Theology is faith seeking understanding. It is a faithful listening to and a systematic, methodical articulation of the message of the Word of God. This Word was first revealed to Israel and then it was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, himself both the mediator and sum total of Revelation, the word of God. This dei verbum is transmitted in the living tradition of the Church. The Center for Contemplative Studies seeks to promote interest in the rich spiritual tradition of the Christian West, in the belief that this tradition is central to our common intellectual heritage. Through the study of significant texts and movements, it aims at a better understanding of the nature of spirituality itself, the unfolding of Christian spirituality in the West and the role spirituality has played in the development of Western culture and thought. The concentration consists of four courses (twelve hours) approved by the Director. Of these, two must belong to the cycle of courses dealing with the history of spirituality, i.e., Patristic Theology and Spirituality, Medieval Spirituality and Modern Spirituality.