Assessment

Written Essay 100%

Module Aims

A review will be made of the articulation of sacramental theory over the course of Christian history and especially over the last century. Selected writings of ancient, medieval and contemporary authors will be presented, studied and discussed. The role of sacrament in the shaping of a Christian disciple and forming a Christian community will be central theme of the seminar. Attention will be given to the cultural matrix of the works used, their origin and the usefulness of a cross-cultural analysis evaluated. The personal liturgical experience of course participants will form part of the seminar material.

Indicative Syllabus

The historical nature and contemporary articulation of sacramental theology as a reflective moment on liturgical celebration will be the central focus of this module.

Week One: Sacraments in General and Sacramental Theology.

Week Two: Definitions, Key Concepts and Number of Sacraments in Early and Medieval Theologians. The various currents in theological discourse

Week Three: The 16th century Reformations impact on sacramental discourse.

Week Four: The 17th and 18th centuries attempt at a new synthesis.

Week Five: The Modern Period and the influence of the Modern Liturgical Movement. The contribution of Odo Casel.

Week Six: Schillebeeckx, Rahner and Schmemann.

Week Seven: Beginning to read Louis-Marie Chauvet.

Week Eight: From Symbol to Sacrament.

Week Nine: Ecumenical possibilities and challenges.

Week Ten: Inculturation and adaption.

Week Eleven: Pastoral learnings, insights and applications.

Each participant is expected to participate in the discussion section of the seminar each week.

Learning Outcomes

• — LO 1 Critically illustrate and evaluate key liturgical concepts relevant to sacramental discourse: e.g. ‘mystery,’ ‘sacrament,’ ‘typology,’ and ‘liturgical theology.’
• — LO 2 Understand in depth sacramental discourse in the 20th and 21st centuries. Identify some of its principal figures and their contribution to the field.
• — LO 3 Have understood sacrament as an efficacious and transformative self-revelation and donation of Christ, through the Church into the lives of Christians.
• — LO 4 Be capable and competent in analyzing theological influences in contemporary writings and elaborations of sacramental theology. Have an awareness of the formation of sacramental theology, grow in an ability to critique various theological approaches and be confident in one’s own theological discourse.
• — LO 5 Develop a competence in writing in a ordered and structured way on the new directions and trends taken in sacramental theology.
• — LO 6 Identify and begin to apply pastoral and liturgical applications of one’s learning in the course of the seminar.

Bibliography

• — Glenn Ambrose, The Theology of Louis-Marie Chauvet: Overcoming Onto-Theology with the Sacramental Tradition. Abingdon: Routledge, 2016.
• — Hans Boersma and Matthew Levering, editors, The Oxford Handbook of Sacramental Theology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.
• — Louis-Marie Chauvet, Symbol and Sacrament. A Sacramental Reinterpretation of Christian Existence. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press/Pueblo, 2014.
• — Siobhan Garrigan, Beyond Ritual: Sacramental Theology after Habermas. Abingdon: Ashgate, 2004.
• — 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.
• — Maxwell E. Johnson, editor, Sacraments and Worship. Key Readings in the History and Theology of Christian worship from the New Testament to the present. London: SPCK, 2012.
• — Lizette Larson-Miller, Sacramentality Renewed: Contemporary Conversations in Sacramental Theology. Collegeville, Liturgical Press, 2016.
• — Gordon W.  Lathrop, Holy Things: A Liturgical Theology. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1993.
• — Mary E. McGann, The Meal that Reconnects. Eucharistic Eating and the Global Food Crisis, Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press Academic, 2020.
• — Bruce T. Morrill, Practical Sacramental Theology: At the Intersection of Liturgy and Ethics. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021.