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Ladder of Ascent 2021-2022 Class Calendar
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The Ladder of Ascent
¡En Español!
Sessions
The Ladder of Ascent is a two-year journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church that reveals the Catechism to be not a dry book of dogmas but rather an upward ladder that leads us to communion with God in a life of prayer. The Blessed Stanley Rother Institute is partnering with the Lay Division of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, Colorado to bring the Ladder of Ascent program to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City beginning in the fall of 2019.
The mission of the Ladder of Ascent is to place people in contact and communion with the Person of Christ, who alone leads us to the heart of the Father in the Spirit – in essence, making and maturing disciples.We do this through a prayerful, organic, and systematic presentation of the Catholic Faith, contained both in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §80-82). This occurs in a setting that takes advantage of all the facets of effective adult learning: engaging lectures, small group dynamics, independent study, and personal application.
The program consists of both lectures and small group discussions for further enrichment and understanding of the material. In addition to class time, students also complete reading assignments for homework and an open-book, take-home “test” at the end of each semester. At the end of the two-year program, the student is awarded an Archdiocesan Certificate of Catechetical Studies. -
Four Semesters Ascendingthe Four Pillars of the Catechism
The four pillars or parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church form a prayerful, organic, and systematic ascent to God in our pilgrim journey.
The Catechism starts as all good stories do: at the beginning. “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life” (CCC §1). In the first semester, we study the story of the Father’s plan of blessing as outlined in the twelve articles of faith in the Apostles Creed. This summary of the story of salvation provides the scriptural context for our study of the doctrines of the Church. Knowing the faith we profess will shed light on the rest of our path up the Ladder of Ascent.
The faith we profess in the Creed is celebrated in the liturgy and sacraments. What God has promised and accomplished in history is made present and efficacious now: “In the Church’s liturgy the divine blessing is fully revealed and communicated” (CCC §1082). In the second semester, students will study each of the seven sacraments in order to gain a better understanding of them both scripturally and theologically. By better knowing what the sacraments are and why Christ has given them to us, we will be equipped for a deeper, more fruitful participation in them.
Our profession of faith in the Creed and our celebration of it in the sacraments is meant to transform every area of our life and conform us to Christ. In the third semester, students will explore what this life lived in imitation of Christ looks like. We will begin with a look at our goal–fulfillment in beatitude–and then examine the main points of moral theology: free will, conscience virtue, sin, grace, merit, and law. The second part of the semester will be devoted to a study of each of the Ten Commandments and the profound guidance they offer living a life of holiness. In studying the moral life we discover that “the gift of the Commandments is the gift of God himself and his holy will” (CCC §2059) and that we are invited to offer our obedience as “a response to God’s loving initiative [and] a worship of thanksgiving” so that we may cooperate in every way with his plan (CCC §2062).
Our journey through the Catechism concludes with a study of the one thing needful (cf. Luke 10:42): the “vital and personal relationship” of prayer (CCC §2558). In this fourth and final semester students will be introduced to the mystical life. We will examine the tradition of prayer in the Old Testament, study not only what our Lord taught about prayer but also what he modeled for us, and explore the different kinds of prayer in the age of the Church. The semester concludes with an in-depth consideration of the seven petitions of the Our Father–what St. Thomas Aquinas called “the most perfect of all prayers.” Thus our climb up the Ladder of Ascent in the Catechism brings us to the summit of resting “in the presence of the thrice-holy God and in communion with him” (CCC §2565).
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Tuition and Financial Assistance
TUITION FOR THE LADDER OF ASCENT
All tuition rates are for an entire academic year and include a $20 non-refundable fee (where applicable) due at registration.
Sessions Presented in English
- General Student = $620
- Senior (65+ years old) = $560
- Military, Veteran, First Responder = $560
- Proof of military/employment status required by October 15, 2021, when registering.
- Contact office for details. - Parish Volunteer Catechist = $380
- Proof of volunteer status (letter from your pastor, DRE, or Parish Catechetical Leader) required by October 15, 2021, when registering.
- Employee of the archdiocese or a Catholic parish / school / ministry = $320
- Proof of employment status required by October 15, 2021, when registering.
- Contact the office for details. - Priest/Seminarian/Deacon/Professed Religious = Free
Students may apply for a 10-month tuition payment plan.
Limited need-based tuition assistance is available.
The application for tuition assistance is included in the registration process for all students.
Contact the Blessed Stanley Rother Institute (RotherInstitute@ArchOKC.org or 405-721-4208)
for more information.
Sesiones Presentados en Español
There is a $200 grant offered to all students enrolling in this pilot year of the Ladder of Ascent presented in Spanish. This grant is in addition to other discounts.
- General Student = $620 - $200 = $420
- Senior (65+ years old) = $560- $200 = $360
- Military, Veteran, First Responder = $560- $200 = $360
- Proof of military/employment status required by October 15, 2021, when registering.
- Contact office for details. - Parish Volunteer Catechist = $380 - $200 = $180
- Proof of volunteer status (letter from your pastor, DRE, or Parish Catechetical Leader) required by October 15, 2021, when registering.
- Employee of the archdiocese or a Catholic parish / school / ministry = $320 - $200 = $120
- Proof of employment status required by October 15, 2021, when registering.
- Contact the office for details. - Priest/Seminarian/Deacon/Professed Religious = Free
Students may apply for a 10-month tuition payment plan.
Limited need-based tuition assistance is available.
The application for tuition assistance is included in the registration process for all students.
Contact the Blessed Stanley Rother Institute (RotherInstitute@ArchOKC.org or 405-721-4208)
for more information. -
Contact Us
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jfugikawaarchokc.orgDirector, Blessed Stanley Rother Institute -
Edgar Garciaegarciaarchokc.orgCoordinator of Hispanic Leadership Development
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