WEEK I: INTRODUCTORY TOPICS

A. Course Outline
Course Code: MAMS (Bridge Program for Theology
Courses)
Course Title: Marian Augustinian Missionary
Spirituality
Credit Units: 3

Course Description:

Marian Augustinian Spirituality introduces the college

students to the core and the fundamental truths of the
Catholic faith with special emphasis on the teachings of St.
Augustine and Marian Spirituality in the perspective of the
ASOLC vision-mission. Furthermore, Basic Ecclesial
Community and biblical catechesis are also being
emphasized as basic preparations of students to theology
courses. This course is a prerequisite to all students prior to
any theology subjects to prepare the students religious
 environment vis--vis the Catholic faith. The history of the
foundation of the Augustinian Order and the Augustinian
Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation is an important factor in
the course. In the end, the branding of the students at LCUP
as consolers of the faith towards others is the main concern
and objective of this course. The methodology in bringing
this course is through value formation as present in
recollection and retreat.

General Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the students are
expected:
a. To attune themselves to the basic tenets of the
Catholic Faith
b. To orient the students to prayers, meditations and
religious activities that would silence the longing of
their wounded souls
c. To familiarize with the Augustinian core values and
how to put these into praxis
d. To encounter the life of St. Augustine in the book of
Confessions and to his other writings
e. To deepen their faith in God in the midst of the
confusing spirituality of post-modernity
 f. To journey with students in their faith-experience of
Mary as Our Lady of Consolation

Course Outline Proper

TIME TOPICS HOURS Core Values

TERM PRELIMINARY
I PERIOD
WEEK Course Orientation 90 MIN. Humility
1
Course Expectation 90 MIN Search for the
and faith diagnosis Truth
through sharing of
oneself
WEEK I am a gift (Self- 90 MIN Interiority
2 Valuing)
I am a gift 90 MIN Interiority
(continuation)
WEEK The Fundamentals of 90 MIN Search for the
3 the Catholic Faith Truth
(Basic Tenets)
Understanding of 90 MIN Submission to
Catholic Prayers, Faith authority/Humility
and Scriptures
(Continuation)
WEEK Understanding the 180 MIN Community Life
4 meaning of Eucharistic and prayers
 Celebration and
memorizing the
responses properly
WEEK Living out and 90 MIN Man for
5 understanding LCUP others/compassion
vision-mission and
goals
Understanding the 90 MIN Search for the
Augustinian Six (6) Truth
Core Values
WEEK The History and the 90 MIN Missionary Spirit
6 Foundation of the
Augustinian Order in
the World and its
Missionary origin in
the Philippines
The Foundation and 90 MIN Missionary
the History of the Spirit/Courage
Augustinian Sisters of
Our Lady of
Consolation (ASOLC)
TERM MIDTERM PERIOD
II
WEEK Introduction to Basic 90 MIN Prayer/Interiority
7 Ecclesial Community
and its historical origin
Inputs of BEC from the 90 MIN Interiority
Scriptures/Liberation
Theology
WEEK The BEC Proper 90 MIN Search for the
8 (Conducted by the TRUTH
Teacher)
BEC Proper 90 MIN Search for the
(Conducted by the TRUTH
Students)
WEEK Introduction to Cosmic 90 MIN Creation
9 Journey/ Creation Spirituality
Spirituality
Praying to the Cosmic 90 MIN Living a simple
Garden with the life with God
novena or prayer to
nature
Exposure to Cosmic 90 MIN One with nature
Garden/Theological
Reflection
WEEK The Life and 90 MIN Humility/Search
10 Biography of St. for the truth
Augustine
The Stages of 90 MIN Courage/humility
Augustines
Conversion: Explain
WEEK Knowing Augustine 180 MIN Interiority
11 from his common
sayings especially
those which are posted
around the Campus
WEEK The Search for the 90 MIN Action-
12 Truth and the contemplation
Influence of
 Philosophy in the Life
of Augustine
Augustine and the 90 MIN Humility
Philosophy of Neo-
Platonism (one heart
and mind in God)
FINAL PERIOD
WEEK Introduction to the 90 MIN Search for the
13 Book of Confessions Truth
Discussions on 90 MIN Search for the
Chapters 1,2,3 on the Truth
Book of Confessions
WEEK Discussions on 90 MIN Humility
14 Chapters 4 to 8
chapters on the Book
of Confessions
Discussions on 90 MIN Search for the
Chapters 9 to 13 Truth
chapters on the Book
of Confessions
WEEK The Theology of the 180 MIN Action-
15 Trinity and the contemplation
Teachings of St.
Augustine

WEEK The Meaning of 90 MIN Interiority

16 Vocation
Application of 90 MIN Interiority/Search
Vocation to Religious for the Truth
Life and the Laity
WEEK Review and Checking 90 MIN Humility
17 of the Term Papers
Review for the Final 90 MIN
Exam
Week FINAL
18 EXAMINATION
(End of the Term)

Note:
After presenting the course outline, ask the students their
own expectations concerning the course offering. Giving them
an opportunity to open themselves, this would urge them a good
sense of transparency and openness towards the course. This
would also build good rapport among themselves and between
students and teacher relationship. Finally, we have to consider
the different pacing of the students in terms of Catholic and
religious background. In the University, not all of them are
Catholic Christians. Let us introduce them to the Catholic,
Christian, Augustinian and Marian Spirituality.

WEEK II. Self-Valuing Session (I am a gift.)

Bible Verse (Focus): Gen. 1:26-31

26 Then God said, Let us make humankind* in our
image, according to our likeness; and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds
of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild
animals of the earth,* and over every creeping thing
that creeps upon the earth.
27
So God created humankind* in his image,
in the image of God he created them;*
male and female he created them.
28
God blessed them, and God said to them, Be
fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;
and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over
the birds of the air and over every living thing that
moves upon the earth. 29God said, See, I have given
you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of
all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you
shall have them for food. 30And to every beast of the
 earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything
that creeps on the earth, everything that has the
breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.
And it was so. 31God saw everything that he had
made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was
evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Introduction:
In the post-modern generation of today, majority of the
youth have experienced confusions, dilemmas and problems
related to secularism and materialism that lead them to become
non-committed individuals. They have erroneous concepts of
value formation that brought them to develop their bottomless
pit of unworthiness. This bottomless pit of unworthiness
destroys their right sense of judgment which is caused by too
much exhaustion in their recent preoccupation, work and
unlimited wants especially the long for confused love and
relationship. The worth of the person has been lost; so much so
that they could not see how God has loved them in the works of
His creation that is, He created us patterned to His image and
likeness. Let us, then, examine and perhaps re-affirm the
unconditional love of God in the Book of Genesis 1:26-31.
In the Old Testament, the origin of human beings was not
simply from the waters of the earth like plants, fishes, birds, and
animals... The human being is the image and likeness of God; he
or she is not a static being but by her/his actions they will rule
over all things previously created. To rule over all things means
that they must respect the environment and are to treat all life
with respect. Humans are the earth-keepers, responsible not
only for the preservation of creation and life but also for its full
flowering. To be Gods image is indeed a gift from God because
to be a reflection of Gods goodness and compassion is a
privilege. This is where the value of humanity lies; his
appreciation of life from the Divine Creator and how he responds
to the call of God in doing what is good and just.
(From R.J. Clifford, Genesis 1:1-25:18, New Jerome Biblical
Commentary, R.E. Brown, et. al. eds. [New Jersey: Prentice Hall,
1990],10).
Let us now analyze in the biblical perspective how life
becomes a gift from God. And in return, man must value it to
glorify Him forever.
1. Proposal of God:
Let us create man in his image and likeness.
2. Vision of God for Humanity:
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea.crawl
on the ground
3. Safety Clause: (the policies, processes, and programs)
 God created man in His image, in the Divine image He
created them: male and female.
4. Commissioning (the marching order)
Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it..
5. Support Services of God:
I give you every seed-bearing plant, all the birds of the
air, and all the living creatures, I give all the green plants
for food
6. The Quality Control and Final Check:
God looked at everything He had madeand it was good.
(This is the integrity of God. He talks the talk; He walks the
talk; and He walks the walk..)
7. Whisper of God: (His Assurance to Humanity)
Be not afraid (Psalm 8:5-10)
Question: When was the last time you have done good
things to your neighbor? (Sharing)
8. So what is then spirituality is all about?
Spirituality is a persons authentic quest for ultimate
value.
Spirituality is a persons striving to attain the highest
ideal or goal (Michael Downy)
Spirituality is not Religion:
 a. It is a quality of our relationship with God.
b. It spells who you are as a person. (John 16: 8, 13).
c. It is an interaction between the human reality and
Divine reality. But in the quest for mans spirituality
or an encounter with God, it always start with the
Human experience.
d. Develop an Institutional Spirituality Quotient (Explain)

Spirituality Quotient refers to a working and collective

form of spirituality developed in a certain environment,
institution and workplace practiced by the majority of
the believers.
Therefore, when we live in virtues: we bring spirituality
in the workplace.

What is spirituality by the way?

1. Spirituality is a persons authentic quest for ultimate

value.
2. Spirituality is a persons striving to attain the highest
ideal or goal.
3. Spirituality is not Religion: It is a set of beliefs, values
and even passion for doing something which you
dont understand (but it has a sense of union with any
supreme being.
 Spirituality is not a Religion:
a. It is a quality of our relationship with God.
b. It spells who you are as a person. (John 16: 8, 13).
It is an interacti(From R.J. Clifford, Genesis 1:1-
25:18, New Jerome Biblical Commentary, R.E.
Brown, et. al. eds. [New Jersey: Prentice Hall,
1990],10).
c. on between the human reality and Divine reality.
But in the quest for mans spirituality or an
encounter with God, it always start with the
Human experience.

WEEK III. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH

What is a Catholic Christian Spirituality?
Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11)
7
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for
the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit
the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance
of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to
another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another the
discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of
tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
 11
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit,
who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit
chooses.
1. Wisdom
2. Understanding
3. Counsel
4. Fortitude
5. Knowledge
6. Piety
7. Fear of the Lord
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is an enumeration of seven
spiritual gifts originating with patristic authors, later elaborated
by five intellectual virtues and four other groups of ethical
characteristics. They are: wisdom, understanding, wonder and
awe, right judgment, knowledge, courage, and reverence. While
many Roman Catholics and some other Christians accept these
as a definitive list of specific attributes, others understand them
merely as examples of the Holy Spirit's work through the faithful,
or consider that there is no such thing as seven gifts of the Spirit
in the Bible.
Hebrew Bible and New Testament
The source of the enumeration of "seven" gifts is often
given as Isaiah 11:2-3. The term "Holy Spirit" does not appear,
but the "Spirit of the LORD." In the Hebrew St. Petersburg Codex
text only three spirits with two characteristics each, totalling six,
are mentioned, and fear is mentioned twice in a concluding
comment.
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots
a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel
and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. Later Christian
usage conforms to the Latin Vulgate, which takes the list from
the Septuagint. In the Septuagint the first "spirit of.. fear of the
Lord" is "spirit of... godliness" the second "fear of the Lord" is
fear of the Lord. The seven Latin terms are then: i. sapientia, ii.
intellectus, iii. consilium, iv. fortitudo, v. scientia, vi. pietas, and
finally vii. timor Domini.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church[10] and
descriptions outlined by St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa
Theologica, the seven gifts are as follows:
Wisdom: We see God at work in our lives and in the
world. For the wise, the wonders of nature, historical
events, and the ups and downs of life take on deeper
meaning. We see God as our Father, appreciate the
dignity of others, and find God in all things.
Understanding: In understanding, we comprehend how
we need to live as followers of Christ. A person with
understanding is not confused by the conflicting
 messages in our culture about the right way to live. The
gift of understanding perfects a person's speculative
reason in the apprehension of truth. It is the gift whereby
self-evident principles are known, Aquinas writes.[12]
Counsel (Right Judgment): With the gift of counsel/right
judgment, we know the difference between right and
wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with
right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught
by Jesus.
Fortitude (Courage): With the gift of fortitude/courage,
we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a
follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing
to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it
means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or physical
harm. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of
mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring
evil.
Knowledge: With the gift of knowledge, we understand
the meaning of God. The gift of knowledge is more than
an accumulation of facts.
Piety (Reverence): With the gift of reverence, sometimes
called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God
and the Church. A person with reverence recognizes our
total reliance on God and comes before God with
humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the
Holy Spirit's instigation, we pay worship and duty to God
as our Father, Aquinas writes.
 Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe): With the gift of fear
of the Lord we are aware of the glory and majesty of God.
A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the
perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect
goodness, perfect power, and perfect love. This gift is
described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself
from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a
child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile
fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7) because it puts our
mindset in correct location with respect to God: we are
the finite, dependent creatures, and He is the infinite, all-
powerful Creator.

Fruit of the Holy Spirit

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up the
nine visible attributes of a true Christian life, according to Paul's
Letter to the Galatians chapter 5. Though there are nine
attributes to the Fruit of the Spirit, the original Greek term
translated as "Fruit" is singular, signifying that there is one
Fruit, with nine parts. Throughout the Bible, righteous men are
likened to trees, and Paul in Galatians 5 explains what fruit a
righteous tree bears. Accordingly, this fruit is grown by those
who have truly repented, or are truly followers of Jesus. It is
arguable that if one does not bear this fruit, one is not truly a
Christian. In John's account of the Gospel Jesus said, "These
things I command you, that you love one another" referred to
as the New Commandment or the second greatest