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Explore some of the most powerful theological ideas, economic tensions, and political struggles that shaped Western civilization. This series traces western European civilization - with detours to the East - from the transformation of the Roman Empire to a thousand-year medieval period that started slowly before 1000, flowered for 300 years, and then declined sharply with the Black Death and social revolts until Constantinople fell in 1453 and Columbus sailed in 1492.

Thomas Merton was one of the greatest spiritual writers and social critics of the past century. For thousands of men and women, he remains a guide and model for contemplative living, interreligious dialogue, and intellectual exploration. While many have encountered Merton through his best-selling books on spirituality and contemplation, few are familiar with his powerful - and often prescient - insights about vital social and cultural issues of his day.

What is the function of the contemplative in the modern world? This question lies at the root of Thomas Merton’s extended contemplation of Franz Kafka’s dystopian novel, The Castle. Now, you have the rare opportunity to hear Merton - the English professor-turned-monk and a literary genius in his own right - discuss The Castle as a metaphor for the monastic life. Originally recorded in 1967 and newly remastered to enhance your listening experience, this audio set collects four talks on Kafka that Merton delivered during the month of June.

In this remarkable course, you will explore with fresh insight the centrality of prayer for the Christian life while learning concrete, edifying steps for enriching one's relationship with God. Through 12 brilliant and moving talks, you will discover what makes prayer uniquely Christian and examine the essential role of prayer in the spiritual life. This course is thoughtfully designed for those who seek to gain a more profound background on the theology of prayer.

From acclaimed classicist Gregory Carlson, discover new insights into one of the greatest works of literature ever composed: Homer’s Odyssey. Why does this ancient epic poem continue to enthrall readers/listeners from all walks of life? You’re undoubtedly familiar with the Odyssey in some form. Now, this exciting audio course invites you to discover Homer’s text with new eyes.

How do we arrive at forgiveness? Because the road to forgiveness is personal, there is no absolute methodology or time frame. Rather, forgiveness is a highly individual and complex process. Forgiveness: Stories of Redemption draws from many sources that provide a framework for forgiveness.

How can you keep your brain sharp at any age? How can you live not just longer, but better? The world’s leading expert on Alzheimer’s prevention shows you how to protect, engage, and exercise your brain over time. An award-winning professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College and a leading expert on brain health, Dr. Richard Isaacson has dedicated himself to advancing brain science and helping people optimize their brain health.

In the medieval period, how did religious women and men put into words their intense - and intensely personal - devotional practices, visions, and experiences? And how did those efforts to articulate mystical experiences comport with church doctrine? You’ll rejoice in this fresh approach to the mystical tradition, grounded in history and letters but elevated by the mystery of the soul. A natural and energetic speaker, Prof. Fee sets every aspect of his subject ablaze. You’ll find his enthusiasm infectious.

Did you know that the Catholic Bible contains seven books that are not included in the Protestant Bible? These special books of the Bible — Sirach, Wisdom, Tobit, 1 Maccabees, Judith, additions to Daniel, and Esther — contain harrowing stories of family, resurrection, and prayer. In this 12-lecture audio course, 7 Catholic Treasures: Understanding the Deuterocanonical Books of the Catholic Bible, Dr. Dorothy Jonaitis, DMin, eloquently elaborates on these interesting and historically significant Scriptures

Join Christopher Fee, co-editor of An Encyclopedia of American Myth, Legend, and Folklore, for an entertaining and revealing look at our nation’s folkloric imagination. In this compelling 24-lecture audio series, you’ll meet figures such as Daniel Boone and John Henry, and learn the stories of characters such as Water Jar Boy and the Woodcutter and the Fairy. Specters also abound, and you’ll encounter frightening figures ranging from the Headless Horseman to La Llorona.

This unforgettable course by modern spiritual master Fr. Howard Gray will change the way you see the Bible. For as long as humans have been around, we have found comfort in stories. In Great Biblical Stories: A Narrative Journey with Howard Gray, you will discover newfound theological and spiritual meaning in the Bible's great stories. By looking at the stories God uses in the Bible and developing an informed approach to the literature of faith, you will come to know him more personally.

Mercy is one of God's great gifts to humankind. Now, in 12 lectures by spiritual leader Fr. Dan Crosby, you will explore mercy in Scripture, Catholic Church teaching, and modern culture. In addition to exploring scriptural passages, you will look at Dives in Misericordia ("Rich in Mercy"), Saint John Paul II's encyclical on mercy. Divine Mercy marked every aspect of his pontificate, and you will see how Pope Francis carries on this legacy. Indeed, as Pope Francis writes, mercy is "the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us" (Misericordiae Vultus).

In this unique retreat, you will join the Master of The Cloud of Unknowing, who will guide you into a powerful encounter with the hidden, living God. Written during the turbulence of 14th-century England, this mystical text and its anonymous author capture some of the most profound contemplative teachings of Christianity.

Now you can join esteemed political scientist Professor Michael Zuckert for a fascinating exploration of America’s enduring passion for rights as sparked by these two documents. In 15 gripping audio lectures, Prof. Zuckert examines the doctrine of rights as it finds first expression in these early documents, exploring American thinking about rights from the founding up to recent battles over controversial rights such as the right to same-sex marriage.

Where did our modern notions about God, science, and humanity come from? Begin in the Mediterranean world of late antiquity, with the decline of Rome and the ascent of Christianity. Explore vigorous Christian debates over the appropriation of pagan thought along with the implications of these debates for medieval thinking. Follow the lively arguments over the origin of the cosmos, the laws of nature, and the extent of God's direct role in natural changes and miraculous events.

The lands where Jesus lived and missioned can be seen as a ""Fifth Gospel”, illuminating the reality of Jesus and his times. Every year millions of pilgrims flock to the Holy Land, walking in the footsteps of Jesus and the apostles. Now, Holy Land takes you on a virtual pilgrimage of these sacred places. Rev. Donald Senior, a renowned scholar and pilgrimage leader, will guide you down the Jordan River, across the Sea of Galilee, and up to the Mount of Olives. As you take this journey, you will gain deeper insight into the power and beauty of the Gospel message.

You are called to "go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation" (Mk 16:15). Now, you are invited to discover what evangelization means today through 12 richly insightful lectures from award-winning church historian and theologian C. Colt Anderson.

Writer, preacher, counselor, educator, pastor of souls: all of these descriptions and more have been aptly applied to John Henry Newman (1801-1890). Newman's canonization by Pope Francis focuses attention on the extraordinary holiness and inner life of a man who spent most of his earthly years being misunderstood. His trust in God and his willingness to seek the truth eventually convinced him to seek ordination as a Catholic priest.

You are probably more familiar with the Book of Revelation that you realize. Revelation directly inspired some of the most famous hymns, including "You Servants of God" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Now, you can engage more with this impactful book with the help of an expert guide through this 11-lecture audio series. Your teacher is Professor Bertrand Buby, SM, a leading theologian and author of A Journey through Revelation.

Building on Jewish foundations, Christians today are the heirs of a 2,000-year-old tradition of wrestling with questions of right and wrong. By drawing on this rich ethical tradition, we can better understand vital contemporary issues while avoiding past mistakes. To help you address some of the great challenges of our day, Father Edward “Monk” Malloy (PhD, Vanderbilt University) teaches you how to apply time-honored principles from the Christian tradition to the modern world.