7 Great Schools of Catholic Spirituality

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. Under his guidance, you will explore how different religious founders developed new insights and charisms, adapting them to the cultures, times, and needs of different generations.

After a general introduction, you will embark into the Egyptian desert to seek the timeless wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Making your way to Europe, you’ll witness the flourishing of monastic spirituality, the radical vision of St. Francis of Assisi, and the powerful preaching of St. Dominic. Your journey continues to Mount Carmel, where you will take in a panoramic view of Carmelite saints like John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Edith Stein. You will then learn to be a “contemplative in action” with the direction of Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises. And in Salesian spirituality and the Vincentian-Setonian tradition, you’ll find inspirational models of Christian living.

By studying these particular seven schools, you will gain insight into the ways religious movements arise and transform over time. They make up only a fraction of the many schools of spirituality, but they will give you a taste for the diversity of human spiritual experience.

This course will inspire your spirituality with the richness of the Christian tradition.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide prepared by your professor and course producer.