Pontifex University

 

 

 

MTS program: Liturgy and Sacraments

 

3 credit hours

 

Course originally designed and taught by Dr. Arielle Harms

Currently taught by Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson, S.T.L., Professor 

 

Course Description:

In her Liturgy, the Church celebrates “above all the paschal mystery by which Christ accomplished the work of our salvation.” (CCC 1067)  This course will examine the nature of Sacred Liturgy and the foundational principles governing its celebration.  Special consideration will be given to the theology of the seven sacraments as the means by which the grace of the paschal mystery is dispensed in the Church. 

 

Course Texts:

Aquinas, St. Thomas.  Summa Theologiae.  May be found online.

 

Ratzinger, Joseph. The Spirit of the Liturgy. Translated by John Saward.  San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2000.

 

Nutt, Roger. General Principles of Sacramental Theology. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2017.

 

The Second Vatican Council.  Constitution on the Liturgy: Sacrosanctum Concilium. 1963.  May be found online.

 

Walsh, Liam.  The Sacraments of Initiation: A Theology of Life, Word, and Rite. Chicago, IL: Hillenbrand Books, 2011.

 

Various handouts

 

System Requirements:

This course is offered asynchronously on our LMS, NEO.  To access the course and complete it successfully, you will need an internet capable device with sound and a current internet browser: either the current or the previous release of Chrome, Firefox and Safari, or Internet Explorer 11+ (for Windows 8 and previous versions), and Microsoft Edge (for Windows 10+) to run the LMS.  In addition, courses require the use of, a PDF viewer, word-processing software compatible with Microsoft Office suite and a current email address. For help with the NEO platform see the Help Center in the LMS, found by clicking on the “?” in the upper right hand corner after you have logged in.  For log in questions, registration questions, or problems with missing content or content malfunctions, contact the teaching assistant, Elizabeth Froula at [email protected].

 

Course Objectives:

 

Students satisfactorily completing this course will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the Liturgy of the Catholic Church, including key terms and aspects of liturgy.
2. Articulate general principles of Sacramental Theology at a graduate level, in class discussions, assignments, papers and examinations.
3. Demonstrate a graduate level knowledge and understanding of the Rite of each of the seven sacraments and the unique effects attributed to each of the seven sacraments.
4. Demonstrate a familiarity with the historical debates, contributions and nuances of sacramental theology.
5. Explain the place of Christ in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church.
6. Identify the place of the sacraments in the field of the theology and the Christian life.

 

Course Expectations and Policies:

 

Students in this course are expected to read, discuss, and write about the course content that reflects the competency of graduate level theological studies.  Proper grammar and good writing style is expected, both in longer and shorter written assignments.

 

Any discovered instance of plagiarism will not be tolerated. All submitted work should be original.  Any direct quotes or paraphrasing of other authors should be cited properly, using in text citations for shorter assignments or Chicago Manual of Style for essays and papers.   The professor is happy to help you give proper credit for sources used. If you have questions, please ask.  Penalties for violations may include grade reduction or course failure. 

 

Course Assignments:

 

There are two essays in this course.  One will be a shorter 5-7 page double spaced essay, asking the student to compose an argumentative essay in response to a prompt using only class materials.  This essay will demonstrate the student’s understanding of the course materials as presented and require the student to write critically and concisely.

 

The second essay will be a longer research essay, minimum 15 double spaced pages on an area of interest to the student in the area of liturgical or sacramental theology.   Paper topics with a proposed outline must be approved by the professor.

 

There will be a midterm and a comprehensive final exam in the course. 

 

Grading Scale:

Grade	Minimum%	Letter%
A+	97	100
A	93	96
A-	90	92
B+	87	89
B	84	86
B-	80	83
C+	77	79
C	74	76
C-	70	73
D+	67	69
D	64	66
D-	60	63
F	0	59

 

The course is offered asynchronously on our LMS, NEO.  To access the course and complete it successfully, you will need an internet capable device with sound and a current internet browser: either the current or the previous release of Chrome, Firefox and Safari, or Internet Explorer 11+ (for Windows 8 and previous versions), and Microsoft Edge (for Windows 10+) to run the LMS.  In addition, courses require the use of microphone and webcam, a PDF viewer, word-processing software compatible with Microsoft Office suite and a current email address. For help with the NEO platform see the Help Center in the LMS, found by clicking on the “?” in the upper right hand corner after you have logged in.  For log in questions, registration questions, or problems with missing content or content malfunctions, contact the teaching assistant, Elizabeth Froula at [email protected]

 

Course Reading Assignments:

 

Part I: An Introduction to Liturgy and Liturgical Theology

 

Lesson 1: Liturgical Reform and Liturgy today

Sacrosanctum Concilium

Handout “Liturgical Reform in History”

 

Lesson 2: The Essence of the Liturgy

Spirit of the Liturgy, 13-50

 

Lesson 3: Time and Space in the Liturgy

Spirit of the Liturgy, 51-91

Spirit of the Liturgy, 92-111

Handout: Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar

 

Lesson 4: Art and Liturgy

Spirit of the Liturgy, 115-56

 

Lesson 5: Liturgical Form

Spirit of the Liturgy, 159-170

 

Part II: General Sacramental Theology

 

Lesson 6: Method and Doctrine of Sacramental Theology

General Principles of Sacramental Theology, 1-46

 

Lesson 7: The Sacraments as Signs

General Principles of Sacramental Theology, 49-73

General Principles of Sacramental Theology, 74-98

 

Lesson 8: Sacramental Causality

General Principles of Sacramental Theology, 99-137

 

Lesson 9: Sacramental Effects

General Principles of Sacramental Theology, 138-165

 

Lesson 10: Final Considerations on the Sacraments in General

General Principles of Sacramental Theology, 166-192

 

Part III: The Seven Sacraments

 

Lesson 11: The Baptismal Rite

Summa theologiae, III 66.1, 3, 5, 7, 8.   

Sacraments of Initiation, 84-96,

The Bible and the Liturgy, 35-53.

 

  Lesson 12: Institution and Types of Baptism

              Summa Theologiae III 66.2,

The Bible and the Liturgy 70-113.

 

  Lesson 13: The Theology of Baptism: Its effects

              Sacraments of Initiation, 97-144

Summa Theologiae III, 69.

Lesson 14: The Persons Involved in Baptism

            Summa Theologiae III 67 and 68

 

Lesson 15: The Rite of Confirmation

            The Sacraments of Initiation, 145-161,

Summa Theologiae III 72.2, 3, 4,

The Rite of Confirmation

https://archive.org/stream/paulvisapostolic00cath/paulvisapostolic00cath_djvu.txt

 

Lesson 16: The Institution and Types of Confirmation

            The Bible and the Liturgy, 114-126,   

Summa Theologiae III, 72.1

 

Lesson 17: The Effects of Confirmation

            Sacraments of Initiation, 161-214

Summa Theologiae, III, 72.5-7

 

Lesson 18: The Persons Involved in Confirmation

            Summa Theologiae III 72.11, 72.6, 8

 

Lesson 19: The Eucharistic Rite and Institution

            The Bible and the Liturgy, 127-141

            The Sacraments of Initiation, 215-258

 

Lesson 20: Transubstantiation

            Summa Theologiae III 75-77

 

Lesson 21: Types of the Eucharist

            The Bible and the Liturgy, 142-161

            The Sacraments of Initiation, 259- 275

            Summa Theologiae, III 73.5-6

 

Lesson 22: The Effects of the Eucharist

            The Sacraments of Initiation, 275-373

            Summa Theologiae, III 73.1-4; 79

 

Lesson 23: The Persons Involved in the Eucharist

            Summa theologiae, III 80; 82

 

Lesson 24: The Rite, Institution and Types of Confession

Poschmann, Penance handout

Summa Theologiae III 84

 

Lesson 25: The Effects of Confession

Summa Theologiae III 86-89

 

Lesson 26:  The People of Penance

Code of Canon Law, Canons 965-997

 

Lesson 27: Anointing of the Sick

Poschmann The Anointing of the Sick

Boyle, St. Thomas Aquinas on the Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction)

 

Lesson 28: Holy Orders

Summa Theologiae III, 22

            “The Priesthood and the First Christians”, Matthew Levering

 

Lesson 29: Holy Orders: The Rite, Institution and Evidence in Scripture

 “Holy Orders and Ecclesial Hierarchy in Aquinas” by Matthew Levering

 

Lesson 30: The Effects of Holy Orders

 

Lesson 31: The Recipient and Minister of this Sacrament

“Women’s Ordination and the Development of Doctrine,” Sara Butler

 

Lesson 32: Matrimony: Institution and The Rite

            Familiaris Consortio

 

Lesson 33: The Effects of Marriage

 

Lesson 34: Marriage and Canon Law

 

Lesson 35: Conclusion

 

 

 

Proprietary Interest Policy:

Faculty are permitted to refer to notable past work and achievements (including publications and educational activities not offered by Pontifex University, and even those offered for personal profit) in their published biography on the Pontifex website and course promotions. In the context of educational activities undertaken for Pontifex University, including videos, live or recorded, teachers, can recommend or bring to the attention such work for students (even if for personal profit, for example, books or podcasts) but only with approval by Pontifex University and when it is related to the teaching purpose of the class.  An instructor’s related work will be noted in the syllabus as appropriate.  Instructors may use their own materials as required in their courses and learning events as long as the materials are appropriate for the particular learning event.

 

Failure to comply with this policy will result in a warning or administration modification of course materials. Violations of this policy should be reported to the Provost.