Full course description
Angels, Demons, and the Invisible World
Sunday, November 29, 2026 - Saturday, December 26, 2026
Instructor
Dr. Robert Fastiggi, Bishop Kevin M. Britt Chair of Dogmatic Theology and Christology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Teaching Assistant
Melissa Pordon
Course Description
Join Dr. Robert Fastiggi for an online, self-paced Advent course exploring what Scripture and the Church teach about angels and demons. Discover the mission of the angels, the reality of fallen angels and their role in the spiritual battle, and the gift of the guardian angels who accompany us in our journey of faith.
This course invites us to deepen our understanding of the invisible world and its place in our spiritual lives. Learn how we can resist the temptations of the devil, seek the intercession of the angels, and grow in friendship with these heavenly companions as we journey toward eternal life.
This course is not intended to be academically strenuous but to provide a shallow-entry point for those who have busy lives and need flexibility. This course is designed for personal enrichment and does not count towards any academic credit at Sacred Heart Major Seminary or for any certification in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Contact
For questions about course content contact the instructor/teaching assistants using the Inbox on the red menu bar on the left side of your online course page.
For technical support see the Tech Support guide in the Welcome module of the course.
Textbooks
Required Readings: No required texts for this course
Schedule of Topics
- Introductory Module | Available beginning November 2, 2026
- Module 1 | The Existence of Angels in Scripture and Church Teaching (November 29 - December 5)
- Module 2 | The Fallen Angels: Satan and the Demons (December 6 - December 12)
- Module 3 | Diabolical Activity and Spiritual Resistance (December 13 - December 19)
- Module 4 | The Role of Angels in Our Lives and the Life of the Church (December 20 - December 26)
Weekly Activities
The following learning activities are available to students each week. There are no specific requirements for participating in the course. However, those who complete all the videos and self-tests will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.
- Weekly video lectures
- Weekly recommended readings and links to additional learning resources
- Weekly self-test to see what you’ve learned
- Open online discussion for participants to share with each other what they are learning and encourage each other
The time commitment is flexible for this course. There is one weekly video lecture (~20 min). Participants who are interested in completing all recommended readings and course tasks can expect to spend around 2-3 hours/week on the course. However, levels of participation and engagement are up to the discretion of the individual.
All Equip Courses Include These Features
- A dedicated online learning support coordinator to offer prompt assistance
- 24/7 access to the digital learning environment
- Engagement as a community of connected learners who share a common faith
- Extended access to course content after the course end date
- Learning environment support provided by Canvas (our learning management platform)
- Technical assistance provided by Sacred Heart’s IT staff
- A Certificate of Completion is awarded to those who complete the course learning activities
Technical Requirements
Canvas Tech Requirements