Assessment

Continuous Assessment 30% End of Semester Written Examination 70%

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce learners to a foundational discourse on liturgical worship in the Catholic theological tradition and how it is lived and celebrated in contemporary Christian communities. It will enable learners to appreciate how it has grown and developed over the last two millienia and the specific contribution of each historical epoch. The module will exam and assess the contribution of the major Councils of the Church on liturgical worship and its expression. The module will include an extensive discussion of the Constitution of the Second Vatican Council on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium and postconciliar developments. Finally, the module will deal with the Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism and Confirmation in their historical, liturgical and ritual iterations.

Indicative Syllabus

Getting started: Expectations, Outlines and Assessments

Language, symbol and ritual communication.

The origins and development of Christian liturgy with particular attention to the Roman Rite. What is a Rite?

From Jerusalem to Rome: The growth of a Rite

From Rome to Gaul: The Franco-Germanic World and its influence

Back to Rome for the first time!! The Medieval Synthesis

Crisis, Division and Reform: The Reformations

The Council of Trent

The Modern Liturgical Movement

The liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Reading the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy

The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Scriptural Foundations

The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Devlopment and Growth

The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Decline and division

The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: The Order of Chrisitan Initiation (OCIA)

Learning Outcomes

• — explain the key theological terms and issues for a discussion of liturgical worship and have an appreciation of how our understanding of these has developed over time.
• — articulate in an ecumenical spirit a theologically coherent understanding of the development of liturgical reform.
• — have an understanding of the achievement of Sacrosanctum Concilium and see its relevance in responding to the changing conditions of culture.
• — appreciate the complexity of the hermeneutic interface between Tradition, Culture and Magisterium.
• — recognise the relevance of reflection on liturgical worship as an understanding of a global Church and the challenges of contemporary culture.
• — have applied the guidelines for writing an academic paper and used the same in writing up a research paper.

Bibliography

• — Stefanos Alexopoulos and Maxwell E. Johnson, Introduction to Eastern Christian Liturgies, (Collegeville, MN, Liturgical Press Academic, 2022).
• — Anscar J. Chupungco, What, Then, is Liturgy? Musings and Memoir, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2010).
• — Massimo Faggioli, Vatican II. The Battle for Meaning, (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2012).
• — Rita Ferrone, Liturgy. Sacrosanctum Concilium, (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2007).
• — Edward Foley, From Age to Age. How Christians have celebrated the Eucharist, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2008).
• — Albert Gerhards and Benedikt Kranemann, Introduction to the Study of Liturgy, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2017).
• — Benjamin Gordon-Taylor and Juliette Day, editors, The Study of Liturgy and Worship (London: SPCK, 2013).
• — Gordon Jeanes and Bridget Nichols, editors, Lively Oracles of God. Perspectives on the Bible and Liturgy, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press Academic, 2022).
• — Andrew B. McGowan, Ancient Christian Worship. Early Church Practices in Social, Historical, and Theological Perspective, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014).
• — Gail Ramshaw, Christian Worship. 100,000 Sundays of Symbols and Rituals, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2009).
• — Geoffrey Wainwright & Karen Westerfield-Tucker, eds., The Oxford History of Christian Worship (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005).