Seminary and Graduate School of Theology - Mundelein Seminary

Master of Divinity Program
The M.Div. program is accredited by the Association
of Theological Schools.
Objectives of the Master of Divinity Program
BIBLICAL EXEGESIS AND PROCLAMATION
Overall Objective: An understanding of the
Bible that allows students to interpret Sacred
Scripture according to the mind of the Roman
Catholic Church in order to preach, teach, live
and pray the Scriptures in Spirit and in Truth.
1. To be able to prepare and preach homilies.
2. To be able to lead a bible study group.
3. To be able to answer intelligently parishioners’
questions about Scripture.
4. To own and be able to use commentaries
and other biblical source materials.
5. To develop a biblical view of reality that
shapes pastoral practices and proclamation.
CHRISTIAN LIFE
Overall Objective: The Department of Christian
Life, comprised of three separate disciplines,
aims:
1. To form in the seminarians the habitus
theologiae developed by theological reflection
on Scripture and tradition in Canon Law,
Moral Theology and Spiritual Theology.
2. To form future pastors in the practical theology
necessary for both them and their people
to grow in holiness.
The three disciplines of Canon Law, Moral, and
Spiritual Theology all aim to help form and
teach Christian disciples how to live and act in
relationship to the Lord, to the world, to the
Church, and towards themselves.
Specific Discipline Objectives:
Canon Law
1. To learn the basic structure of Canon Law
and how it is a true pastoral guide.
2. To study and understand the general
norms of Canon Law and how they relate to
the People of God and the teaching office of
the Church.
Moral Theology
1. To teach the principles, concepts, dispositions
relevant to moral living and their application
to everyday life: both for Christian
discipleship in general, and for situations
encountered in parish life.
2. To critically reflect upon Church teaching
in several practical areas, especially social
justice, sexual ethics, and medical ethics.
Spiritual Theology
1. To study and learn the rich spiritual tradition
of the Christian faith in order to understand
how grace calls each person to a
deeper relationship with God.
2. To develop future pastors in an understanding
and practice of prayer which connects
them to both the Lord and their people.
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
Overall Objective: The Department of Systematic
Theology includes the disciplines of Fundamental
Theology, Dogmatic Theology, and Sacramental
Theology. Catholic theology – faith seeking
understanding; mystical contemplation -- is
centered on the revelation of God in Jesus
Christ.
1. To appreciate the bridging function of fundamental
theology between concrete life and
faith, between reason and revelation, between
philosophy and dogmatic theology;
2. To provide seminarians with the historical,
philosophical, and theological contexts in
which the Church has existed and to encourage
both an appreciation for and a thorough
understanding of the Church’s response to
the various philosophical and theological
questions and problems it has encountered
within these contexts.
3. To train seminarians to read conciliar and
theological texts analytically and to reflect on
them critically in order that they might be
grounded in their understanding of the basis
upon which faith in the Catholic selfunderstanding
is founded and that they might
better perceive/appreciate the complex matrix
in which revelation occurs.
4. To enable seminarians to see how doctrine,
magisterial teaching, ecclesial structure
and canon law take concrete expression in
the institutions of the Church and to see the
relationship between these aspects of
Church, priesthood, and the Church’s life in
the world.
5. To consider the topics of: reason, revelation,
and faith: Jesus Christ; Mary; soteriology;
the Church; sin and grace; creation; angels;
eschatology; sacraments; Orders
CHURCH HISTORY
The goal of the department is to help students
develop a historical consciousness appropri-
53