A Long Obedience: Cultivating Christian Virtue in Long-Term Illness

Tuesday, September 19, 7 p.m.
Graves Hall, Hope College

This event is hosted by the Girod Chair at Western Theological Seminary and co-sponsored by the Saint Benedict Institute. The panel discussion will be recorded. Register to receive a link with the recording.

Modern Christian stories of “the good life” often assume faithful obedience leads to healthy, happy lives. Christians who are ill become recipients of prayer and care to buoy them back to health. However, despite medical advances, sometimes illness remains mysterious or untreatable. In addition, many patients with other forms of long-term illness receive benefits from medical treatment, yet continue to live with chronic pain, fatigue, and other types of physical and mental distress.

What does faithful and fruitful Christian discipleship look like for believers enduring long-term illness? For centuries, Protestant and Catholic theologies of “the virtues” have described the Spirit’s work through particular habits and dispositions to conform believers into the image of Christ. This panel explores the question: What resources and implications does the Christian virtue tradition have for believers and congregations when illness is chronic and ongoing? How might this tradition provide a pathway for chronically ill Christians and their communities to grow more deeply into “the good life” as redefined by Christ, and bear witness to the good news in a hurting world?

Join the Faith and Illness Initiative for this evening panel event, featuring Dr. Matthew Levering, James N. Jr. and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology, University of Saint Mary of the Lake; Dr. Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, Professor of Philosophy, Calvin University; Rev. Wendy Haack, Healthcare Chaplain, Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital; and Dr. Peter Jaggard, M.D., NorthShore University Health System; moderated by Dr. J. Todd Billings.

Bishop Barron on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition

Presented by our friends at the Harvard Catholic Forum and co-presented by the Harvard Catholic Center

Sunday, September 17, 4 p.m. Eastern Time
Memorial Church, Harvard Yard, Cambridge, and Live-Streamed

Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, explores some foundational themes in the Catholic intellectual tradition, including God, the human person, sin and grace, society, and freedom. All flow from Christology, our understanding of Jesus, so that, as St. Bonaventure said, Christ is truly found at the center of all the disciplines pursued in the university.

This event is made possible through the support of grant #62372 from the John Templeton Foundation, “In Lumine: Promoting the Catholic Intellectual Tradition on Campuses Nationwide.”

What Is Man that You Are Mindful of Him?

Evolution, Ecology, and Faith

Thursday, September 7, 7:00 p.m.

Winants Auditorium, Graves Hall, Hope College

One of the polarizing questions in today’s culture is the question of evolution and its relationship to faith. Many presume an antagonism between the theory of evolution and the Christian faith and find it difficult to conceive of a harmonious relationship between them. This lecture will address this apparent disjunct and consider the theory of evolution in light of the resources of the Catholic tradition. It will do so in the context of the implications of the debate for Christian anthropology and for a holistic understanding of the unique role of humans in creation as stewards and mediators.

This event is cosponsored by the Hope College Department of Religion, the Green Team, and the Cultural Affairs Committee, as well as the Magi Project at the Collegium Institute. It is the first in the Creation, Evolution, and Our Place in the Cosmos series hosted by the Saint Benedict Institute in fall 2023.

Sister Damien Marie Savino, FSE, is a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist who has served as the Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College since 2016. She holds a doctorate in civil (environmental) engineering and a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic University of America, as well as a master’s degree in soil science from the University of Connecticut and a B.S. degree in biogeography from McGill University. She has lectured and written widely on questions at the interface between science and theology and ecology and faith. Sister Damien Marie is the director of the new “Educating for Laudato Si’ Initiative” sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.

Creation, Evolution, and Our Place in the Cosmos

The Saint Benedict Institute is hosting a fall lecture series on Creation, Evolution, and Our Place in the Cosmos. The goal of this series is to show that faith has nothing to fear from science but is actually in harmony with it and can even encourage our Christian convictions. The speakers will serve as models of faithful Christian scientists who demonstrate the harmony of faith and reason. These events will show students a different way of reading Scripture and thinking about science. Two faithful scientists will speak in this series:

Sr. Damien Marie Savino, FSE, is an environmental engineer specializing in restoration ecology, ecology and theology, and science and theology. She is the Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI. Sr. Damien Marie will present What Is Man That You Are Mindful of Him? Evolution, Ecology, and Faith. She will focus on the anthropological dimension of the evolutionary question. 

Stephen Barr is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Delaware and former Director of its Bartol Research Institute. He is the President of the Society of Catholic Scientists and author of Modern Physics and Ancient Faith (University of Notre Dame Press, 2003). Dr. Barr will present The Big Bang, the Beginning, and Creation, a lecture that will discuss what Christian revelation, philosophy, and contemporary science have to say about the origins of the universe.

In addition to their public lectures, we are organizing meals with a select group of students, including students strong in their faith and those who are questioning. We will ask students to read a relevant article to be discussed with the speaker over an intimate meal. This will allow students to encounter faithful scientists up close, ask hard questions, and see the harmony of faith and reason in action.

Creation, Evolution, and Our Place in the Cosmos is made possible by a LeMaître Grant. In honor of Georges LeMaître, the theoretical physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic priest sometimes called the “Father of the Big Bang,” the Magi Project is pleased to award grants to support projects and events on science and religion for an undergraduate audience. Many thanks to the Magi Project for supporting this series!

Icon Blessing in the Saint Anne Oratory at the Carol C. Schaap Chapel

Fr. Nick recently blessed the icons in the Saint Anne Oratory at the Carol C. Schaap Chapel. Thank you to all our supporters who made these icons possible!

Hope Catholic Ordained to the Priesthood on June 10, 2023

Originally from Lansing, MI, Corey Bilodeau graduated from Hope College in 2014. The Saint Benedict Institute helped fund Corey’s discernment pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and then he entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, MI, in 2017. On Saturday, June 10, 2023, Corey was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lansing, MI. SBI co-founders Jared Ortiz and Jack Mulder had the privilege of attending the ordination Mass. We pray that the Lord will bless Fr. Corey abundantly as he begins his priesthood!

To learn more about Fr. Corey’s journey to the priesthood, watch these two videos from the Diocese of Lansing:

Back in 2017, the Saint Benedict Institute asked Corey to say a few words about his journey to the priesthood and the Holy Land. This is what he had to say:

“I  had not thought much about the priesthood until my senior year of college. The catalyst that propelled my thoughts towards the priesthood was Dr. Ortiz’s Catholic Christianity class. He really went into depth about why Catholics believe what they believe. When we went over the topic of vocations I was instantly drawn to this idea of maybe I was being called to the priesthood.

“After graduation, I volunteered in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for one year as Volunteer Coordinator in a soup kitchen. I realized I had to pursue the priesthood more seriously. After much prayer and spiritual direction, I applied to seminary. Part of my discernment process was a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

“One of the highlights of that trip was that we were able to have Mass on the beach of Capernaum. It was an amazing experience to celebrate the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist where Jesus called His first disciples. I then had the opportunity to ponder on the beach what God was calling me to do in terms of my vocation.

“Another highlight was hiking up Mount Tabor, which is where the Transfiguration happened. We did it in silence and it took about two hours to hike 1500 ft. to the top. It gave me time to really pray without any distractions and I asked for God’s mercy and for Him to grant me the gift of celibacy for the priesthood.

“It was a truly blessed time where I learned how to read the Bible more deeply. I also learned how to draw closer to God in a personal and real way.”

Year-in-Review: 2022-2023

The 2022-2023 academic year was another great one for the Saint Benedict Institute and Catholic students at Hope College. Here are the highlights:

1. Student Interns

Our team grew this year when we welcomed four student interns in fall 2022. They are William Hurley, liturgy intern; Cameron Maloney, Exodus 90 intern; Kirsten Miskowski, evangelization intern; and Alec Kowalski, evangelization intern. Each of them has made a huge contribution to student ministry.

2. Louis Brown: Religious Freedom and Human Dignity

On September 20, we welcomed Louis Brown Jr., J.D., for a lecture titled “Religious Freedom and Human Dignity: The Contemporary Crisis in Healthcare.” Brown discussed current threats to religious freedom, the foundational importance of human dignity, and how Christians can respond to our contemporary situation.

3. Fr. Robert Sirico: The Economics of the Parables

On October 17, 2022, the Saint Benedict Institute was pleased to host Rev. Robert Sirico, who lectured on his latest book, The Economics of the Parables. Fr. Sirico pulled back the veil of modernity to reveal the timeless economic wisdom of the parables.

4. Snow Mass in the Pine Grove

Several of the Catholic students at Hope constructed a snow altar in the Pine Grove behind Graves Hall, complete with altar rail, ambo, and credence table. Fr. Nick celebrated Mass on the altar twice in early February.

5. Men of Hope

On February 9, men of Hope College gathered with seven of the coaches of Hope Athletics and the Athletic Director for a discussion on living out their faith, how they are called to treat women as men of God, and practical advice on dating and marriage.

6. Understanding Fertility

In February and March, we invited the women of Hope College to attend a series of three seminars on fertility and women’s health. Students had great conversations with Dr. Kim Barrows, Melissa Mulder, Carly McShane, and Laura Cole.

7. Richard Ray: Pilgrimage and Desire

On February 16, author and Hope College professor Richard Ray told the story of how a sacred journey to a sacred place resulted in a sacred purpose: the reordering of his desires and the reshaping of his heart.

8. Immersion Trip to Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Over spring break, Fr. Nick took a group of students to Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana for a week of immersion in monastic religious life. Students joined the monks five times per day for prayer, worked on an outdoor project on the monastery grounds, and spent time with the monks.

9. Jared Ortiz: The Radical Doctrine of One God

In this talk, our very own Jared Ortiz explored the opening line of the Nicene Creed by situating it in its historical context. The talk draws on his forthcoming book The Nicene Creed: A Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Commentary (Baker Academic) co-authored with Daniel Keating.

10. Beautiful On-Campus Masses

Fr. Nick, liturgy intern William Hurley, and our student altar servers and choir did excellent work beautifying the Mass offered on Hope’s campus this year. This included a Mass with incense for Divine Mercy Sunday.

Video, Photos, and Reflection: The Radical Doctrine of One God

Reflection by Karlie Platz

Photo credit: Haniah Kring

Part of the mission of the Saint Benedict Institute is to foster an ecumenical community. Dr. Ortiz addressed this goal through his ecumenical talk “The Radical Doctrine of the One God,” which explored the familiar profession of the Nicene Creed: “I believe in one God.” Although we often take these words for granted, Ortiz demonstrated how they represent a radical doctrine that the early Church fought hard to establish.

First, Dr. Ortiz considered the threats Christian doctrine faced from the outside to demonstrate its countercultural nature. Early Christians found themselves surrounded by Roman pagan religions that worshiped a plethora of gods corresponding to different dimensions of life. Roman religion was civic in character, meaning that worship of the gods was believed to be directly connected to positive outcomes. To worship was a civic duty aimed towards the wellbeing of one’s self, family, and community. Through this lens, the new Christian religion was viewed as perverse, antisocial, and even atheistic. In the eyes of its pagan neighbors, Christianity was an existential threat to the gods that threatened to destroy social order, thereby turning the profession of one God into a “battle cry.” 

While the Christian doctrine of one God certainly faced opposition from outside, Dr. Ortiz further highlighted the internal battle. Before the early Church established a definitive creed, several heretical ideas arose. For instance, gnostics such as Marcian advocated for a dualistic view of God: the “evil” craftsman god of the Old Testament and the “good” god of the New Testament who came to lead us to the spiritual world through secret knowledge or “gnosis.” On the other extreme, subordinationists and modalists tried to preserve God’s oneness at the expense of his threeness by claiming that God the Father is greater than the Son or that he is one God who interacts with the world in three different “roles.”

The fundamental flaw with these views was that they “ascribe those things which apply to men to the Father of all” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 2.13.3). In contrast, scripture clearly reveals the mysterious oneness of God that defies earthly reasoning. Dr. Ortiz employed the story of the burning bush in Exodus to demonstrate this truth. By revealing himself in a bush that burned without being consumed, God showed that he does not depend on the world to exist, just as the fire does not depend on the bush for fuel. In addition, by identifying himself as “Abraham’s God,” he proved that because he is not part of the world, he is able to be present and intimate to particular people without consuming their free will. Finally, by revealing his name as “I AM,” God indicates that he is simple, uncompounded, unqualified being. This means that God must be one, for if there were other divine beings, God’s existence would be qualified by their divinity. In addition, it reveals that nothing can exist apart from God, since he is being itself and all other things receive their being from him.

This last point about God’s simplicity reveals a final radical element of the doctrine of one God. If God is one, then the creation of the world must be understood as creatio ex nihilo or “creation from nothing.” Although it may come as a surprise, early Christians and Jews actually agreed with their neighbors that God created from preexisting matter. However, this belief is incompatible with the doctrine of one God. If matter exists eternally and God created out of it, matter would be a second, higher deity upon which God depended. For this reason, the radical statement “we believe in one God” was necessarily followed by the equally radical statement “who created heaven and earth,” meaning that God created everything out of nothing.

Dr. Ortiz’s lecture encourages us to reflect more deeply on the words of the familiar creed. The next time we join our voices to profess “I believe in one God,” we would do well to appreciate the hard battle fought to establish these words. In addition, these words have significant consequences. We can find consolation in God’s simple, uncompounded being, because it means that his love is the one stable reality that is always there for us, even if we turn away from him like Saint Augustine, who wrote “You were with me, but I was not with you” (Confessions, 10.27.38). The doctrine of one God is certainly radical, but that’s fitting giving the radical love which it reflects.

Divine Mercy Holy Hour

Sunday, April 16, 3-4 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church

Our parish is holding a bilingual service on Divine Mercy Sunday that will include adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a recent devotion in the Catholic Church. It is founded on the revelations received by Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), a Polish nun, about the mercy of God. The chaplet consists of a set of prayers, commonly prayed with the help of a Rosary, but easily done without one due to its simplicity.

On April 30, 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II proclaimed the Second Sunday of Easter as "Divine Mercy Sunday" for the entire world. In 2002, the pontiff established that Divine Mercy Sunday be enriched with an indulgence.

Photos: Understanding Fertility

In February and March 2023, we invited the women of Hope College to attend a series of three seminars on fertility and women’s health. Students had great conversations with Dr. Kim Barrows, Melissa Mulder, Carly McShane, and Laura Cole.

The Radical Doctrine of One God

Reading the Nicene Creed in Context

Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m.
Winants Auditorium
Graves Hall at Hope College

The Nicene Creed begins with the seemingly bland statement, “I believe in one God.” This claim is so familiar to us that we have lost sight of how truly shocking, radical, and controversial this doctrine was. In the early Church, Roman authorities saw the Christian teaching about one God as a threat to the social order, and Christians had to defend their belief even, at times, to the point of death. In this talk, Jared Ortiz will explore the opening line of the Nicene Creed by situating it in its historical context. The talk draws on his forthcoming book The Nicene Creed: A Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Commentary (Baker Academic) co-authored with Daniel Keating.

This event is co-sponsored by the Hope College departments of Religion and Philosophy and the Center for Ministry Studies.

Jared Ortiz joined the faculty at Hope College in 2012. He teaches Catholic theology in the Department of Religion and is founder and executive director of the Saint Benedict Institute. Dr. Ortiz teaches courses on the Incarnation, church history, Catholic Christianity, the theology of the human person, and early Christianity.