The Catholic University of America
University Honors Program HSTR 102
Liturgy and the Christian Life
Spring 2009
T Th 2:10-3:25 Caldwell 451
Dr. Margaret Mary Kelleher, O.S.U.
Office – Caldwell 435
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday
kelleher@cua.edu
Phone (202) 319-6891
3:30 – 4:30
This course is the second in a sequence of four courses that deal with the overall theme of
“Tradition and Renewal in Contemporary Catholicism.” These four courses draw their
inspiration from the four constitutions of the Second Vatican Council: The Dogmatic
Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum), The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
(Sacrosanctum Concilium), The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium),
and The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes).
Course description: an examination of the relationship between liturgy and the
Christian life. The course engages students in doing liturgical theology and considers
such topics as the ecclesial and ritual nature of liturgy, the sacramental roots of the
Christian life, the role of scripture in the liturgy, and liturgy as a cultural reality.
Course goals:
1. to become familiar with central principles set out in Sacrosanctum Concilium.
2. to explore liturgy as a form of ritual action.
3. to understand the significance of liturgy for ecclesial identity.
4. to understand the relationship between liturgical participation and Christian
life.
Course outcomes: Students are expected to
1. be able to identify central principles set out in Sacrosanctum Concilium.
2. develop initial skills for doing liturgical theology through analysis of ritual
actions, texts, and symbols.
3. be able to analyze a liturgical rite and articulate the beliefs, memories, hopes
and values it offers for the identity of the church.
4. be able to identify characteristics of Christian life (spirituality) that have their
foundation in liturgy.
Successful attainment of these outcomes will be demonstrated through class
participation, midterm and final examinations, and two written projects.
(See pg. 3)
Required Books:
available at CUA bookstore
Vatican II: The Basic Sixteen Documents. Austin Flannery, O.P. General Editor.
Costello Publishing Co., 1996.
John Paul II. On the Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church.
Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2003.
Francis, Mark R. Shape a Circle Ever Wider: Liturgical Inculturation in the United
States. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2000.
Searle, Mark. Called to Participate: Theological, Ritual, and Social Perspectives.
Barbara Searle and Anne Y. Koester, eds. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2006.
Additional Readings: All other assigned readings will be available through Blackboard
or, in one case, electronic journals on Aladin. You will also need to use a copy of
the New Testament
Course Requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Attendance and participation in class sessions.
Completion of required readings for each class.
Satisfactory completion of written assignments.
Midterm examination – February 26
Final examination – Thursday, May 7 1:30 – 3:30.
Factors to be considered in grading any written work:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Comprehension of material under consideration.
Ability to articulate one’s understanding with clarity.
Correct grammar, sentence structure, spelling,
Ability to organize material.
Ability to establish relationships, synthesize ideas.
Ability to reflect on material and raise serious questions.
Please note that, in accord with the University Policies on Student Academic
Dishonesty, the normal sanction for academic dishonesty “will be failure for
the course.” Examples of academic dishonesty include plagiarism and
cheating. Please review the complete policy at
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Any student who feels s/he may need
an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor
privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact Disability Support Services at 202
319-5211, room 207 Pryzbyla Center to coordinate reasonable accommodations for
students with documented disabilities. To read about the services and policies, please
visit the website: http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu.
Written Assignments: more detailed instructions will follow.
1. a six page essay that presents a liturgical theology of Christmas on the basis of
scripture readings, prayers, prefaces, and hymns.
60 points
Due – February 17
2. a ten page essay that presents a synthesis of the liturgical theology present in
either the Rite of Anointing the Sick or the Funeral Liturgy of the Order of
Christian Funerals.
100 points
Due – April 21
Final grade will be based on the following:
The midterm and final examinations are each worth 100 points. Assignment 2 is worth
100 points. Assignment 1 is worth 60 out of 100 points. The remaining 40 points is
divided as follows: 20 points for the quality of class participation and 20 points for
attendance. Two excused absences are allowed. After that, 2 points will be deleted
for each absence.
The four grades (each out of a possible 100) will be added and the average will be your
final grade.
Grading Scale:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
94-100
90-93
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
65-69
0-64
Course Outline:
Topics and Required Readings
January 13
Introduction to the course
January 15
Background for understanding Sacrosanctum Concilium
Mark Searle. Called to Participate, 1-14.
Virgil Michel. “The Liturgy the Basis of Social Regeneration.”
Orate Fratres 9 (1935) 536-545. See External Links on Blackboard.
Selected passages from Pius XII Mystici Corporis (1943) and
Mediator Dei (1947). See Documents on Blackboard.
January 20
NO CLASS
INAUGURATION DAY
January 22
Liturgy as Ecclesial Action
“In the liturgy…complete and definitive public worship is performed by
the Mystical Body of Christ, that is, by the Head and his members.” (SC
7)
Read Sacrosanctum Concilium (henceforth SC) #1 - #46.
Participation in the Liturgy “It is very much the wish of the church that all the faithful
should be led to take that full, conscious and active part in liturgical celebrations which is
demanded by the very nature of the liturgy and to which the Christian people, ‘a chosen
race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people’ (1Pet 2:9, 4-5) have a right
and to which they are bound by reason of their Baptism.” (SC 14).
January 27
Participation in ritual behavior
Mark Searle. Called to Participate, 15-27.
January 29
Ritual and Christian Identity
Margaret Mary Kelleher. “Ritual” in The New Dictionary of Theology
edited by J. Komonchak, M. Collins, D. Lane., 906-907. See External
Links on Blackboard. Additional material will be distributed in class.
February 3
Participation in the liturgy of the church as the work of Christ and
participation in the life of God.
Mark Searle. Called to Participate, 27-45.
Baptism as Foundational for the Christian Life “Thus by Baptism men and women
are implanted in the paschal mystery of Christ; they die with him, are buried with him,
and rise with him.” (SC 6)
February 5
New Testament passages related to Baptism (bring N.T. to class)
Mark 1: 1-13; Mt 28: 16-20;John 3: 1-5; Acts 2: 38; Acts 2: 41-42; Acts
22:16; Romans 6: 3-4; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-13; 2 Corinthians 1: 2122; Galatians 3: 27-28; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 2: 1-10; 1 Peter 3:21; 1John 2: 20, 27.
February 10 Some early ritual patterns of Christian Initiation
The Didache
Justin Martyr. First Apology
The Apostolic Tradition
The Apostolic Constitutions
See External Links on Blackboard
February 12 Selected fourth century baptismal homilies from The Awe Inspiring Rites
of Initiation
Cyril of Jerusalem. “Sermons 1 – 3”, pp. 70-85
John Chrysostom. “Baptismal Homily II”, pp. 152-164
Theodore of Mopsuestia. “Baptismal Homily III”, pp. 180-200
See External Links on Blackboard
February 17 Symbolism of Baptismal Fonts
S. Anita Stauffer. “Fonts, Baptism, Pascha, and Paradise.”
Studia Liturgica 24 (1994) 58-65. See External Links on Blackboard.
USCCB. Built of Living Stones: Art. Architecture and Worship, #66-69.
This is available on the USCCB website. See External Links on
Blackboard. Go to Departments, choose Liturgy, click on Documents.
February 19 Principle of Sacramentality as foundational for Christian liturgy
Kevin W. Irwin. “A Sacramental World – Sacramentality as the Primary
Language for Sacraments.” Worship 76:3 (May, 2002) 197-211.
See electronic journals on Aladin.
February 24 Christian Initiation in contemporary Roman Catholic liturgy
Sacrosanctum Concilium 59-82
Overview of periods and ritual steps in the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults; analysis of Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
(RCIA 48-68); purpose of the catechumenate (RCIA 75).
See External Links on Blackboard.
February 26 Midterm examination
March 3 & 5 Spring recess
Role of Scripture in the Liturgy “Sacred scripture is of the greatest importance in the
celebration of the liturgy. For from it are drawn the lessons which are read and which are
explained in the homily; from it too come the psalms which are sung. It is from scripture
that the petitions, prayers and hymns draw their inspiration and their force, and that
actions and signs derive their meaning.” (SC 24)
March 10
Principles set out in Sacrosanctum Concilium: #7, 24, 33, 35, 51-52, 56,
90-92.
Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass (1998) #1-23; 58-69.
See External Links on Blackboard.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2002) #55-65. This is available
on the USCCB website. See External Links on Blackboard. Go to
Departments, choose Liturgy, choose Roman Missal, choose General
Instruction.
Mark Searle. Called to Participate, 46-67.
March 12
Study of selected readings from the Lectionary for Mass.
Readings for the third (March 15), fourth (March 22), fifth (March 29)
Sundays of Lent (A cycle). These are available on the USCCB website.
See External Links on Blackboard. Click on “Readings” on the top of the
page and use the calendar.
Ritual for the first scrutiny of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
#150-155. See External Links on Blackboard.
The Paschal Triduum: the annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery and Christian
Initiation “Every week, on the day which it has called the Lord’s Day, it (the church)
commemorates the Lord’s resurrection. It also celebrates it once every year, together
with his blessed passion, at Easter, that most solemn of all feasts.” (SC 102)
March 17
Background and Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Sacrosanctum Concilium #102-111.
Paul Bradshaw. “The Origins of Easter” in Between Memory and Hope,
ed. Maxwell Johnson, 111-124. See External Links on Blackboard.
Scripture readings for Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (April 9):
Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14; 1Cor 11: 23-36; Jn 13: 1-15. See USCCB website.
See Documents on Blackboard for the ritual order, prayers, and
symbolic actions of the Holy Thursday liturgy.
March 19
Liturgy for Good Friday
Egeria’s Travels, 40-51; 135-138. See External Links.
Scripture readings for Good Friday liturgy (April 10): Isaiah 52:1353:12; Hebrews 4: 14-16, 5: 7-9; John 18:1 – 19:42. See USCCB website.
See Documents on Blackboard for the ritual order, prayers, and symbolic
actions of the Good Friday liturgy.
March 24
Liturgy for the Easter Vigil
Egeria’s Travels, 138-139.
Service of Light: see documents on Blackboard for the ritual order,
prayers and symbolic actions of the liturgy.
Liturgy of the Word: Genesis 1:1-2:2; Genesis 22: 1-18; Exodus 14:1515:1; Isaiah 54: 5-14; Isaiah 55: 1-11; Baruch 3: 9-15, 32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:
16-17, 18-28. Romans 6: 3-11. Matthew 28: 1-10. See USCCB website
for April 11.
March 26
Liturgy for the Easter Vigil continued
See documents on Blackboard for the ritual order, prayers, and symbolic
actions of the Liturgy of Baptism and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Eucharist in the Life of the Church “For the liturgy, through which ‘the work of our
redemption takes place,’ especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, is supremely
effective in enabling the faithful to express in their lives and portray to others the mystery
of Christ and the real nature of the true church.” (SC 2)
March 31
Background on the early tradition
Enrico Mazza. The Celebration of the Eucharist: the Origin of the Rite
and the Development of Its Interpretation. (Liturgical Press, 1999) 22-34.
Selected ancient sources: Didache, First Apology, Apostolic Tradition
from Prayers of the Eucharist: Early and Reformed, 20-24; 28-35.
See External links on Blackboard.
April 2
Selected patristic sources on the eucharist:
Augustine of Hippo. “Three Eucharistic Catecheses.”
John Chrysostom. “Homilies on the Eucharist.”
See external links on Blackboard.
Selected compositions attributed to Thomas Aquinas for the feast of
Corpus Christi. See Documents on Blackboard.
April 9
NO CLASS – HOLY THURSDAY
April 14
Selected contemporary Eucharistic Prayers
Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon); Eucharistic Prayer III; Eucharistic
Prayers for Masses of Reconciliation; Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for
Various Needs and Occasions: IV, Jesus, the Compassion of God.
See Documents on Blackboard.
Sacrosanctum Concilium #46 - 58
April 16
John Paul II. On the Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church.
Liturgy and Culture “Even in the liturgy the church does not wish to impose a rigid
uniformity in matters which do not affect the faith or well-being of the entire community.
Rather does it cultivate and foster the qualities and talents of the various races and
nations.” (SC 37)
April 21
Liturgy, culture, and the church: some historical background
Mark Francis. Shape a Circle Ever Wider, 1-47.
April 23
Liturgy, culture, and the church: Vatican II and beyond
Sacrosanctum Concilium 19; 23; 36; 37-40; 63; 65; 77; 81; 107; 112-130.
Mark Francis. Shape a Circle Ever Wider, 48-77.
April 28
An example of liturgical inculturation in Africa
The Roman Missal for the Dioceses of Zaire (1988)
Order of the Mass and prayers as found in Appendix 2 of
Chris Nwaka Egbulem, O.P. The “Rite Zairois” in the Context of
Liturgical Inculturation in Middle-Belt Africa Since the Second Vatican
Council. See External Links on Blackboard.
April 30
Liturgy, culture, and the church in the United States
Mark Searle. Called to Participate, 68-88.
Mark Francis. Shape a Circle Ever Wider, 78-118.
USCCB. Built of Living Stones, # 1-45 (especially 38-45)
USCCB. Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (2007)
Section II.H. “Diverse Cultures and Languages” #57-60.
Available on USCCB website. Go to Departments, Liturgy, Documents.