Sacraments of Initiation
Part 2 History of Initiation
Chapter 23 400-1200 East
Preliminary QuestionsBibliography |
Johnson Chapter 3 |
To Think About |
Preliminary Questions
How did Confirmation become a separate sacrament? Is the Reformation a good thing or a bad thing? What needed to be reformed? What got reformed too much?
Bibliography
Daniel B. Stevick, Made, Not Born, pp 99-117.
Peter J. Jagger. Clouded Witness: Initiation in the Church of England in the Mid-Victorian Period, 1850-1875. Allison Park, PA: Pickwick, 1982.
Pius XII, "On the Sacred Liturgy" Mediator Dei, November 20, 1947.
Daniel B. Stevick, Baptismal Moments; Baptismal Meanings, New York: The Church Hymnal Corporation [800 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017] 1987.
Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M., Obedience to Liturgical Law: A Historical Study of the theological Context of Roman Catholic Liturgical Law before and after the Second Vatican Council, (Doctoral Thesis, published as) Liturgical Law Today: New Style, New Spirit. Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1977.
Pope John XXIII. Apostolic Constitution, Veterum Sapientia. Washington D.C.: National Catholic Welfare Conference, February 22, 1962.
Nathan D. Mitchell. "Dissolution of the Rite of Christian initiation." Made, Not Born, pp 50-82.
R. Cabié. "The Evolution of Christian Initiation from the Sixth to the Twentieth Century," pp 18-83 in A. G. Martimort (editor). The Sacraments. Volume III of The Church at Prayer. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, new edition 1987. ISBN 0-8146-1365-9. [Updates of the lecture notes from my master’s level courses at the Institut Catholique.]
Johnson Chapter 3
Maxwell E. Johnson. Chapter 3: Initiation in the Christian East During the Fourth and Fifth Centuries
Part 1: The Syrian Traditions
Jerusalem
Egeria
Antiochia
Part 2: The Apostolic Constitutions
John Chrysostom
Theodore of Mopsuestia
East Syria
Egypt
Conclusion
Pay particular attention to the chart (Chapter 3.1) which Johnson puts on page 122. Note that the anointing which we have come to call confirmation is sometimes before and sometimes after the water rite. Sometimes there is a second anointing which serves as an exorcism. Sometimes there are two anointings after the water rite one by the deacon or presbyter and a second by the overseer (bishop).
To Think About
1. What was the state of Christian Initiation at the time of the Reformation? What needed to be reformed? What did the reformers do? What was the reaction of the Council of Trent?
2. Describe the rites of Christian initiation at the time of the Council.
3. What could St. Pius X have done to keep the order of the sacraments of initiation intact?
4. What events and ideas relative to the rites of initiation during the period 1900-1962 led to and influenced the reforms of these rites by the Second Vatican Council?
5. Using the ten historical periods given in your notes on page __, be able to make a significant statement about: Theology, Liturgy, Catechumenate, Rites of Initiation, The order in which the sacraments of initiation are celebrated, The place and manner of baptism (river, font, tomb womb, etc), The minister of the sacraments of initiation, Eucharist. Be able to make a significant statement about each of the above for each of the ten historical periods.
6. What led to the dissolution of the rites of initiation? When did this occur?
7. What developments in Christian ministry influence our understanding of Confirmation as a sacrament distinct from Baptism?
8. In what order should the sacraments of initiation be celebrated? What is the history and present status of this pastoral problem?
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