THE 3215: THEOLOGY OF MARY AND THE SAINTS

St. John’s University, Queens Campus, Spring 2023

Section 10961: 9:05am - 10:30am Mon and Thu, MAR 207

Dr. Matthew Lewis Sutton

Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

Office: St. John’s University, Queens Campus, St. John’s Hall B20–27

Student Hours: 8:30 - 9:00am; 1:45 - 2:45pm Mon and Thu, or by appointment

718.990.5052 | suttonm@stjohns.edu | doctorsutton.net

Your Course Website: doctorsutton.net/the3215

Undergraduate Bulletin: "Prerequisite: THE 1000C. The genesis, historical development and current manifestations of the theology of Mary and the saints and Christian liturgical and devotional practices associated with honoring them. Credit 3 semester hours."

This course provides the student with a detailed analysis of the history of ideas, doctrines, and devotions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Communion of Saints. From the Bible throughout every century of Christian history, the Mother of Jesus, the martyrs, and the holy men and women of heroic virtue have had a special, honored place in Christian life and thought.

In this course, we will explore how they teach the way of Jesus Christ as the essential witnesses of the fruits of Christianity. These exemplary figures will be approached as biographies of Christian spiritual heroism and more importantly as lives witnessing to the theological understanding of the Christian quest for union with God through Jesus Christ in his Church. Above all, the student will gain a great appreciation of the historical, cultural, and theological foundations of the Catholic Christian faith in Mary and the Saints.

By the conclusion of the course, the student should be able:

  • to identify and interpret Old and New Testament passages that provide information and theological reflection about Mary and saintly life
  • to trace the significant development of theological reflections on Mary and the communion of saints in various Christian traditions
  • to identify and interpret Christian liturgical and devotional practices associated with Mary and the communion of saints

Course Texts:

Purchased by Student

  • Bible, must be an appropriate translation for academic work, such as the RSV, NRSV, RSVCE, NAB, NABre, NIV, ESV, NKJV. (recommended translation The Ignatius Bible (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition). Second Edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780898708349 Paperback or Kindle.
  • Edward Sri. Rethinking Mary in the New Testament: What the Bible Tells Us about the Mother of the Messiah. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-0999759295 Paperback or Kindle
  • Pelikan, Jaroslav. Mary Through the Centuries: Her Place in the History of Culture. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1998. Paperback. ISBN: 9780300076615 Paperback.
  • Mother Teresa. Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta. Edited by Brian Kolodiejchuk. New York: Doubleday, 2007. ISBN: 978-0307589231 Paperback or Kindle.

Course Structure:

The course will be structured into three learning units. The first will be on the Mary in the Bible. The second will be on the history of Mary, the Mother of Jesus in theology, culture, and spirituality. The third will be a detailed study of holiness and saints, but a focused study on a modern saint. Each unit will have assignments and assessments designed to give you an overall understanding and initial mastery of the thought and development of the Catholic Christian faith of the theology of Mary and the saints.

Learning Assessment:

In this course, you can earn a total of 100 points. Progress reports will be emailed to you at the beginning of every month. You earn these points by successfully completing the following:

  • Class Participation: active engagement (questioning, answering, and discussing) = 10 points
  • Course Ready Worksheet = 3 points
  • Encountering Mary and the Saints Assignment Sheets = 24 points (1 points for each)
  • Occasion of Joy Exams = 26 points (2 exams)
  • Occasion of Beauty Paper on Mary, Saints, and Art = 10 points
  • Occasion of Watching the Saints = 7 points
  • Occasion of Jubilation Final Paper on the Theology of the Saints = 20 points

Grading Scale:

A = 100 - 93 points (100 - 93%); A- = 92 - 90 points (92 - 90 %); B+ = 89 - 87 points (89 - 87%); B = 86 - 83 points (86 - 83%); B- = 82 - 80 points (82 - 80%); C+ = 79 - 77 points (79 - 77%); C = 76 - 73 points (76 - 73%); C- = 72 - 70 points (72 - 70%); D+ = 69 - 67 points (69 - 67%); D = 66 - 60 points (66 - 60%); F = 59 - 0 points (59 - 0%)

We are at our best when:

  • We act with Academic Integrity, which means no plagiarism, no cheating, no damaging of other people’s work, and no assisting someone else’s dishonesty. Plagiarism is the act of appropriating and using the ideas, writings, or works of another person as your own without giving proper citation to the person who created it. I will follow the university’s procedure for plagiarism and discipline to the highest extent allowable, which can include an “F” for this course and the act of plagiarism noted in your academic file. Any further offenses entail suspension or expulsion. Additionally, the course is protected by and compliant with copyright law and intellectual property rights following university policy.
  • We are Actively Engaged with each other. As a student, you must participate in class regularly, attentively, and promptly with readings and assignments completed. As a professor, I must be available to you for encouraging and guiding you to excel in your education.
  • You are Responsible for Everything said in class. You are responsible for getting class notes and lectures from another student. Only after you have received and read those notes can you contact me with further questions about the class.
  • We do what is Effective, not what is Popular. We do the hard and real work of growing our understanding. We do not do simple, fancy, or splashy assignments. We’re not interested in fads, but what works in growing young intellectuals that can achieve profound goals. No shortcuts.
  • We use any Digital Devices appropriately during class time such as cell phones, text messaging, smart watches, tablets, or laptops. If you do not follow this policy, you will not be able to earn participation points for the class meeting. If it continues to be a problem, your overall point total will be reduced according to the severity of your lack of engagement.
  • We turn in our Assignments and Papers promptly as directed by the professor. Even if you are absent, you are still responsible for turning in your assignments by the beginning of class or as directed. If your assignment is late, your grade for that assignment will be lowered at least by 10% for each day that it is late. Your grade will continue to be lowered to zero at my discretion until it is submitted.
  • We attend Prepared for all Exams and the Final Cumulative Exam and these should not be missed. If you cannot attend an exam, you must consult me in advance and receive clear approval from me. No make-up exams will be given unless you receive clear approval beforehand or as determined by me. Since the dates of the exams are clearly communicated to you, it is unlikely that you will receive approval.
  • We learn because We Are Human and we desire to know the truth about the divine, the world, and ourselves. We strive for Excellence without Excuses.