Christendom College has launched a new, eight-part course titled “Prayer and the Quest for Holiness” on its free online learning platform. Taught by Christendom College professor and President Emeritus Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, the course presents a practical path forward on how to grow in prayer, persevere through difficulty, and come to know God more deeply.
Across eight free lessons, participants will be confronted with the most important question of the spiritual life: “How do we grow in union with God?” With that question at the heart of each lesson, Dr. O’Donnell takes participants through the reality and goals of the spiritual life, how to overcome spiritual dryness and distractions, and ultimately grow in one’s prayer life — all taught in a practical manner, deeply rooted in the truths of the Catholic faith.
“Together, we’ll uncover the foundation of authentic prayer, why self-knowledge matters, and how Christ and His Blessed Mother guide us step by step toward holiness,” says Dr. O’Donnell. “Drawing from Scripture, the saints, and the Church’s rich spiritual tradition, you’ll learn not just what prayer is, but how to live it.”
Dr. Timothy T. O’Donnell is President Emeritus of Christendom College, where he served as president for more than 30 years. He earned degrees in philosophy, history, and Church history from Loyola Marymount before becoming the first layman to receive a doctorate in Ascetical and Mystical Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. In 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him a consulter to the Pontifical Council for the Family. In 2025, Pope Leo XIV honored O’Donnell with the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, one of the highest honors the Holy See grants to clergy and laity, for his decades of distinguished service to the Catholic Church. He is the author of Heart of the Redeemer, a theological investigation and spiritual guide to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Swords Around the Cross, a historical investigation of a crucial period in the history of Catholic Ireland. He is also a frequent lecturer for EWTN, producing numerous programs of theological and historical interest.
“Prayer and the Quest for Holiness” joins several other free courses available on Christendom’s online learning platform, including Professor Mary Stanford’s “Theology of the Body” course, Dr. Andrew Whitmore’s “Becoming a Saint: Wisdom from Aquinas to Grow in Virtue” course, Dr. Mark Wunch’s “Proving God’s Existence,” and Dr. Jon Kirwan’s “Education at the Crossroads.”
Intended to help people everywhere come to better know and love the Catholic Faith, Christendom’s online platform also features other courses such as “The Principles of Catholic Bioethics,” “Understanding Human Nature,” “Christ: The Center of History,”“Foundations of the New Testament,” and many more.
This initiative reflects Christendom’s longstanding mission to form lay Catholics in the truths of faith and reason and to equip them to live out the truth with confidence and clarity. Through these free online courses, even more people now have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and grow in holiness—at no cost.
To explore the platform and enroll in “Prayer and the Quest for Holiness,” visit here.
View the course trailer below:
