Assessment

Reflection paper 40% + In-class presentations 20% + Essay 40%

Module Aims

This module introduces learners to the spiritual and intellectual contours of Christian prayer, and its practice in liturgical and pastoral contexts. As well as providing an overview of the various forms of Christian prayer, it provides a formation in prayer leadership, and framework to acquire the knowledge and skills that are necessary to effectively lead and guide people in prayer. Participants explore the theological foundations of public prayer and liturgy. Through a combination of prayer and reflective practice (with a particular emphasis on lectio divina), study, reading, leading sessions, and learners deepen their own prayer awareness and develop competence in leading shared prayer in its diverse forms.

Indicative Syllabus

• What is Prayer? Public and Private Prayer, Liturgy and Devotion
• Baptism—the Sacrament its Celebration at Different Stages of our Life Journey;
• The Rite of Baptism and the Role of Minister (priest, deacon, catechesis), in ordinary and in exceptional circumstances (e.g., in hospital ministry)
• The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
• Prayer in the Ministry to the Sick: Visitation, the Sacrament of the Sick
• Reconciliation: Sacramental Services (Rite Two), Non-sacramental Penitential Celebrations
• Times and Seasons: the Liturgical Year, Advent and Christmas, Lent and Eastertide, Marking Other Life Moments
• Music (live and recorded) and the Arts (art, visual imagery, drama) in Public Prayer
• Prayer and Broadcast Media (Live Television and Radio, Online Media)
• Taking Narratives Seriously—Texts and their Power
• What is Reading? Reading for Information and Reading for Transformation
• The Three “Moments” of Lectio Divina—Text, Life, Lord
• The Three “Movements” of Lectio Divina—Hearing, Happening Hoping
• The Divine Indwelling—the Foundation of Spiritual and Liturgical Living
• Homecoming Reading and Alienating Reading—Homecoming Faith and Alienating Religion
• Sin, Recognition, Conversion, and Prayer.

Learning Outcomes

• — Critically examine the understanding of the role of public prayer in Christian life, including its scriptural and theological roots.
• — LO2: Trace and discuss various traditions, practices and forms of Christian prayer, including the role of Scripture, liturgy, intercession, and petition therein.
• — LO3: Outline the principles and guidance on the celebration of various sacraments and liturgical rites, especially from the perspective of Catholic liturgical tradition, considering structure and components of different forms of prayer;
• — LO4: Plan, construct and work collaboratively to utilise musical, liturgical, theological and pastoral judgments in the sessions of prayer, including selection of appropriate styles, texts, and cultural options.
• — LO5: Present, from first-hand experience, the various existential dimensions of the prayer of the Scriptures, in particular, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, existential hermeneutics, the responses of the prayerful heart, the contours of silence.
• — LO6: Competently guide an individual or a group in a time of scriptural prayer in a way that is appropriate for a particular pastoral setting.
• — LO7: Critically reflect on the sensitivities of diverse spiritual needs and various pastoral contexts of communities, including the environments of parish, school, hospital and prison settings.
• — LO8: Assess the field of broadcasting in the prayer-life of the Church, identifying strengths, identifying challenges, and developing appropriate responses.

Bibliography

• — Chupungco, Anscar J. Handbook for Liturgical Studies. 4. Volumes. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999-2000.
• — Ferrone. Rita. Liturgy. Sacrosanctum Concilium. Mahwah: Paulist, 2007.
• — Foley, Edward. From Age to Age. How Christians have celebrated the Eucharist. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2008.
• — Gerhards, Albert and Benedikt Kranemann. Introduction to the Study of Liturgy Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2017.
• — Gordon-Taylor, Benjamin and Juliette Day, editors, The Study of Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK, 2013.
• — Martimort, Aimé Georges, The Church at Prayer: An Introduction to the Liturgy, 4 volumes Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1988.
• — National Centre for Liturgy, Celebrating the Mystery of Faith. Dublin: Veritas 2011.
• — Ramshaw, Gail. Christian Worship. 100,000 Sundays of Symbols and Rituals. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009.
• — Michael Casey OCSO. Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. Ligouri, MS: Triumph Books, 1996.
• — Wainwright, Geoffrey and Karen Westerfield-Tucker, eds., The Oxford History of Christian Worship. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
• — White, James F. A Brief History of Christian Worship. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993.
• — Bianchi, Enzo. Praying the Word. Cistercian Studies 182; Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1998.
• — Casey, Michael. Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. Ligouri: Triumph Books, 1996.
• — —————. Towards God: the Wisdom of Western Prayer. Ligouri: Triumph Books, 1996.
• — Colombás, García M. Reading God: Lectio Divina. Shuyler Spiritual Series 9. Schuyler: BMH Publications, 1993
• — de Verteuil, Michel. Your Word is a Light for my Steps. Dublin: Veritas 1996.
• — Thomas Keating. The Divine Indwelling: Centering Prayer and its Development. New York: Lantern Books, 2001.
• — Louf, André. The Cistercian Way Cistercian Studies 76. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1983.
• — Magrassi, Mariano. Praying the Bible: An Introduction to Lectio Divina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1998.
• — Masini, Mario. Lectio Divina: An Ancient Prayer That is Ever New. New York: Alba House, 1998.
• — Robertson, Duncan. Lectio Divina: the Medieval Experience of Reading. Cistercian Studies 238. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2011.
• — Studzinski, Raymond. Reading to Live: The Evolving Practice of Lectio Divina. Cistercian Studies 231. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2009.
• — Schneiders, Sandra M. The Revelatory Text. Second Edition. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999.