Lebh Shomea House of Prayer
Certificate of Studies in Spirituality
Course Offerings
As a whole, the course offerings in the Certificate of Studies program at Lebh Shomea, as a School of Prayer, represent a single comprehensive program for a person wishing to study Spirituality. This comprehensive program ordinarily requires two years to complete. It comprises the equivalent of six full semesters (or 72 credit hours). The program includes a two-month guided research project and a two-month pastoral practicum of one's choice.
Biblical Studies (Sacred Scripture)
SS 11 - General Introduction to Sacred Scripture
Biblical inspiration. Textual, literary and historical criticism. Literary genres. Canon, transmission of the text. Culture, geography, archaeology of biblical lands.
SS 12 - Introductory Hebrew
A working knowledge of biblical Hebrew. Sufficient proficiency to be able to use an interlinear Hebrew/English Bible in order to do exegesis of OT texts and to understand the nuances of the language in biblical times.
SS 13 - Introductory Greek
A working knowledge of "koine Greek." Sufficient proficiency to be able to use an interlinear Greek/English Bible in order to do exegesis of NT texts and to understand the nuances of the language in biblical times.
SS 21 - Survey of the Hebrew Scriptures
History, culture and theological schools of ancient Israel. The Torah (Law), the Nabim (Prophets) and the Kittubim (Writings) in general.
SS 22 - Survey of the NT
General introduction to the NT. Survey of the Synoptics, Johannine and Pauline corpuses.
SS 31 - Study of OT Passages
An exegetical study of selected texts from the Torah as well as from the prophetic and wisdom literature.
SS 32 - The Synoptics
General introduction to the NT with special emphasis on the synoptic traditions. General study of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Exegesis of select passages.
SS 33 - Johannine Studies
The Johannine corpus. Principle themes of John's theology and spirituality. Exegesis of select passages.
SS 34 - Pauline Studies
Paul of Tarsus: the man, the apostle. The Pauline corpus. Elements of Paul's theology and spirituality. Exegesis of select passages.
SS 35 - Biblical Spirituality
Study of Hebrew and Rabbinic spiritualities, such as the "anawim", the Pharisees, the Essenes. Diverse NT spiritual theologies, notably Pauline and Johannine.
Historical - Doctrinal Studies
HS 11 - Introduction to Christian Antiquity
History of the expansion and development of Christianity from its Judaic origins into Graeco-Roman culture. The philosophical background and the theology of the Fathers and Mothers of the Church, both East and West.
HS 21 - Survey of the History of the Church
The critical thresholds of the movement of Christianity through the centuries from apostolic times to the present.
HS 22 - Survey of the History of Spirituality
Major thresholds in the development of Christian spirituality during Christian Antiquity through the Middle Ages to the present day.
HS 31 - The Spirituality of Christian Antiquity
The Desert Abbas and Ammas. The beginnings and early development of monasticism. The spiritualities of selected persons of East and West.
HS 32 - Spirituality of the Middle Ages
An historico-theological study of various expressions of spirituality especially during the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries.
HS 33 - Spirituality from the 16th to the 21st century
An historico-theological study of the contribution of St. Ignatius, St. Teresa, St. John of the Cross and others to the development of spirituality. Recent spiritual masters (e.g., Teilhard de Chardin, Merton) and contemporary trends.
Systematic Theological Studies
TS 11 - Introduction to Systematic Theology
Notion of theology: faith seeking understanding. Principles of Fundamental Theology. Theological method and reflection.
TS 12 - Introduction to Moral Theology
Study of general moral principles and notions: love, law, sin, conversion, conscience, imputability, freedom, fundamental option, etc.
TS 21 - Survey of the Mystery of God Incarnate
Select aspects of the mystery of God and of Christology.
TS 22 - Survey of the Mystery of the Church and Sacraments
Select aspects of biblical and contemporary theology on these mysteries.
TS 31 - Theology of the Trinity
The mystery of God. Father, Son and Spirit in Scripture and in Tradition. The divine pedagogy of revelation. The divine indwelling and the mystery of grace.
TS 32 - The Mystery of Jesus Christ
The Jesus of history and the Christ of faith in the Scriptures and in Tradition. Contemporary theology of the person and the mystery of Christ Jesus. Mary: Theotokos.
TS 33 - Theology of the Church and Ministry
Mystery of the Church and ministry in Scripture. Development of ecclesial and ministerial modes in history. The institutional element of the Church, the prophetic element of the Church, the mystical element of the Church. Contemporary ecclesiology.
TS 34 - Theology of the Eucharist and of the Sacraments
The mystery of the Eucharist as revealed in Scripture and expressed in Tradition. The sacraments in general. The liturgy.
TS 35 - Specific Moral Issues
Study of specific moral problems: Christian sexuality, socio-medical ethics, justice and peace, the integrity of creation, human rights, etc.
TS 36 - Theology of Faith, Hope and Love
Study of these virtues in Scripture accentuating their relationship to the spiritual life. Growth in faith, hope and love. The major thresholds of interior development and their principles of discernment.
TS 37 - Theology of Prayer
The Hebrew notion and experience of prayer. The prayer of Jesus. The Prayer of the Heart (The Philokalia). The Jesus Prayer (Hesychasm). Prayer in The Cloud of Unknowing and in the Rhino-Flemish mystics. Prayer according to St. Teresa of Jesus, St. John of the Cross, Thomas Merton and others.
GR 41 - Guided Research
Study of a particular question, issue or problem in Scripture, Christian Antiquity, History of Spirituality or Theology (e.g., Qoheleth, Desert Fathers and Mothers).
GR 42 - Guided Research II
Study of the spiritual genesis and ascetical-mystical doctrine of a particular "master" (e.g., Jeremiah, St. Paul, St. Basil, St. Francis, Julian of Norwich, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese, Gandhi, Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Merton).
PS 41 - Theology and Practice of Spiritual Direction
Theology and development of spiritual direction from biblical times to our day. Actual practice of some spiritual direction with the opportunity of critique and guidance.
PS 42 - Pastoral Counseling
Principles and application of Transactional Analysis, the Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram. Jungian principles applied to basic personality and spiritual development. Aids for addressing particular situations: marriage counseling, depressive-suicidal counseling, counseling the dying and the bereaved, etc.
PS 43 - Original Research in Spirituality
A project of particular pastoral interest in some area related to ascetical-mystical theology and/or practice.
Lebh Shomea House of Prayer
La Parra Ranch
P.O. Box 9
Sarita, TX 78385-0009
Tel: 361-294-5369 ~ Fax: 361-294-5791
e-mail: info@lebhshomea.org