Berkley Center

For the past 40 years moral theology has understood its history to be rooted in the early medieval penitential manuals. This Costan Lecture argued that those manuals were rooted, not simply in a confessional practice, but much more in the context of what today we would call spiritual direction, not focusing on sins but rather pursuing holiness. With that key insight we look to the earlier history of moral theology and find pathways to holiness as a worthy key to understanding Christian expectations.

The 8th Annual Costan Lecture in Early Christianity was delivered by Rev. James Keenan, S.J., an American Jesuit priest and scholar who is the Canisius Chair, director of the Jesuit Institute, and vice provost of global engagement at Boston College. This event was open to the public and took place both in person and online. Masks were required for the indoor lecture. A reception followed the event in Dahlgren Quad.

This event was co-sponsored by Georgetown University's Department of Theology and Religious Studies and Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.