faith to parishioners, would-be believers, doubters, and opponents of Catholicism. Topics include the existence of God, the refutation of rationalism and relativism, the historicity of the Bible, and answers to various protestant objections. Additionally, the course discusses the Church’s evangelical mandate in connection with magisterial documents concerning the new evangelization. Students are led to see evangelization as a deeply christological reality and as an oblative action on their part out of love for the world.
SD-8500: Special Topics (1-3 credits)
From time to time, Special Topics courses may be offered that are not listed permanently in the curricula and that are infrequently offered. These courses examine comparatively narrow subjects that may be topical or of special interest. A specific course title shall be used in each instance and shall be so noted on the student record. Special Topics courses carry elective credit and may not be transferable to other institutions. Available for repeat credit.
SD-8500: Special Topics: Eschatology (2 credits)
This course is a systematic theological inquiry and reflection on the last things and human teleology. The inquiry is grounded in Scripture and Tradition, historically informed, and faithful to the Magisterium.
SD-8500: Special Topics: Faith and Science (2 credits)
This course examines the apparent tension between the method and discoveries of modern science and the Christian faith’s theological approach to nature and the human person. The resources developed by the Christian tradition for approaching secular learning are used as a foundation for examining and critiquing contemporary theories of the relation between science and faith, with a focus on issues such as the origin of the universe and the evolution of the human species.
SL-5203: Introduction to the Sacraments: Baptism and Confirmation (3 credits)
This course begins with an extensive presentation of the foundational principles of sacramental theology, which includes an analysis of the sacraments in terms of sign, matter, form, cause, effects, minister, and recipient. The course then investigates the biblical foundations, history, and theology of Baptism and Confirmation.
SL-5211: Liturgical Theology (2 credits)
This course examines the liturgy by studying its historical and theological development from the rites of the early centuries to the modern day. Topics include ritual, symbol, and liturgical discipline. An important place will be given to recent magisterial documents.
SL-7302: Eucharist (3 credits)
This course examines the Eucharist in light of Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium. Topics include the Biblical concept of sacrifice and Christological origins of the Eucharist. Patristic and medieval theologies of the Eucharist will be studied as well as Tridentine and 20th century developments concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass and communion ecclesiology, with attention paid to Sacrosanctum Concilium at Vatican Council II. Consideration will also be given to the relation of the Eucharist to various forms of liturgical rites as well as canon law.
SL-8317: Theology of Marriage and State of Life (2 credits)
This course builds on the foundations laid in MT 5203: Sexual Ethics and the Person as it explores spousal and virginal meanings of the body in relation to masculinity and femininity, and illumines them in light of “the law of the gift” engraved on the human heart. The exploration is undertaken within the broad framework of the primordial, historical, and eschatological dimensions of human existence. Among the topics discussed are the goods and ends of marriage as a sacrament of the New Covenant, the indissolubility of the marital union, continence for the sake of the Kingdom, the evangelical counsels as foundational to consecrated existence, and the meaning of priestly celibacy in light of the other states of life. The course situates these topics in relation to current pastoral challenges in the Church.
SL-8404: Penance & Anointing (3 credits)
The sacraments of Penance and Anointing are examined in this course in terms of the mystery of sin and the mission and sacramentality of the Church. Topics include the scriptural bases and historical development of both sacraments, a study of relevant canons, Indulgences, and good pastoral practice, including a discussion of First Penance and the pastoral care of the sick and dying. A practicum for Penance and Anointing is included. Students are also introduced to healing and deliverance ministry.
SL-8405: Holy Orders (2 credits)
This course presents the theology of the ordained priesthood. It studies biblical foundations, historical development, official teaching in Vatican II, and subsequent magisterial statements. Also included are topics such as spirituality of the diocesan priest, history and theology of celibacy, and the doctrinal position on the reservation of ordination to men.
SL-8406: Holy Orders and Marriage (4 credits)
This course presents a theological account of holy orders and marriage, building on baptismal priesthood as access to both sacraments. First, an exploration of the biblical foundations, historical development, official teachings in Vatican II, and subsequent magisterial statements on the ministerial priesthood is brought to bear on the nature of priesthood in relation to the Eucharist and Reconciliation, the spirituality of the diocesan priest, the history and theology of celibacy, and the doctrinal position on the reservation of ordination to men. Second, the course also examines matrimony as a sacrament in relation to the fidelity, indissolubility and fecundity that already characterize the natural institution of marriage, while paying due attention to the pastoral care of spouses and the cultivation of a lay spousal spirituality. Third, the course explores the relationship between the two sacraments, showing their unity-in-difference and complementarity as regards consecration for service, fecundity and sharing in Christ’s eucharistic sacrifice.
SM-4100: The History and Principles of Sacred Music (2 credits)
This course provides an overview of the history of sacred music. Attention will be given to Church/papal and episcopal legislation of sacred music with the goal of understanding the principles that have guided the Church’s sacred music to the present day. The course also covers resources needed to plan music for the liturgy, criteria and skills in evaluation of music in the liturgy, inculturation of the Church’s sacred music, and all aspects of parish life that involve liturgical music, including implementing and administering a parish (and school) music program.
Moral and Spiritual Theology
MT-4101: Fundamental Moral Theology (2 credits)
This course treats the final end of man as deification—a supernatural participation in the life of the Trinity, and how we reach this end through our graced free human actions. It therefore treats the Blessed Trinity as our happiness and final end, human actions and their evaluation (object, intention, circumstances, double effect, cooperation with evil), the grace of Christ as the principle and foundation of acts which lead us to our end, the passions and the moral life, virtues in general as principles of good actions leading us to God as our end, the gifts of the Holy Spirit as habits which allow us to be docile to Holy Spirit at work within us leading us back to the Father, and law (especially the new law) as God’s assistance in directing us back to himself. Emphasis is given to the supernatural character of our calling, and the primacy of God’s grace and action in our lives allowing us to become his children and heirs to his Kingdom. The course concludes with Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Veritatis Splendor.
MT-4111 Spiritual Theology (3 credits)
This course provides a systematic overview of sanctification and transformation in Christ. Topics include the universal call to holiness, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Trinity, the nature of ascetical and mystical theology in the Christian tradition, the life of meditation and contemplation, the discernment of spirits, spiritualities of the Christian states of life, and Marian piety.
MT-5202: Virtues & Vices (2 credits)
This course investigates how the follower of Christ, transformed by the grace of the Holy Spirit, is given a new heart which enables him to follow the example of Christ, and to live according to the new law through virtuous habits. The four cardinal virtues and three theological virtues (as well as their opposed vices) will be treated as principles of graced human acts which lead us to our ultimate end—participation in the life of the Trinity. Charity, as the form of the virtues and essential gauge of holiness, will be given special attention as our fullest imitation of Christ, whose grace empowers us to virtuously fulfill the twofold commandment to love God and neighbor.
MT-5206: Sexual Ethics and the Person (3 credits)
Following the insights of Pope St. John Paul II’s theology of the body, this course will give an overview of the Church’s teaching about human sexuality. It seeks to give an adequate anthropological foundation for the Church’s teachings about sexual ethics and the person. This course will explore the scriptural understanding of man as created male and female in God’s image and likeness, and redeemed by Christ. The Church’s teaching regarding sexual sins will be treated within the context of the self-mastery required to find oneself in the gift-of-self. Marriage and virginity for the sake of the Kingdom will be examined so as to reveal the dignity of both vocations seen as two complementary ways of finding oneself in the gift-of-self.
MT-7304: Catholic Social Teaching (2 credits)
This course examines key themes in Catholic social teaching, especially as developed in the social encyclicals and conciliar documents. Special attention is given to the kinds of justice, the common good, subsidiarity and the dignity of the human person, private property and the universal destiny of goods, solidarity and the preferential option for the poor, economic justice and the rights of workers, the morality of war, unjust discrimination, and capital punishment. Care for our common home, the earth, will also be examined in light of the papal encyclical Laudato si’.
MT-7305: Bioethics (3 credits)
This course presents the Church’s teaching on the morality of bioethics. Consideration is given to the person’s right to health care; the physician-patient relationship, informed consent, and refusal of treatment; beginning-of-life issues such as abortion and reproductive technologies; and end-of-life issues such as euthanasia and care for the aged and dying.
Pastoral Studies
PS-4121: Homiletics I (0 credit)
This is an introductory course in proclaiming the sacred texts, including the public proclamation of Scripture and the prayers of the liturgy. Students will learn the fundamentals of public speaking in the context of liturgical prayer.
PS-5222: Homiletics II (3 credits)
Building on Homiletics I, students learn the theology of preaching and the place of the homily in the life of the Church. Students will begin to learn the practical elements of preparing and delivering homilies, with some opportunity to practice with discussion and evaluation.
PS-6501: Pastoral Year I (3 credits)
The Pastoral Year (PY) is a nine- and one-half month (September through mid-June), full immersion, diocesan-based, internship program conducted in the seminarian’s sponsoring diocese, under the direction and administration of STPSU. While the PY is focused primarily on the experience of pastoral service, it is also a time of discernment and education. Therefore, in the midst of experiencing the PY, the PY Supervisor and seminarian must allow time for reflection upon and learning from those experiences. Three credits will be awarded for the fall semester.
PS-6502: Pastoral Year II (3 credits)
The Pastoral Year (PY) is a nine- and one-half month (September through mid-June), full immersion, diocesan-based, internship program conducted in the seminarian’s sponsoring diocese, under the direction and administration of STPSU. While the PY is focused primarily on the experience of pastoral service, it is also a time of discernment and education. Therefore, in the midst of experiencing the PY, the PY Supervisor and seminarian must allow time for reflection upon and learning from those experiences. Three credits will be awarded for the spring semester.
PS-6503: Pastoral Internship (0 credits)
The Pastoral Internship (PI) is a 5-7months, full immersion, diocesan-based, internship program conducted in the seminarian’s sponsoring diocese, under the direction and administration of STPSU. While the PI is focused primarily on the experience of pastoral service, it is also a time of discernment and education. Therefore, in the midst of experiencing the PI, the PI Supervisor and seminarian must allow time for reflection upon and learning from those experiences.
PS-6511: Pastoral Theology I: Introduction to Parish Ministry (2 credits)
This course introduces seminarians to the practical side of ministering as a priest in a parish. Seminarians review the universal law and learn their respective diocesan policies concerning sacramental records, the 7 sacraments, the declaration of nullity process, vocations, funerals, and parish devotional life. The course assignments integrate the theoretical through practical exercises such that the seminarians develop communication skills, conflict management, leadership, group dynamics, time management, and theological reflection to minister to the
Christian faithful form a variety of cultural backgrounds.
PS-6512: Pastoral Theology II: Introduction to Parish Administration & Finance (2 credits)
This course will teach students the managerial skills necessary to run a medium to large-size parish. Students will explore different models of parish leadership and learn effective ways to collaborate with lay staff, volunteers, and fellow priests. Students will also learn the legal and canonical requirements of the administration of temporal goods. This course is structured as an online course, to be completed during the pastoral year.
PS-7311: Canon Law I: Introduction (2 credits)
This course introduces students to the Code of Canon Law, especially its importance for priests in parochial ministry. The focus will be especially on the general norms (Book I) and the law as applied to the People of God (Book II). In addition, students will learn the basic history of canon law and the place of law within the Church.
PS-7323: Homiletics III (2 credits)
With the previous homiletics courses as a foundation, students will engage in more intensive homiletic preparation, with frequent opportunities for practice, discussion, and evaluation. The course will focus primarily on liturgical preaching, especially the Sunday homily, but also preaching at baptisms, funerals, and important feast days.
PS-7331: Deacon Practicum (1 credit)
This course, taken in the semester before ordination as a deacon, prepares students for some of the more practical elements they may encounter in diaconal ministry. Students will learn how to serve as a deacon reverently and according to the proper rites of the Church at Mass, exposition of the blessed sacrament, baptisms, weddings, etc. Students will also discuss some of the practical and pastoral questions that arise in diaconal ministry.
PS-8413: Pastoral Counseling (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the practice of counseling, especially in the light of modern psychology. The course will, however, examine elements common to all types of counseling and will develop a model which can be used in pastoral counseling. The roles of supportive, crisis, referral, confrontational, and religious counseling are explored as students practice and assess counseling skills.
PS-8414: Spiritual Direction (2 credits)
This course addresses spiritual direction as a part of the priest’s duty in the cura animarum. The student will learn the historical development of spiritual direction, as well as its theological foundations. The course will distinguish between spiritual direction, counseling, and psychotherapy, focusing especially on prayer by which souls are directed to union with God in the life of grace.
PS-8432: Canon Law II: The Sacraments (2 credits)
This course looks at the canon law of the sacraments, especially as set forth in Book IV of the Code of Canon Law. Students will learn the canonical requirements for the licit and valid celebration of the sacraments and, in the confessional context, the lifting of penalties.
PS-8437: Priest Practicum (1 credit)
This course, taken in the (second) semester before ordination as a priest, prepares for the practical experiences of ordained parochial ministry. Students will learn how to administer reverently the Sacraments according to the ritual established by the Church, especially the celebration of Holy Mass. Students will also discuss some of the practical and pastoral questions that arise in priestly ministry.
PS-8438: Liturgical Practicum (2 credits)
This course prepares students for the more practical elements they encounter in ministry. Students will learn how to serve as a deacon and priest reverently and according to the proper rites of the Church at Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, baptisms, weddings, and other sacraments according to the rituals established by the Church. Students will also discuss some of the practical and pastoral questions that arise in diaconal and priestly ministry.
PS-8456: Canon Law III: Marriage (2 credits)
This course looks at marriage as seen by Canon Law, especially by what canons 1055 to 1165 of the Code of Canon Law teach. Students will learn the role of the law in service of those who seek to be married and those who are married. In addition, the students will become familiarized with the paperwork different dioceses require for (1) the celebration of marriage, (2) the dissolution of bonds that are not ratified and consummated, and (3) the challenging of the validity of a marriage celebrated in the Latin Catholic Church. The students that take this course must have completed Canon Law I and II. This is not a course on the theology of marriage. The course will equip the students to understand the essentials for the marriage bond as an interpersonal objective reality between a baptized party in the Latin Catholic Church or in her received and another person.