TRS 563 Ressourcement Theology for Evangelists

This course explores the rich theological heritage of the 20th century ressourcement movement and its continuing relevance for contemporary evangelization. Students will engage with the foundational works of theologians such as Henri de Lubac, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Joseph Ratzinger, and others who sought to renew Catholic theology by returning to patristic and medieval sources. The course examines how these thinkers' retrieval of classical theological aesthetics, metaphysics, and biblical exegesis provides intellectual resources for addressing contemporary cultural challenges to faith. Special attention will be given to how ressourcement theology illuminates the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Catholic tradition in ways that speak to modern seekers. Students will explore how these theological insights can be translated into effective evangelistic approaches that engage with contemporary culture while remaining rooted in the Church's intellectual tradition. The course incorporates Bishop Robert Barron's distinctive emphasis on the Catholic intellectual tradition as a vital component of the New Evangelization, demonstrating how deep theological understanding enables more compelling proclamation of the Gospel in today's secular context.