CLM 101 Course Page - The Uncommon Commonsense Wisdom of Dante Alighieri’s Divine

 Welcome to the Commonsense Literary Masterpieces 101 (CLM101) Course Page!

Course Description: Through an original translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy as a narrativization of the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, this course articulates the relationship between faith and reason being like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.

Florentinischer Meister ca. 1530, Public Domain

Educational Consultants: This course will be co-conducted by Daniel Fitzpatrick and Sebastian Mahfood.

Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, is a Lay Dominican of the Chapter of the Holy Rosary in the Province of St. Albert. Dr. Mahfood holds a master’s in comparative literature from the University of Texas at Arlington, a master’s in philosophy from Holy Apostles College & Seminary, a master’s in theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary, a master’s in educational technology from Webster University and a doctorate in postcolonial literature and theory from Saint Louis University. Among his publications include his book Radical Eschatologies: Embracing the Eschaton in the Works of Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Nuruddin Farah, and Ayi Kwei Armah, his book The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy, his book Among the Marvelous Things: The Media of Social Communications and the Next Generation of Pastoral Ministers, two books co-authored with Dr. Ronda Chervin entitled Catholic Realism: a Framework for the Refutation of Atheism and the Evangelization of Atheists and Why Be An Atheist If???, a book co-edited with Bishop Richard Henning entitled Missionary Priests in the Homeland: Our Call to Receive, and a book co-edited with Dr. Timothy Westbrook and Dr. Victoria Dunnam entitled Teaching and Learning in the Age of COVID19: Faith-Based, Online and Emergency Remote. Dr. Mahfood lives in St. Louis with his wife, Dr. Stephanie Mahfood, and children, Alexander and Eva Ruth.

Daniel Fitzpatrick is the author of the novel Only the Lover Sings. His new verse translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy, illustrated by sculptor Timothy Schmalz, was produced in honor of the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death. Daniel’s poems and essays have been widely published. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of Dallas and an MA in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He is completing an MPhil in Creative Writing at Trinity College Dublin, and he has begun an MA in St. John Paul II Studies at the University of St. Thomas. He lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife and five children, and he teaches English and Theology at Jesuit High School.


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If you are interested in studying with these Educational Consultants, select the Tuition link.