About the Spiritual Life Institute
Since the early 1980’s, the Spiritual Life Institute at Saint Martin’s University has brought together nationally and internationally renowned theologians, scholars of religion and public intellectuals to commonly reflect upon pertinent issues of religious faith and identity, the contemporary relevance and intersection of religion and the pursuit of social justice within the public square and the enduring spiritual quest in search of God [quaerere Deum] and self-understanding alike within an increasingly globalized world.
In keeping with the Institute’s Catholic rootedness and equally robust ecumenical and dialogical spirit, the overall purpose of the SLI aims to facilitate a healthy balance and immersive educational experience that is nourished by the age-old Benedictine emphasis of Ora et labora et lege - Prayer, work, study. In addition to daily lectures by our guest lecturers and community roundtable discussions, there will be times for both daily silence, community prayer and service learning work at Saint Martin’s Our Common Home Farms (OCHF) that ultimately aims to integrate both theory and practice.
Institute participants are thus actively encouraged to fully take part in these immersive experiences that inspires both self-examination, personal growth and is warmly hospitable to a diversity of views that ultimately enriches our common dialogue with major scholars and leaders active in theological reflection, spiritual formation and social justice work both nationally and internationally.
Register for the Summer 2019 Spiritual Life Institute
The Contemplative Difference: Prayer – Work – Study
June 16 to 21
Current student registration New student and adult learner registration
The Spiritual Life Institute’s Summer 2019 program The Contemplative Difference: Prayer – Work – Study seeks to mine the theological and historical depths of differing views on Contemplation while equally exploring its vast psychological and practical relevance in terms of contemporary appeals to ‘Mindfulness’ and the difference of contemplative pedagogy. Course material will draw upon a variety of historical-cultural-literary-psychological, philosophical and ultimately theological perspectives in framing the unique heritage and the difference of theology done and lived within an intentional contemplative focus that have invariably come to influence how we relate to categories such as Theology, Religion and/or Spirituality today.
Ora - Prayer
Lege et labora - Work and study
Schedule of events
Sunday June 16
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. | Opening lecture and evening reception | Lambert Lodge |
Weekly schedule: Monday – Friday, June 17-21
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | Morning mass | Abbey Church (all are welcome) |
| 9-10:30 a.m. | First lecture | Cebula Hall, Third Floor |
| 10:30-11 a.m. | Coffee break with refreshments provided | Cebula Hall, Third Floor |
| 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Second lecture | Cebula Hall, Third Floor |
| 12:30-1:45 p.m. | Break | |
| 2-4 p.m. | Service work | Saint Martin's Our Common Home Farms (transportation included) |
| 4-4:45 p.m. | Rest | |
| 5-5:30 p.m. | Evening prayer | Abbey Church (all are welcome) |
| 5:45-6:15 p.m. | Break | |
| 6:15-7 p.m. | Community seminar roundtable | Cebula Hall, Third Floor |
2019 guest lecturers
Dr. Bradford Manderfield
Ph.D., Systematic Theology
& Medieval Mysticism
Catholic University of Leuven
In 2011, Dr. Manderfield moved to Leuven, Belgium, to pursue a doctorate degree.
He focused in particular on the late-medieval visionary Julian of Norwich, her Patristic and Scholastic influences, in addition to the pedagogical role of Julian’s work within a largely illiterate culture. Stemming from his doctoral work, current scholarly research interests include study of churches as symbolic spaces, the liturgy, the Eucharist, and illuminated manuscripts. Dr. Manderfield is currently teaching at The Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. His current teaching interests surround Ecclesiology, Mariology, and Eschatology. When not teaching, Bradford likes to walk, nap, dream, drink, cook, garden and converse.
Dr. Alan Mostrom
Ph.D., Systematic Theology
University of Dayton
Dr. Mostrom is a native of Tacoma, Washington and is an assistant professor of Systematic Theology at the Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount Saint Mary's of the West in Cincinnati, Ohio.
His scholarly interests include the theology of Thomas Aquinas, the theology of Yves Congar and the nouvelle théologie, trinitarian theology, ecclesiology, and sacramental theology. Alan is also a huge NBA fan, and still mourns the loss of his beloved SuperSonics.
Fees
(Please note that tuition rates and fees are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information about tuition rates, please contact the Office of Student Financial Services)