Fall 2018 and Winter 2019
2018-19 Spiritual Works of Mercy Lecture Series
After the wonderful response last year to our Corporal Works of Mercy series*, we are offering a follow-up lecture series this academic year on the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Though often worded differently, the spiritual works of mercy are
- Share the faith (often worded as "instruct the ignorant").
- Counsel the doubtful.
- Admonish the sinner.
- Comfort the afflicted.
- Forgive offenses willingly.
- Bear wrongs patiently.
- Pray for the living and the dead.
*To watch the videos of last year's Corporal Works of Mercy Lecture Series, please visit our "Past Events" page.
Schedule of All Lectures in this Series
| September 27 |
Sharing the Faith
Catholic Education: From and For Faith
Thomas Groome (bio)—Professor of theology & religious education, Boston College; author of What Makes Us Catholic: Eight Gifts for Life |
| November 1 |
Forgiving Offenses Willingly
On the Ground in Eastern Africa: Creating Peace Amid Conflict & Religious Extremism
Fr. Patrick Devine, SMA (bio)—Founder & director, Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation in Eastern Africa |
| January 24 |
Comforting the Afflicted
Withcraft & Demons in a World of Plural Beliefs: A Relational
& Culture-Sensitve Approach for Helping the Afflicted—and the
Accused
Fr. Bernhard Udelhoven, SMA (bio)—Coordinator of "Fingers of Thomas" ministry in Lusaka, Zambia, & longtime missionary |
| February 21 |
Praying for the Living and the Dead
Lazarus, Come Forth—War, Soul Death, and Homecoming
Robert E. Meagher (bio)—Professor of humanities, Hampshire College; author of Killing from the Inside Out: Moral Injury & Just War |
| February 28 |
Bearing Wrongs Patiently
The Challenges of Being Church in China
Mary Mee-Yin Yuen—Professor, Holy Spirit Seminary College in Hong Kong |
| April 4 |
Admonishing the Sinner
The Catholic Response to Mining Exploitation in El Salvador
Andrés McKinley (bio)—Specialist on water & mining, Universidad Centroamericana, El Salvador |
April 11 |
Counseling the Doubtful
A Nun on the Rise of "Nones" in Latin America
Sr. Geraldina Céspedes—Professor of theology & philosophy, Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala City |
January 24
Comforting the Afflicted*
Witchcraft & Demons in a World of Plural Beliefs: A Relational & Cultural Approach for Helping the Afflicted—and Accused (
details)
A missionary for 24 years now in Zambia, Fr. Bernhard Udelhoven discusses the culturally-sensitive approach he takes in his pastoral ministry, particularly with a support group called the "Fingers of Thomas," which exists for those who have had occult experiences, feel afflicted by demons or witchcraft, identify with forms of Satanism, or stand accused of being witches or Satanists. Fr. Udelhoven's approach takes seriously people's fears without foregoing the struggle for justice for victims of moral panics, witch hunts, and the demonization of minority groups.
*2018-19 Spiritual Works of Mercy Lecture Series
Related Events in the Chicago Area
October 9–November 20 (Tuesday evenings)
Faith, Crisis, Christ* 
(non-credit course open to university students/faculty)Paul Mankowski, SJ (Scholar-in-Residence, Lumen Christi Institute)
Gavin House
1220 E. 58th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
*This course will make use of classic works of anglophone Christian writers—G. K. Chesteron, J. R. R. Tolkien, J. Budziszewski, Ronald A. Knox—concerned with demonstrating how it is that faith permits the human person to see farther and understand the world more deeply.
Presented by the Lumen Christi Institute.