THE HOLY EUCHARIST, GRACE, AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

WEDNESDAYS

9am -11am OR 7pm – 9pm (UK Time)

10am – 12 noon OR 8pm – 10pm (Central European Time)

2pm-4pm (USA – East Coast Time)

11am-1pm (USA Pacific Coast Time)

STARTING 28th SEPTEMBER 2022

This course is for those who have completed the Newman Catechetical Certificate course in Reasons for Faith as well as the Catechetical Diploma course which goes Deeper into Scripture (and for those who have a basic understanding of the topics covered in those courses);  please CLICK HERE to see the list of topics covered in Reasons for Faith; please CLICK HERE to see the list of topics covered in Deeper into Scripture.

Those who wish to study simply for personal enrichment are welcome to register irrespective of their previous studies.

Only those who successfully complete the assessments for both the Reasons for Faith course and the Catechetical Diploma course will receive the Certificate upon completion of all the assessments for this course.

Having considered the articles of faith and common objections to the faith during the certificate year, and having learned important principles for diving deeper into Sacred Scripture in the diploma year, we are ready to focus our attention on three important topics: the Holy Eucharist, grace, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In His Last Supper Discourse, Jesus says, “Remain in me, and I in you,” JN 15:4.  We remain in Him by grace, and by “remaining in His word,” JN 18:31.  But how does He remain in us?  Jesus is inviting us to deepen our friendship and intimacy with Him by remaining in Him and He in us, precisely in and through the Holy Eucharist.

The Second Vatican Council teaches us that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. LG11.  As Catholics, the most imortant thing we do is assist at Mass and receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.  In this course, we learn why this is the case, and how we can enter more deeply into the Mass.  We will dig deep into the Eucharistic theology of the Angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas. We will consider questions like:

• How literally do we need to take the real presense of Jesus in the Eucharist?
• How can Jesus be really present simultaneously in all the tabernacles of the world?
• Is Jesus really present in Eucharistic Miracles?
• Does Jesus feel pain if we chew the Sacred Host?
• What is the best way to spend my time when I go to adoration?
• Why does the Church not invite non-Catholics to receive Communion?
• If Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, why am I not transformed instantly into a saint after one reception of Holy Communion?

We consider the rich reality of grace and its effects.  We have all learned that the Sacraments give us grace.  What does this mean?  Is it Biblical? Having examined various aspects of grace over the last two years, in this course we delve deeper.  Together with the broader questions concerning justification and salvation, we consider in particular detail the grace of adoption, and what this means for us in our daily living; and we focus on the common priesthood of the baptized (distinct from the hierarchical priesthood) to understand better authentic participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Together with devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, every canonized saint in the history of the Church as had a rich devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Second Vatican Council teaches us that the Sacred Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament, as well as ancient Tradition show the role of the Mother of the Saviour in the economy of salvation in an ever clearer light and draws attention to it. LG55.   In this course we will learn that if we want to increase our devotion to Jesus, we need the help of grace, and we need the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We will consider questions like:

• How Biblical is Marian devotion?
• Is Marian devotion optional?
• Is the Rosary just vain repetition (which is forbidden by Jesus)?
• How can I meditate more deeply on the mysteries of the Rosary?
• How are the mysteries of the Rosary instructive for me today?

This course is designed to help us to enter more deeply into friendship with the Lord, and to help others to encounter Christ and to grow in discipleship.

The programme is designed to help catechists, parents, parish workers, and anyone interested in discovering  the riches of the teaching of Christ, who says, These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete, JN 15:11.  Our goal is to help our friends and parishioners to move beyond superficial attendance at Mass and into recognition of the real encounter with God Incarnate.  We will examine real contemporary questions and treat concrete examples so that we can be equipped to help in the New Evangelization and in the renewal of our parishes.

Enjoy the Interactive Lectures & Discussions from your own home

Interactive Real-time Participation & Regular Feedback from your Academic Tutor

Dr Denise Clare Oliver and Dr Christina Pal lead the teaching team for this programme. Prior to joining the Academy of the Annunciation (AoA), Dr Oliver was a professor at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, an invited lecturer for the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, and Director of Theology at the School of the Annunciation.  Dr Christina Pal has a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.  Prior to joining the AoA, Dr Pal was an adjunct professor for the Augustine Institute and for Christendom College’s Rome Programme, and she was the Senior Academic Tutor for the School of the Annunciation at Buckfast Abbey.

The Structure of the Programme

The programme is comprised of 33 live sessions. Each week, you will enjoy a 2 hour sesssion of lecture and discussion.  You will receive reading assignments and activities to reinforce what you are learning in the virtual classroom.

How it Works

Real-time Interactive Participation

Once you are in the “meeting room”, you can see and hear everything. If you simply want to listen, no need to do anything further.  If, on the other hand, you wish to participate in the discussions, you can un-mute your microphone.  You also have the option to turn on your web-cam so that others in the classroom can see you.  You can ask questions, contribute to the discussion and participate just as you would if you were onsite – all from the comfort of your home!

Assessments

Each week during the three terms, students have brief reading assignments.  Each month, there are short exercises associated with the reading assignments and lectures. These formative activities account for 10% of the module’s final grade.

There are two assignments which together form 90% of the mark for the module.  The short formative activities, together with feedback from the Academic Tutor, help students in their preparation for the graded assignments.

The purpose of the assignments and assessments is to help students to internalise and appropriate the material being presented in the lectures and discussions.

Studying for Personal Enrichment Only

The Academy of the Annunciation welcomes students to attend our courses for personal enrichment, but without the pressure of assignments and assessments for a certificate or diploma.  Once you have registered for the course, please send an email to the Academic Tutor indicating that you wish to study for personal enrichment, and will not be completing the assignments and assessments for a certificate or diploma.  You can reverse this decision during the first month of the programme, if your experience leads you to choose to do the assignments and assessments for a Certificate or Diploma.

You can email the Academic Tutor at drcpal.aoa@gmail.com.

The Cost

The tuition for the entire programme, including all the help you will receive from your personal academic tutor is £998 (if you pre-pay all at once).

If you prefer to pay on a monthly basis, it is £120 per month (pre-paid before the first session of the month).

The Academy Trustees have established a small bursary fund to help those who cannot afford the full course fee.  If you would like more information please CLICK HERE.

Why Study with the Academy of the Annunciation?

With so many free online courses to choose from, why should you pay to study with the Academy of the Annunciation?

As a student of the Academy of the Annunciation you can be sure that everything you are taught will be the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church – based on Scripture, Tradition, the Magisterium, and the Fathers and Doctors of the Church:

• each week you will receive two to two and a half hours of teaching, questions and answers and real discussion;
• during each session, you can ask questions and get real answers to your specific questions.

In addition, as a student on any of our three term courses you receive:

•  detailed Notes followng each session;
• 24-hour email access to the Senior Academic Tutor – which includes phone conversations and zoom appointments.

Come and Join Us!

Come and deepen your understanding of the Catholic Faith through live lectures (via video conferencing) with inter-active discussion and real-time participation, all from the comfort of your own home.  Come and meet fellow disciples from all over the world.

Places are limited.  Please register as soon as possible to ensure you have  a reserved place.