Course DescriptionAssigned ReadingCourse Objectives | Course Method | Weekend 1: January 28-29 |
This course will study the history of the ways in which Christians have initiated new members into their community. We will study the current Roman Catholic rites for initiation of both adults and children. Reflection on the rites will help the participants understand the theological meaning of the sacraments of initiation and will give background to contemporary discussions on such issues as the age for Confirmation, the necessity of Reconciliation before Eucharist, the meaning of Original Sin, etc. The course is designed to help the participants develop a Baptismal Spirituality, to understand and teach these sacraments, and to enable them to plan and celebrate the rites effectively.
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1. Maxwell Johnson. The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation (Revised and Expanded edition). A Pueblo Book Published by the Liturgical Press, 2007. ISBN 13:978-0-8146-6215-1.
2. Nick Wagner: The Way of Faith: A Field Guide for the RCIA Process. Twenty-Third Publications, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58595-710-12.
3. The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1990. ISBN: 978-0-8146-6015-7
The General Introduction to the Revised Rites of Initiation. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 3-2.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 29-340.
The National Statutes for the Catechumenate. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 341-356.
The Rite of Baptism for Children. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 361-466.
The Rite of Confirmation. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 472-515.
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The hoped for outcomes of the course are:
1. A deeper appreciation of the role of the Sacraments of Initiation in Christian Spirituality
2. A familiarity with the current rituals: their vocabulary, structure, and meaning
3. An understanding of the history, structure, and function of the rites of initiation
4. The ability to prepare and celebrate the liturgical rites in parish settings
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1. Ordinarily 3 credit courses are 15 weeks long. This course is a short 8 weeks. The "up side" of this schedule is that the school can schedule 4 semesters a year and you can complete the degree more rapidly; the "down side" is that we will have to work twice as hard and twice as fast. I would like the assignments to be completed on the days listed in this syllabus and that the entire course will be completed by Sunday evening, March 25, at which time I intend to turn in the course grades.
2. There are about 1200 pages of assigned reading; that is about 150 pages a week. The syllabus gives a "guideline" for reading the material. It would be ideal if you could read the three books before the class starts. Any any case, try to read and study the material as soon as you can, at the very minimum, have the material read by the dates given in this syllabus.
3. There are 8 papers required for the course; each is 10% of the course grade (8 x 10 = 80%). The content of the postings will be described during the weekend meeting prior to the due dates. Each posting is to be the equivalent of one typed, single spaced, 8 1/2 x 11 page minimum and 2 pages in length the absolute maximum. That is, about one page long (at least 1 page; but not more than 2 pages.) Everyone is expected to read all the postings and if they are more than a page in length, it is simply too much to read!
4. Your postings are presumed to be your original thought unless you indicate otherwise. When quoting someone give the source of the quote and indicate by quotation marks where the quotation begins and ends. Each participant is expect to be familiar with the "Statement on Plagiarism" in the Saint Meinrad Student Handbook.
5. The postings are due before midnight on the day listed in this syllabus. Late postings will be graded and the grade then lowered one letter grade. Note: The MOODLE grade book lists your grades numerically; the School Bulletin states that 95 (and above) = A; 94 = A-; 93 = B+; 92 (and lower) =B.
6. 20% of the grade will be based on the quality of your online discussions and participation during the weekends (20%). Each participant is to post a response to at least three of the postings of your classmates each week. By the end of the course, I expect that each student will have posted at least 33 substantial entries (autobiography, 8 assignments, and 3 x 8 forum discussion comments). These comments are to be posted within the week following the original posting date.
7. Even though the class will meet face-to-face on three weekends, the majority of the learning activities will be accomplished at home and on-line.
8. To receive credit for the course, you must be present for all three Weekends.
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Weekend 1: January 28-29
Saturday, January 28
Note: The topics listed here are tentative. The interests and needs of the group will determine the subjects to be presented. Immediately after the weekend I will adjust the syllabus to reflect what we actually discussed. This will make it easier for you to review the material. For this reason I suggest that you work from the syllabus "on line" rather than from a "hard copy."
| 8:45 to 11:55 | Introductions / Getting Started:. PowerPoint d00General Introduction Fr. Tom's favorite metaphors: icebergs, moving the furniture, tip of the pistol, etc. The information on these slides and lecture can be found on my website at Chapter d11 General Introduction to Fr. Tom's Courses and Teaching Method i12 Introduction and The Iceberg Metaphor at Chapter d41 Liturgy and Psychology. Introduction of the participants in the course: Who are we? Break Presentation of Website and syllabus and assignments. Summary and overview of the material to be studied. PowerPoint e02 Christmas This material can be found on my website at Chapter d31 Sacrament Attitudes toward Baptism PowerPoint ip3 Personal Experience PowerPoint i02 Pools and Fonts Chapter i52 The Place for Initiation |
| Noon to 1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00 to 4:30 | Chapter d21 Overview of the History of Liturgy The Ten Finger History Grid and how to use it. PowerPoint i01 RCIA: Historical Overview Discussion Original Sin "Our need for redemption by Christ." See Chapter i41 Baptism of Infants Limbo Why baptize infants? |
Sunday, January 29
| 8:15 to 9:15 | Generational Differences Four Treasures in the attic. |
| 9:30 to 10:30 | Mass with Monastic Community (Archabbey Church) |
| 11:00 to 11:55 | Two Stories and a Point The Sequence of the Sacraments of Initiation Chapter i31 Introduction to the RCIA |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00 to 4:30 | DVD: The Fishing Trip (10 min story segment of "Becoming Catholic" D2010) DVD: How One Becomes Catholic (8 min teaching segment of "Becoming Catholic" D2010 The Components of the Faith Journey What is Spirituality? Assignments #1, #2, #3 and #4 Chapter i38 Eucharist: The Culmination of Initiation. |
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1. January 28 to February 4 Read Johnson, Chapter 1: The Origins of the Rites of Christian Initiation; Chapter 2: Christian Initiation in the Pre-Nicene East; Chapter 3: Christian Initiation in the Pre-Nicene West. Post on MOODLE before midnight on Thursday, February 2 Assignment #1 Post a "schedule" for a parish preparation program for the RCIA. (List the dates on which the various rites and other meetings would be scheduled and give a brief description of each (e.g. during catechetical sessions, what material would be presented.)
2. February 5 to 11 Read Johnson, Chapter4: Initiation in the Christian East During the Fourth and Fifth Centuries; Chapter 5: Initiation in the Christian West during the Fourth and Fifth Centuries; Excursus: Baptismal Preparation and the Origins of Lent. Post on MOODLE before midnight on Thursday, February 9 Assignment #2 Using the 10 periods of the "history grid" post a one page summary of the history of the sacraments of Initiation.
3. February 12 to 18 Read Johnson, Chapter 6: Christian Initiation in the Middle Ages; Chapter 7: The Rites of Initiation in the Christian East; Chapter 8: Christian Initiation in the Protestant and Catholic Reforms of the Sixteenth Century. Post on MOODLE before midnight on Thursday, February 16 Assignment #3 What can we learn from the diverse history of the sacraments of Christian Initiation?4. February 19 to 25 Read Johnson, Chapter 9: Christian Initiation in the Churches Today; Chapter 10: Back Home to the Font: The place of a Baptismal Spirituality and its Implication in a Displaced World. Post on MOODLE before midnight on Thursday, February 23 Assignment #4 Describe: Baptismal Spirituality.
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Weekend 2: February 25-26 Saturday, February 25 What has happened since our last meeting: "Tip of the Pistol Changes". Presentation of Part 3 of my website: The RCIA 31 RCIA Introduction Video: This is the Night -- Discussion of Sacramental Symbols. PowerPoint i04 RCIA and Lent 32 Period of Evangelization 33 Period of The Catechumenate 34 Period of Enlightenment 35 The Easter Vigil Sunday, February 26 37 Confirmation 38 Eucharist: Culmination of Initiation 39 The Period of Mystagogia Return to the top of this page -- Initiation Index -- Tom Richstatter Home Page 5. February 26 to March 3 Read The General Introduction to the Revised Rites of Initiation. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 3-2; The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 29-340; The National Statutes for the Catechumenate. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 341-356. Post on MOODLE before midnight on Thursday, March 1 Assignment #5 Discuss: The RCIA is only for Converts. 6. March 4 to 10 Read Nick Wagner: The Way of Faith: A Field Guide for the RCIA Process, pages 1-195. Post on MOODLE before midnight on Thursday, March 8 Assignment #6 Discuss: Eucharist as the culmination of Christian Initiation. [If there is "one Lord, one faith, one Baptism" and if "Eucharist is the culmination of Christian Initiation" why is there not "one Confirmation" and "one Eucharist"? Infant communion?] 8. March 18 to 25 Read The Rite of Confirmation. Any official edition; for example: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume I (Third edition). Collegeville, pp 472-515. Post on MOODLE before midnight on Thursday, March 22 Assignment #8 Discuss the proper sequence of the Initiation Sacraments. (List the issues involved; choose a solution and defend it.) Return to the top of this page -- Initiation Index -- Tom Richstatter Home Page Weekend 3: March 24-25 Saturday, March 24 41 Baptism of Infants PowerPoint: Life's Three Questions PowerPoint: Holy Spirit and Confirmation Discussion of postings: Assignment #8: The Sequence of the Sacraments of Initiation. Discussion of postings: Assignment 7: Infant initiation. Assignment 6: Eucharist, the culmination of initiation. Assignment 5: The RCIA is only for Converts. Assignment #4 Baptismal Spirituality. Assignment #3 The Diversity of the history of Initiation. Sunday, March 26 DVD: History of Reconciliation 43 First Reconciliation of Catholics Baptized in Infancy 44 Confirmation of Catholics Baptized in Infancy 47 Eucharist for Catholics Baptized in Infancy Discussion of postings: Assignment #8: The Sequence of the Sacraments of Initiation. DVD: Infant Baptism DVD Confirmation PowerPoint: Icebergs in Review Concluding Remarks Return to the top of this page -- Initiation Index -- Tom Richstatter Home Page 1. Joe Dickinson [audit] Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved. This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own. Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it. This site was updated on 03/26/12 . Your comments on this site are welcome at trichstatter@franciscan.org
9:05 to 11:55 Noon to 1:00 Lunch 1:00 to 4:25 8:15 to 9:15 9:30 to 10:30 Mass with Monastic Community (Archabbey Church) 11:00 to 11:55 12:00 Lunch 1:00 to 4:30 History of Religion in 90 Seconds (If link does not open, simply Google "history of religion") Review of the history of Initiation in the Roman Rite. Discussion of the postings for Assignment #2: The Ten Period History Grid. 20 History of Initiation 21 Apostolic [0-399] 22 Patristic [400-799] 23 Early Medieval [800-1199] 24 Medieval [1200-1299] 25 Late Medieval [1300-1499] 26 Reformation [1500-1699] 27 After Trent [1700-1899] Chapter i28 Christian Initiation during the Period Before Vatican II [1900-1959] 29 Vatican II [1960-1975] 30 After Vatican II [1975-2050] Discussion: What can we learn from the diversity of this history? Discussion of the postings for Assignment #3. Overview of coming assignments Assignment #5 The RCIA is only for Converts. Assignment #6 One Baptism; One Eucharist Assignment #7 Should we continue to baptize infants? Assignment #8 Should we continue the sacrament of Confirmation? 8:30 to 11:55 Noon to 1:00 Lunch 1:00 to 4:30 8:15 to 9:15 9:30 to 10:30 Mass with Monastic Community (Archabbey Church) 11:00 to 11:55 12:00 Lunch 1:00 to 4:30 Participants
2. Paula Fogt
3. Emily Hitchens
4. Dustin Hungerford
5. Stephanie Kornexl 6. Mike McCarron
7. Valerie C. Oestry
8. Dawn O'Leary
9. Amanda Roth
10. Bernie Schum
11. Mike Tant