The Challenge of Ex Corde Ecclesiae

Spiritual Life
Student Organizations
The Main Catholic Aspects to Christendom

By Dr. Timothy T. O'Donnell, STD,KGCHS
President, Christendom College

The most significant document affecting the Catholic university in this century is Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Colleges and Universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, "Out of the Heart of the Church."

The Holy Father's Call

During the 1960s many Catholic colleges felt an acute sense of inferiority to their secular counterparts and began to follow secular models of education. The root of this problem was a crisis of faith which led many of the Catholic intellectual elite to become increasingly antagonistic to the tradition of Catholic higher education.

The title selected by the Holy Father, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, "Out of the Heart of the Church," presents to us a parent-child model, with the Church as parent and the university as progeny. When many college presidents in the 1960s took part in the Land O'Lakes declaration of independence from the Church and all external authority, the "child" turned truant, and, like the prodigal son, now risks perishing from lack of proper nourishment. Many a Catholic college and university today longs to fill itself with "the husks fed to the swine" after dismantling much of the traditional core curriculum. A strong liberal arts core, with a special emphasis on philosophy and theology, characterized much of Catholic higher education prior to 1960; that core is now found in only a handful of Catholic colleges and universities. Ex Corde Ecclesiae is the call of a parent to her rebellious child. The Holy Father's ardent desire is that those in leadership positions should come to their senses and return to their Father's house lest they perish on the way.

The Quest for Truth

The Holy Father teaches that the Catholic university unites "two intellectual orders" which all too often are wrongly placed in opposition. The first is the search for truth, and second, "the certainty of already knowing the font of truth." Of course, one can see flowing from these two central points that a certain obligation will be imposed by the truth once it is known. Often educators act as if an open mind is the highest perfection. In fact, an open mind lacks perfection, for it is still searching. As Christians we do not have open minds but rather discerning minds. Our minds are deeply committed to the truth of Jesus Christ. We judge, therefore, all proposed truth within the context of the truth which He has revealed to us.

Pope John Paul II writes in this document with a passion which reveals that he is speaking from his own personal experience within the Catholic university. He sees most clearly that one of the principal purposes of the Catholic university is first "the ardent search for truth" and second, its unselfish transmission to youth that they may learn to think so as to act rightly. The Holy Father sees with great clarity the importance of moral conduct. It is not enough only to know the truth-- one must love the truth and live the truth! He states in Ex Corde Ecclesiae, "It is the honor and responsibility of a Catholic university to consecrate itself without reserve to the cause of truth." The Catholic university is distinguished from its secular counterpart by its "free search for the whole truth about nature, man, and God." The Catholic university is open to the whole truth, and the whole truth cannot be dismissed outright or confined to "religious studies." Religious Studies is a valid and helpful humanistic discipline, but it has as its object not God who reveals specific truth to man, but only what men have believed about the deity. Because the Catholic university is open to truth wherever it is found, it should embrace a "universal humanism" which always examines things in their "essential connection with the supreme truth who is God."

The Pope particularly points out the important union provided by the Catholic vision of things which, rather than placing faith and reason in opposition, unites the two orders in a harmonious relationship. Any future hopes for Catholic higher education in this country will be achieved only if the Catholic university whole-heartedly seeks "courageous creativity and rigorous fidelity." The Holy Father's expression certainly does seem paradoxical; courageous creativity is necessary because there is always more which we can learn about the world in which we live, the entire created order, and God. At the same time we must hold fast to the teaching of the Church and the truth found therein. There can be no real opposition between the truths discovered by faith and the truths discovered by reason, as both ultimately have their source in God.

If this balance is achieved, then the Catholic university will fulfill its purpose as stated by the Second Vatican Council in its declaration on Christian education, "That the Christian mind may achieve as it were a public, persistent and universal presence in the whole enterprise of advancing higher culture, and that the students of these institutions become people outstanding in learning ready to shoulder society's heavier burdens and to witness the faith to the world."

The Pope teaches us that the Catholic university's objective must be the maintenance of a Christian institutional presence in the world of higher education. This seems to indicate that the Pope will not be satisfied with a university in a particular "religious tradition" but only with one which has an explicit, Catholic identity.

The Catholic Identity

A Catholic university must have at least four of the following "essential characteristics." First, the Holy Father says there must be a Christian inspiration which is found not only in the individuals who make up the college or university, but throughout the university community as such. Secondly, in the light of the truths of the Catholic Faith, there must be an ongoing reflection upon the growing body of human knowledge to which the university seeks to add its own unique contribution in the field of research and writing. Third, within the university there must be "fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church." It is here, particularly within theological discourse, that the necessity of adherence to the teaching of the Magisterium as an authoritative font of truth is emphasized by the Pope. Fourth, there must be a commitment on the part of the institution to serve the entire people of God and the entire human family of mankind "in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning to life." That transcendent goal is none other than God, who beckons all men to eternal happiness in the beatific vision. Here again, in all four points the importance of faith is seen. It is central and vital to the integrity to the Catholic university. In an authentic Catholic university, "Catholic ideals, attitudes, and principles penetrate and inform university activities in accordance to the proper nature and autonomy of these activities."

Church and University

In all of this one can see that neither the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, the Roman Pontiff in his solemn teaching office, nor the local bishop teaching in communion with the universal Church form a threat in any way to the integrity of an institution which has consecrated itself to the pursuit of truth.

To conclude from the document, "One consequence of its essential relationship to the Church is that institutional fidelity of the university to the Christian message includes a recognition and adherence to the teaching authority of the Church in the matter of faith and morals." This is no threat to the legitimate autonomy of human culture and academic freedom. Scholars continue to enjoy the academic freedom which should characterize pursuit, acquisition, and communication of truth. This search takes place "within the confines of the truth and the common good." All Catholics should be deeply grateful for the inspired guidance of the Holy Father in this document and for Rome's insistence that it be fully implemented in every institution of higher learning that bears the name "Catholic."

Dr. Timothy T. O'Donnell

In summary, this is what makes Christendom a truly Catholic College

The main Catholic aspects to Christendom College:

• In joyful adherence to the principles set forth in Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Christendom is primarily an Educational Apostolate, with an emphasis on helping the students grow intellectually and spiritually in their love and knowledge of God and the created order, and thereby, ultimately helping them to attain eternal salvation. In short, we care about the development of the whole person and the welfare of their souls.
• All professors are Catholic and ALL of them make an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium and a Profession of Faith each year in the presence of the Diocese of Arlington's Bishop Paul Loverde.
• All classes, whenever possible, are taught with a Catholic vision and worldview. When teaching history, it's with a fuller Catholic understanding – and we explain how the Catholic Church has made an impact on history. When teaching philosophy, one is open to the truths of natural reason and the fullness of truth about God, man and the created order, with a strong emphasis on St. Thomas Aquinas' teachings.
• Our rules and regulations governing student life are intended to help students embrace the fullness of Catholic life. Reflecting the dignity and serious nature of the course of studies, there is a dress code for class, Mass, and lunch; a modesty dress code at all times; no alcohol, TVs or internet in the residence halls; no intervisitation between the men's and women's residence halls; and curfew for freshmen and sophomore students who are under 21. We believe that these rules are beneficial for the growth of the student's moral, intellectual and spiritual life.
• The College, in its daily life, also shows a deep commitment to the Sacraments and sacramentals of the Church: Daily Mass, Daily Adoration, Daily Confession, Daily Rosary, Daily Evening and Morning Prayer.
• We are attempting to help rebuild Christendom, that is, a time in history when the culture was inspired by the Gospel and the teaching of the Church. We celebrate the traditions of the Church and enjoy the many liturgical and cultural feasts of the Catholic Church and her rich heritage.
• Beautifully celebrated liturgies are a trademark of Christendom. Gregorian chant, polyphony, traditional choir, incense, Novus Ordo Latin Masses, traditional hymns, Eucharistic and Marian processions are all part of this tradition.
• Catholicism is not simply a religion and theology is not merely a class one takes at college. It involves an openness to the true, the good, and the beautiful, wherever found. We believe that Catholicism is a way of life and on our campus, it is the "air that we breathe." Catholicism, joyfully lived in fidelity to Christ and His Church, affects everything that we do here, from our Commencement speakers to our student clubs, from our curriculum to our Masses.
  

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