MDiv Comprehensive Exam Requirements

General Instruction

Explain the following topics in a way that is pastorally engaging and which demonstrates the achievement of a theological synthesis in the light of Pastores dabo vobis §54:

Theological formation . . . should lead the candidate for the priesthood to a complete and unified vision of the truths which God has revealed in Jesus Christ and of the Church’s experience of faith. Hence the need both to know “all” the Christian truths, without arbitrarily selecting among them, and to know them in an orderly fashion. This means the candidate needs to be helped to build a synthesis which will be the result of the contributions of the different theological disciplines, the specific nature of which acquires genuine value only in their profound coordination.

Procedure

The student will draw three of the following fifteen topics by lot.  He will choose one on which to write an essay during the space of two hours. After the examiners have a chance to read the written essay, an oral exam will be scheduled, during which the examining board may ask questions on the written work and on any of the three theses drawn. The oral examination is thirty minutes in length. The examination board consists of two professors. (In practice: topics are drawn on Monday morning. The written exam is Thursday or Friday morning. The oral exam is early the following week.)  

In writing the essay the student may not make use of any notes brought into the exam, but he may use certain standard reference works: the Bible, Denzinger, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Documents of Vatican II, the Code of Canon Law, and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

The final evaluation for the M.Div. degree is based on 90% of the student’s earned grade point average and 10% of the score on the examination.

In the event that a student fails the comprehensive exam, he will be allowed two possibilities to take it again, within the limit of one year.

 

Questions revised and updated: Spring, 2022.

1. Revelation through Words and Deeds; Biblical Inspiration and the Truth of Scripture; Faith; Scripture and Tradition; Principles of Biblical Interpretation; Old Testament Prophecy and Typology; Old and New Covenant (Dei Verbum; CCC 50–141; 1961-1986; Verbum Domini29–49)

• Speak about the relationship between faith and reason. (In order to do this, you should define the theological virtue of faith, and speak about the nature of theology).
• Speak about the relationship between Scripture and Tradition.
• Speak about Scriptural inspiration and the truth of Scripture.
• Speak about the principles of biblical interpretation given in Dei Verbum 12 with a special emphasis on the relation between historical and canonical methods of interpretation.
• Explain the diachronic and synchronic interpretation of Scripture.
• Explain the four senses of Scripture mentioned in CCC 115-117, giving some examples of each.
• What is the role of the Old Testament in understanding the Christian mystery?
• Explain methods of Scriptural interpretation (as explained in the 1993 document of the PBC, Interpretation of the Bible in the Church).
• Describe the relationship between the Bible and the liturgy in terms of its formal and material dimensions.

 

2. Trinity and Christology: Major Heresies and Ecumenical Councils (Biblical, systematic, and historical perspectives) (CCC 200-267; 422-483; 683–747)

• Speak about the biblical foundations of Trinitarian and Christological thought.
• Speak about the Trinitarian processions and missions: e.g., how are the personal properties rooted in the processions and manifested in the missions?
• Explain the principal reasons for the Incarnation.
• Summarize how the first four ecumenical councils clarified the mystery of Christ and the Trinity.
• Speak about Christ’s human knowledge and will.
• How is all of salvation history fulfilled and recapitulated in Christ? (What does it mean that Christ is the capstone?)
• What is the relationship between the Trinity and theological anthropology?
• How is Christ present in the Liturgy? Describe the Trinitarian dynamics of the Liturgy and prayer.

 

3. The Mysteries of the Life of Christ and Mariology (Biblical, systematic, historical, liturgical and pastoral perspectives) (CCC 484-511; 512–682; 721–726; 963-975)

• What does it mean to say that “what was visible in Christ has passed over into his mysteries”? (CCC 1115)
• Mystery of Humility: Speak about the mystery of Mary giving birth to the Son of God in Bethlehem. Speak about Mary as the Theotokos.
• Theology of the Cross: Why was it fitting for Christ to redeem mankind through the maximum suffering of His Passion?
• Theology of the Resurrection and Ascension: Why does St. Paul say in 1 Cor 15:17: that “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”? Explain the fittingness of Christ’s Resurrection, Ascension, and Sending of the Spirit.
• How is Christ the Incarnation of mercy?
• Explain how we encounter the mysteries of Christ’s life through the celebration of the Liturgical Year.
• Speak about how Mary’s mission as the Mother of God can be an integrating point for all Church teaching on Mary.

 

4. Grace and Justification: Original Justice, Original Sin, Grace, Redemption, Baptism and Confirmation (Biblical, systematic, historical, liturgical, pastoral and canonical perspectives) (CCC 1987-2029; 727–741; 976-987; 1213–1321)

• Explain the state of original justice in which Adam and Eve were created. What were the principal consequences of the Fall? How does Baptism restore what was lost in Original Sin?
• What is sanctifying grace and what gifts flow from it?
• Explain the necessity of actual grace for the process of conversion and our capacity to cooperate with it. (Summarize the teaching of the Council of Trent on justification.)
• What is mercy? Describe the role of divine mercy in the conversion process.
• What is sacramental grace? How do the sacraments confer grace? How do Christians encounter grace and mercy in the Sacramental Economy – especially in Baptism, Penance, and Confirmation?
• What does it mean to speak of Mary as “Mediatrix” of grace?

 

5. Creation and Eschatology (CCC 268–421; 988-1065); Liturgy and the Sacraments in General (CCC 1066–1212)

• Explain the relation between the doctrine of creation and the history of salvation. (see CCC 287-288)
• Explain man’s place in God’s work of creation.
• Explain the role of inequality, distinction, and complementarity in God’s work of creation.
• Speak about care for creation and man’s kingly mission of cooperation in God’s providence.
• Explain the content of Christian hope.
• What is the distinction between personal judgment and the Last Judgment?
• Why is it fitting that there be Purgatory (CCC 1030)? What is the relation between indulgences and Purgatory?
• Why is the doctrine on hell fitting?
• What is the Church’s teaching on the end-times? What is the temptation of secular messianism?
• Why did Christ institute a sacramental economy in which grace is communicated using sensible signs? Speak about the sacramental system.

 

6. Ecclesiology: Teaching of Lumen Gentium and the Four Marks of the Church; Basic Principles of Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue (Lumen Gentium; CCC 748-975)

• How is all Ecclesiology rooted in the Incarnation? (For example: Explain and discuss how Jesus founded the Church. What is it that Jesus said and did that amounts to the founding of the Church?)
• Explain the meaning of Lumen Gentium 8: “But, the society structured with hierarchical organs and the Mystical Body of Christ, are not to be considered as two realities, nor are the visible assembly and the spiritual community, nor the earthly Church and the Church enriched with heavenly things; rather they form one complex reality which coalesces from a divine and a human element. For this reason, by no weak analogy, it is compared to the mystery of the incarnate Word. As the assumed nature inseparably united to Him, serves the divine Word as a living organ of salvation, so, in a similar way, does the visible social structure of the Church serve the Spirit of Christ, who vivifies it, in the building up of the body.”
• Explain the four marks of the Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed.
• Explain the meaning of Lumen Gentium’s teaching that: “This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling toward catholic unity.”
• (a) Explain the ways in which God (and His grace) is and is not present in other religions. (b) Explain the ways in which God (and His grace) is and is not present in other ecclesial communities. (c) What does dialogue mean in light of that presence? (see Nostra Aetate; Dominus Jesus).
• What is the relation between inculturation and evangelization?
• Explain the church as a communion in reference to the teaching of Lumen Gentium.
• Explain the three grades of assent to Magisterial teaching.
• Explain how the Liturgy is an action of “the whole Christ.”
• Speak about Mary as “type” of the Church.

 

7. Fundamental Moral Theology: Natural Law; Conscience; the Moral Act; Cardinal and Theological Virtues (CCC 1691–1960)

• Contrast a Catholic understanding of human freedom with the understanding of human freedom commonly found in our culture.
• Name and explain the Cardinal Virtues. What is their impact on human freedom as understood in the Catholic tradition?
• Name and explain the Theological Virtues. What is the form of the virtues?
• What is conscience? Speak about the formation of conscience.
• Name and describe the Sources of Morality and explain how they work together to determine the morality of an act. Explain how this is related to an intrinsically evil act.
• Define Formal and Material Cooperation. When are these morally licit?

 

8. Catholic Social Doctrine (from Rerum Novarum) (CCC 2052-2463; Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church; Rerum Novarum)

• Define Universal destination of goods and Private Property. Explain the relationship between the two.
• Explain the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity. How are these related to each other? Give some examples.
• What is your understanding of the Church’s role in pronouncing on issues concerning public policy?
• Explain why care for creation is treated under the seventh commandment (CCC). How would you promote this understanding in a parish setting?
• What is racism and how is it manifested in an individual, parish, neighborhood, or city? Give an example of what the parish can do to respond to it.

9. Bioethics and the Dignity of Human Life from Conception: Abortion (CCC 2270-2275); Euthanasia and End of Life Issues (CCC 2276-2283); In-Vitro Fertilization, Cloning, Embryonic Stem-Cell Research (CCC 2374-2379); Theology of the Body

• Explain the Church’s teaching on abortion as you would in an RCIA class. Discuss the social implications of widespread legalized abortion. How is this related to St. John Paul II’s discussion of a culture of death?
• Why does the Church attach a penalty to abortion?
• Speak about pastoral care for those suffering post-abortion trauma.
• Discuss the issue of physician assisted suicide. What is it? What would be the consequences of its legalization and spread? Be sure to include the effects on patients, doctors and medical care. How is this related to St. John Paul II’s discussion of a culture of death?
• If you can refuse chemo-therapy why can’t you refuse artificial nutrition and hydration? If palliative care that can shorten life can be acceptable, why not physician-assisted suicide? Explain.
• If John and Suzie come to you and they are pursuing IVF because they want to have children, what do you say to them? What are the repercussions in society regarding the dignity of sexuality, the dignity of persons and the dignity of women?
• If someone comes to you and says that they are gay, what does pastoral accompaniment mean in practice? How will you talk about chastity?

 

10. The Growth and Stages of the Spiritual Life; Methods of Prayer (CCC 2558-2758); Discernment of Spirits; Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Care

• Speak about how prayer can change in the growth of the spiritual life.
• Explain some key principles of spiritual discernment.
• Explain two different stages of human and spiritual development and how you would provide pastoral care in each case.
• Explain two or three different methods of prayer and circumstances in which you would recommend them.
• What is your understanding of scrupulosity and how does the Church recommend that it be addressed pastorally?
• Discuss the relationship between stages of growth in natural life, in the sacramental life, and in the spiritual life. (See CCC 1210-1211)

11. Holy Orders (CCC 1536-1600); Spirituality of the Diocesan Priest and Celibacy (CCC 1618-1620); Spirituality of Other States of Life (Marriage; Religious Life) (CCC 1638-1666; 1973-1974; 914-945)

• Describe the qualities (given in Scripture) of Jesus Christ the High and Eternal Priest.
• Explain the nuptial meaning and eschatological sign value of the gift of celibacy.
• Speak about the character of Holy Orders and the mission that it imparts.
• What would be some impediments to the reception of Holy Orders?
• Describe the baptismal priesthood and its distinction and relation with the ministerial priesthood (LG 10).
• Describe the pursuit of holiness in two (or three) different states of life (ethos of the gift).[1]
• Describe what it means for the priest to be a man of communion.
• What are some of the ramifications of scandals among the clergy (sexual, financial, etc.), what are some lessons learned, and what are some key elements of the path moving forward?

 

12. Church History. The Patristic and Medieval Church; Or The Reformation and Counter-Reformation; Or The Church in America

• Name three pivotal events or persons in Church history and what was their contribution (positive or negative).
• How does recent history affect the current situation of the Church and how does that need to be addressed moving forward?
• What are some of the ramifications of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, what are some lessons learned, and what are some key elements of the path moving forward?
• Discuss some major spiritual movements at different points in Church history.

 

13. Structure and Theology of the Eucharist (Biblical, liturgical, systematic, canonical and historical perspectives) (CCC 1322-1419)

• Define “Liturgy.” What are its principal goals?
• Why did Jesus institute the Eucharist? Speak about three principal reasons.
• What does the Church consider valid matter for the Eucharist?
• Explain what the Church understands by the term “transubstantiation.”
• How is the Sacrifice of the Mass the same as the sacrifice of Calvary? Why does Jesus want His Sacrifice continually made present in the life of the Church? How do the faithful participate in offering the sacrifice?
• What are the principal effects of Holy Communion?
• Explain why one must be in a state of grace to receive Holy Communion.
• Discuss the theological, historical, and pastoral dimensions of Liturgy. (Perhaps give an example that highlights all three dimensions.)

 

14. Marriage: Nature, Sacramentality, History, Systematics; Theology of the Body: Marital Chastity and Humanae vitae; Impediments, Requirements, and Preparation; (CCC 1601-1666; 2331-2400)

• Explain the nature and essential properties of marriage. Why is marriage indissoluble? Why must it be exclusive, complementary (one man and one woman), and open to life?
• What constitutes a valid marriage in the Church, and how does that explain the grounds for an annulment?
• Explain the spousal meaning of the human body and the importance of the complementarity of men and women in God’s plan. What light do Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5 (and other Biblical texts) shed on marriage?
• Explain the central teaching of Humanae vitae. (HV 12: “This particular doctrine, often expounded by the magisterium of the Church, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act.”)
• If couple comes to you for marriage preparation and they are co-habitating, how would you address the dangers of the cohabitation for the couple?
• Discuss marital chastity. What is the impact on the family of pornography use? What is the impact of temperance and conjugal spirituality on the family?
• What are some of the major pressures affecting families today and what are some human and spiritual practices to help the family stay healthy?
• Describe the relationship between celibacy and marriage.

 

15. Sacraments of Penance (CCC 1420-1498) and Anointing (CCC 1499-1532); Indulgences (CCC 1471-1473); Burial (CCC 1684-1690); Pastoral Counseling

• Explain the contrition the penitent must have in the sacrament of Penance, and what is meant by an “integral” or complete confession of sins.
• Explain the Church’s understanding of gradualism and how it might be applied pastorally (Familiaris consortio 34)?
• What is your understanding of scrupulosity and how does the Church recommend that it be addressed pastorally?
• What is the purpose of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, who properly receives this sacrament, and why must a priest be the minister?
• Define grief and explain how you might facilitate mourning tasks for the bereft.
• What is an indulgence? Explain.
• What is the Church’s teaching on cremation?
• Speak about pastoral care in the case of miscarriage.
• What is the “matter” that is covered by the sacramental seal?

 

 

Areas Covered by the Questions:

• Scripture (1-6, 13)
• Systematic/Dogmatic Theology (1–6)
• Moral Theology (7–9, 14)
• Spiritual Theology (10–11)
• Church History/Patristics (12, 13, 2–4)
• Liturgical-Sacramental and Pastoral (2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 10; 13–15)
• Pastoral Theology and Counseling (9, 10, 14, 15)
• Canon Law (9, 11, 13, 14, 15)

[1] See St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life.