To Till And To Keep: Following The Ethical Imperative To Care For Creation Through Gender Exploration And Expression,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
To Till And To Keep: Following The Ethical Imperative To Care For Creation Through Gender Exploration And Expression, Phoebe Carstens
Obsculta
In light of the recent USCCB document regarding 'the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body,' this essay explores an alternative, transgender-affirming ethical framework drawn from Pope Francis's Laudato si’. Within this framework, gender-affirming care is presented as fulfilling the call to care for creation through exploration and cultivation of the self.
Newman's Faith In A Synodal Church,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Newman's Faith In A Synodal Church, Emily Heidick
Obsculta
This piece is a brief exploration of the theology of how the church develops by John Henry Newman with particular attention to the connection to the synodal church of today.
A Spirit Of Dialogue In Unitatis Redintegratio,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
A Spirit Of Dialogue In Unitatis Redintegratio, Emily Heidick
Obsculta
This piece is reflection on Unitatis Redintegratio and the style of Vatican II, which aims to lift up the spirit of dialogue and ecumenism.
Different Forms Of Power In Worship Spaces,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Different Forms Of Power In Worship Spaces, Patrick Russell
Obsculta
This project examines the importance of power in a worship space. In particular, looking at the historical structures of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, this paper strives to lay out the presence of power inherent in places of worship. While other aspects could be used: power as a political structure, power of shared identity, power of scale, and power as a means of limits are given here for consideration.
Namesake: An Ekphrasis On La Sagrada Familia Basilica In Barcelona, Spain,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Namesake: An Ekphrasis On La Sagrada Familia Basilica In Barcelona, Spain, Rachel Henry
Obsculta
Ekphrasis is a literary description of a work of art or architecture—a kind of over-the-top ode. The Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, commonly known as La Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona, Spain, has been under construction for 142 years and is expected to be completed by 2032. With its integral sculptures, soaring towers, and feats of engineering, Architect Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece is unlike any other church or cathedral in the world. Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the temple as a minor basilica in 2010. This article delves into La Sagrada Familia and aims to aid the reader in imaginatively exploring the …
Rejoice Always: Philippians 4:4-7 And Paul’S Equation For Peace Of Heart,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Rejoice Always: Philippians 4:4-7 And Paul’S Equation For Peace Of Heart, Andrea Frey
Obsculta
Paul's instruction to the Philippians to "Rejoice always", found in Philippians 4:4-7, is a guide to help a community and its members achieve peace. Focusing on these verses, this paper examines the elements Paul suggests to achieve peace of heart and mind.
Triduum Photography,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Triduum Photography, Jacqueline Leiter Osb
Obsculta
The word Triduum comes from the Latin words for three days. Through word and image, we remember the last days of Jesus’ life and seek an encounter with the Paschal Mystery. We recall Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane and his suffering and death on the cross. We come to the tomb in sorrow with the women to anoint our Lord in the cold stone tomb. In joy and wonder, we encounter the Risen Christ on Easter morning. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Photo Series: True North,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Photo Series: True North, Jacqueline Leiter Osb
Obsculta
These five photos, and their associated texts, by Sister Jacqueline Leiter, OSB are reflections on key aspects of Christian living. Dispersed throughout this volume of the journal, they offer moments of pause between the other articles.
Gluten-Free Hosts And The Cross: Revelatory Suffering In Christianity,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Gluten-Free Hosts And The Cross: Revelatory Suffering In Christianity, Gilbert Perez
Obsculta
The body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus are said to be made present by the Eucharist: bread and wine placed on the altar. However, the Roman Catholic Church teaches there is no validity to consecrations with gluten-free Hosts. This article notes the past permissions on gluten-free hosts and explores how present and former practices exhibit the nature of the Crucifixion, humanity’s participation in a world it abuses, and, furthermore, how to remedy this source of exclusion.
Sunday Celebration In The Absence Of A Priest And Women's Role In Presiding,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Sunday Celebration In The Absence Of A Priest And Women's Role In Presiding, Kristyn Demers
Obsculta
This essay explores instances of Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest, specifically within the rural context where the effects of the priesthood shortage are felt most strongly. Additionally, this paper examines the role that women play in the church, especially the rural church, and calls for the church to respond by creating more equitable roles for women within church leadership and ministry.
Bioethics And A Theology Of Vulnerability,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Bioethics And A Theology Of Vulnerability, Carrie Oneil-Smith
Obsculta
This essay looks at how a theology of vulnerability can contribute to ethical decision-making in an increasingly secular society. Relationality, power dynamics and scriptural justifications are considered, as well as early contributions made to this nascent field of Christian thought. This essay was written for a class on Health Care Ethics taught by Dr. Mary Ann Kish.
Considering Hope,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Considering Hope, Rachel Henry
Obsculta
Hope based on an expected outcome can be elusive in a world that contains so much suffering. This piece considers Karl Rahner's theological hope as a more appropriate and helpful framework in the context of the diminishing vocations to monastic communities in the United States.
Interpretation Of Luke 15:11-32: For Parents Of Children Who Have Fallen Away From The Faith And Have Other Children At Home,
2024
College of Saint Benedict/Saint Johns University
Interpretation Of Luke 15:11-32: For Parents Of Children Who Have Fallen Away From The Faith And Have Other Children At Home, Anisabel Palma
Obsculta
This piece aims to interpret the pericope of Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the Prodigal Son, for parents with children fallen away from the faith and other children with them. Its purpose is to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ during those difficult moments, offering hope and trust in the loving God of the merciful Father. It is aims to explore the graces that God bestows upon parents who mourn the estrangement of their child.
A Narrative Analysis Of Gensis 15,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
A Narrative Analysis Of Gensis 15, Patrick Russell
Obsculta
This paper seeks to read Genesis 15 through a narrative lens. While historical critical method provides some framework, the main purpose is to read this text as a work of literature: a story told to an audience to convey something of shared importance. What theological insights a reader gains from this literary approach may be different from that which one sees when analyzing the text with a more tradition lens.
Junia The Apostle: History And Future Of Women In The Church,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Junia The Apostle: History And Future Of Women In The Church, Hannah Miers
Obsculta
The piece sheds light on the identity of the individual mentioned as Junia in Paul's writings to the Romans. Numerous sources, spanning from the Patristics to contemporary academia, shed further insight into her life and character. The more significant question for our times becomes why Junia is less well-known and how she exemplifies a change (though slow) in the Roman Catholic Church's perspective on women.
To Embody Christ's Image: Queer Presence In Liturgy,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
To Embody Christ's Image: Queer Presence In Liturgy, Maggie Nadalin
Obsculta
This paper examines how approaching liturgical issues from a Queer vantage-point in both theory and practice offers a fresh lens for not only understanding liturgy but recognizing the urgent need for Queer-influenced liturgical rites.
Harmony Unveiled: Navigating The Trinity’S Practical Symphony With Lacugna And Augustine,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Harmony Unveiled: Navigating The Trinity’S Practical Symphony With Lacugna And Augustine, Andrenique D. Rolle
Obsculta
This paper compares Catherine M. LaCugna's practical take on the Trinity with Augustine's theoretical insights. LaCugna highlights real-world implications, while Augustine delves into philosophical intricacies. Despite differences, both converge on perichoresis, emphasizing an inseparable communion within the Triune God. Together, they offer a holistic view—bridging theory and practice for spiritual fulfillment and communal harmony.
Photo Series: Tree,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Photo Series: Tree, Jacqueline Leiter Osb
Obsculta
These five photos, and their associated texts, by Sister Jacqueline Leiter, OSB are reflections on key aspects of Christian living. Dispersed throughout this volume of the journal, they offer moments of pause between the other articles.
Theology Of Paradise Today,
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Theology Of Paradise Today, Sarah Skrove
Obsculta
This piece discusses the shift in the Christian Church's soteriology from one of paradise to one of atonement. The implications of this change in theory extend into modern day issues like racial inequality and mental health stigma. Through understanding a theology of paradise, we can catch a glimpse of how differently our world might look.
Unha Vez Tiven Un Cravo (Once I Had A Nail),
2024
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Unha Vez Tiven Un Cravo (Once I Had A Nail), Roslie De Castro, Scott Cooper
Obsculta
Rosalia de Castro was a nineteenth-century Spanish Catholic writer now best-known for her novels, but her poetry is widely admired in the Spanish-speaking world as well. This devotional poem is written in the language of her native region of Galicia, and the translator hopes that this new version will awaken interest in Castro's work in the English-speaking world.
