Course Description

While many of us have pre-conceived ideas about what makes someone a good Christian, how can we know if our ideas are correct?  In his work What it Means to be a Christian, Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, writes eloquently and persuasively about how one can live as a serious Christian in today’s secular world. He talks in-depth about the true meaning of faith, hope, and love—the love of God and the love of neighbor. 

He also discusses at length the crucial importance of a lived faith, for the believer himself as well as being a witness for our age, and striving to bring faith in line with the present age that has veered off into rampant secularism and materialism. He passionately encourages the reader to practice a deep, abiding Christian faith that seeks to be at the service of humanity.

In these talks, Simone offers short lectures on each of Pope Benedict's three sermons that make up his work What it Means to be a Christian.

Hours of Instruction:  1.5

ICT Fellow Simone Rizkallah, MA

Simone Rizkallah helped launch the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism (CCAA) in October 2023, which now advances its mission at the Institute of Religion and Democracy. The Coalition is committed to rejecting antisemitism, strengthening Catholic–Jewish solidarity, and building bridges of solidarity with persecuted communities everywhere.A first-generation American of Egyptian-Armenian descent, she is a Catholic educator, speaker, writer, and host of the Beyond Rome podcast. She holds a graduate degree in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Systematic Theology from Christendom College.

Course Curriculum

Available in the Course Dashboard after Registration

    1. Welcome - from Simone

    2. Reflection Questions for Online Sessions

    3. Video - Intro

    1. Handout 1: What It Means to Be a Christian - First Sermon

    2. Video

    1. Handout 2: What It Means to Be a Christian - Second Sermon

    2. Video

    1. Handout 3: What It Means to Be a Christian - Third Sermon

    2. Video

About this course

  • Free
  • 9 lessons
  • 1.5 hours of video content