Karl Rahner is known as the father of the Catholic Church in the 20th century. Join Rahner’s celebrated student, acclaimed theologian, author, and Boston College professor, Fr. Harvey Egan, SJ, in this exploration of Rahner’s wisdom. A Jesuit priest, Rahner was also a philosopher, theologian, commentator on church documents, devotional writer, preacher, and retreat director. His 4,000 written works reveal a powerful vision, and the questions he raised continue to inspire theology today.

Encounter the towering thought of Karl Rahner (1904-84), one of the most significant voices in Catholic theology in the 20th century. An extraordinarily productive and creative theologian who wrote over 5,000 works, he played a central role as a theological advisor to the bishops at Vatican II. His influence continues to live on in the church and world today.

This course explores the spiritual and theological underpinnings that are foundational for enhancing and developing the art and spirituality of gratitude. Under the guidance of renowned Christian spirituality expert Fr. Anthony Ciorra, you will discover gratitude at the heart of all Christian spirituality. Gratitude offers a path that leads to deeper love and awareness of God, self, and the world.

In this course you will encounter seven powerful schools of spirituality, discovering what makes each school special and transformative. Your professor is celebrated spirituality expert Fr. Anthony Ciorra, PhD, who will guide you through the development of insights and charisms through the centuries. Throughout this course you are invited to deepen your personal relationship with God.

As Fr. Ciorra demonstrates, we are called not to be extraordinary mystics but extraordinary human beings who experience God in ordinary ways. We often think of mystics as superhuman persons who have paranormal experiences such as visions, ecstasy, and stigmata. When you look closely at such saints as Thérèse of Lisieux, however, you will see that to be a mystic is to occupy the core of human experience. As you explore the mystical writings of such inspiring figures, you will discover that there are both common threads and clear differences.

We lead our spiritual lives in relationship with others. A faithful community gives us opportunities for worship, sharing burdens, confessing faults, offering forgiveness, and celebrating life. Wherever he went, Henri Nouwen created such communities, and within them, he offered spiritual direction. Available as an audiobook for the first time ever, Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith is part of “The Nouwen Trilogy.” These convenient audio sessions let you adopt Nouwen as your personal spiritual director.

You are invited into the classroom in which Thomas Merton delivered some of his most impassioned lectures on a timeless topic. In 1962 at Gethsemani Abbey, Thomas Merton taught an extraordinary course on the heart of Benedictine spirituality.

Renew your prayer life with Thomas Merton. Thomas Merton was one of the great spiritual masters: a Trappist monk, profound mystic, and brilliant writer. He inspired men and women from all walks of life with his dedication to prayer and contemplation. In 1967, near the end of his life, Merton gave a powerful set of lectures on prayer to the Sisters of Loretto. He channeled a lifetime full of wisdom, piety, and prayerfulness into these erudite yet down-to-earth talks.

Taught by one of the world’s leading experts on Christian mystics, this stunning course reveals the powerful mysticism that inspired St. Ignatius and the charism he introduced. Your award-winning professor, Boston College’s Fr. Harvey D. Egan, is a Jesuit priest and professor who earned his theology doctorate under Karl Rahner. St. Ignatius the Mystic is the apex of his 50-year scholarly and devotional exploration of Christian mysticism. His 12-lecture audio course will both broaden your mind and elevate your spirit.

Explore the profound spirituality of Hans Urs von Balthasar. Born in Switzerland, Balthasar (1905-1988) was one of the most prolific and sophisticated Catholic thinkers of the 20th century. As you will discover, Balthasar's theology provides a powerful model for the Catholic Church in the modern world. In Hans Urs von Balthasar: Rediscovering Holistic Christianity, you will join Balthasar expert Dr. Kevin Mongrain (PhD, Yale University) in exploring this great theologian.

The mystics show us the deepest recesses of the human spirit. Now, this remarkable series gives you the rare opportunity to take one of the world's leading experts on mysticism as your personal guide. Boston College's Fr. Harvey Egan draws on 50 years of teaching the Christian mystics. Brilliantly taught, his lectures are filled with faithful insights. Under his guidance, you will explore the mystical life by focusing upon 11 significant figures. You will begin with Ignatius of Loyola and his finding of God in all things.

The Ignatian goal of "finding God in all things" eans that every part of our lives can lead us to God. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything shows us how this is possible, with user-friendly examples, humorous stories and anecdotes from the heroic and inspiring lives of Jesuit saints and average priests and brothers, as well as examples from Martin's twenty years as a Jesuit. The traditional wisdom that Jesuits use to help other people in their daily lives is easily applied, but not often explained well to the general public.

Join one of the world’s most acclaimed theologians, award-winning professor Fr. Harvey D. Egan, S.J., as you will grapple with life’s ultimate questions and explore our rich Christian heritage. Here, you will discover powerful insights into the meaning and salvific value of the truths of Christianity. This illuminating audio course will explore the Christian faith as a powerful whole, allowing you to discover the full range of life’s greatest mysteries.

In the first half of life, we are naturally preoccupied with establishing ourselves; climbing, achieving, and performing. But as we grow older and encounter challenges and mistakes, we need to see ourselves in a different and more life-giving way. This message of falling down - that is in fact moving upward - is the most resisted and counterintuitive of messages in the world's religions. Falling Upward offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life's mysteries: how those who have fallen down are the only ones who understand "up".

Fr. William Meninger, OCSO, is one of the leading figures in the centering prayer movement. In this concise and beautifully written exposition, he guides the listener through two of the basic works of inner development by one of the most significant and influential of all Christian mystics, St. John of the Cross (1542-1591). These two texts - The Ascent of Mount Carmel and The Dark Night of the Soul - explore the inner spiritual journey in all its revelations and challenges, its moments of joy, and its moments of profound torment.