This course studies the historical development of the Roman Catholic Liturgical Year and the reforms of the Church Calendar that were brought about by the Second Vatican Council. The course is directed toward discovering the theological and liturgical principles which guided the reform of the Liturgical Year so that these principles might enable the participants to prepare the liturgical celebrations of Sunday, the liturgical seasons, and feasts in the parishes where they might minister and to incorporate the spirit of the Liturgical Year into their personal prayer and spirituality. For a further rational for the course click here.
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There are four required reading assignments for the course:
1. Maxwell Johnson, Editor. Between Memory and Hope: Readings on the Liturgical Year. The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, 2000. ISBN 0-8146-6025-8. Paper, $39.95. (= Johnson)
2. Martin Connell. Eternity Today: On the Liturgical Year ( 2 Volumes). The Continuum International Publishing Group, New York, 2006. ISBN 0-8264-1871-6. Paper $31.32 (= Connell)
3. Calendarium Romanum (in English). General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the New General Roman Calendar issued by the Sacred Congregation of Rites on March 21, 1969 Published in English by the Bishops Committee on Divine Worship in Norms Governing Liturgical Calendars, Liturgy Documentary Series, Number 6. Washington DC: Office of Publishing and Promotion Services, USCCB, 1984. Publication number 928-9. $6.95 paper. The first half of the text is available online at www.catholicliturgy.com
4. Ordo Lectionum Missae (in English). "General Introduction to the Roman Lectionary for Mass" The text is available online at www.catholicliturgy.com [The text printed at the beginning of the Lectionary.]
For further information on the reading assignments for the course click here.
The anticipated outcomes of the course are:
1. A deeper appreciation of the Church Year and its role in forming a liturgical spirituality.
2. A familiarity with the current Roman Calendar, Sacramentary, and Lectionary and the other Church documents related to the Liturgical Year.
3. A knowledge of the history of the Liturgical Year which will help the student appreciate its current structure and future developments.
4. The background necessary to intelligently plan and prepare fruitful celebrations of Sunday, the liturgical seasons, and feasts in the parishes and/or monasteries where they might minister.
1. Level The course presumes that the participants have a practical experience of the Liturgical Year and a basic understanding of its structure, theology, and spirituality. This is a "upper level" graduate seminar and the participants are expected to engage the readings theologically and pastorally. The course will consist of presentations by the professor, background reading, reports by the participants, and discussion.
2. Technology Participants in this course are expected to have: a personal computer or access to a computer; the ability to access websites and download and print files; the ability to send and receive e-mail; and the ability to post essays and enter into discussion on ANGEL.
3. Reading Participants are expected to prepare for each class meeting by reading the materials listed in this syllabus.
4. Written Assignments Before each class period, each student is to select one (or more) of the articles from among those assigned for the period and to post on ANGEL an essay (500- 800 words) which briefly summarizes the article and then engages the author in a theological reflection or pastoral application of the material. Before the final class period, each student is to post a concluding essay or project. These assignments are to be posted before midnight of the day before the class meets.
5. Class Participation During the class periods, the participants will present to the class their essay posted on ANGEL. Each participant is expected to actively participate in the group work, oral presentations, class reports, discussions, sharing of written work, etc. which will comprise the class time. Absences from class for reasons other than illness are to have the prior approval of the professor.
Class #01, Monday, February 4, 2008 – Time During Class: Presentation of Syllabus and assignments. Summary and overview of the material to be studied. Power Point pastoral presentation. Chapter y13 Overview of the Liturgical Year Chapter y17 Bibliography Goldbrunner: The Celebration of a Feast (especially the section on "event days" and "idea days"
Class #02, Monday, February 11, 2008 – Documents Before Class Read: Connell Vol 1, Chapter 1 On God And Time, pp 1-52. Norms Governing Liturgical Calendars. The Lectionary for Mass, Introduction. Johnson Chapter 1 "The Liturgical Year: Studies, Prospects, Reflections" by Robert F. Taft, pp 3-24. Johnson Chapter 2 "Liturgical Time in the Ancient Church: The State of Research" by Thomas J. Talley, pp 25-48. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. Before each class period, each student is to select one or more of the articles from among those assigned for the period and to post on ANGEL an essay which briefly summarizes the article and then engages the author in a theological reflection or pastoral application of the material (500-800 words) You may apply the material to a pastoral situation, compare or contrast articles, disagree with an article, etc. Simply: 1) give evidence that you have thought about and processed the material, and 2) present your thoughts in a way that is interesting to and useful for the other participants in the course. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Remark on the arrangement of the text books. Icebergs Anamnesis Chapter y14 Time Chapter y15 The Roman Calendar Chapter y16 The Roman Lectionary
Class #03, Monday, February 18, 2008 – Sunday Before Class Read: Connell Vol 2, (note: Volume 2) Chapter 1 Sunday, pp 1-51. Johnson Chapter 3 "Day of the Lord: Day of Mystery" by H. Boone Porter, pp 49-58. Johnson Chapter 4 "Sunday: the Heart of the Liturgical Year" by Mark Searle, pp 59-76. Johnson Chapter 5 "The Frequency of the Celebration of the Eucharist Throughout History" by Robert F. Taft, pp 77-98. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter y21 Sunday
Class #04, Monday, February 25, 2008 – Lent Before Class Read: Connell Vol 2, Chapter 2 Lent, pp 52-100. Connell Vol 2, Chapter 3 The Three Days, pp 101-157. Connell Vol 2, Chapter 4 The Easter Season pp 158-195. Johnson Chapter 6 "History and Eschatology in the Primitive Pascha" by Thomas J. Talley, pp 99-110. Johnson Chapter7 "The Origins of Easter" by Paul F. Bradshaw, pp 111-124. Johnson Chapter 8 "The Three Days and the Forty Days" by Patrick Regan, pp 125-142. Johnson Chapter 9 "Veneration of the Cross" by Patrick Regan, pp 143-154. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter y31 Lent Chapter y32 Passion Sunday Chapter y33 The Triduum; Chapter y34 Holy Thursday Chapter y35 Good Friday Chapter y36 Holy Saturday.
Class #05, Monday, March 3, 2008 – Easter Before Class Read: Johnson Chapter 10 "Holy Week in the Byzantine Tradition" by Robert F. Taft, pp 155-182. Johnson Chapter 11 "The Origin of Lent at Alexandria" by Thomas J. Talley, pp 183-206. Johnson Chapter 12 "Preparation for Pascha? Lent in Christian Antiquity" by Maxwell E. Johnson, pp 207-222. Johnson Chapter 13 "The Fifty Days and the Fiftieth Day" by Patrick Regan, pp 223-246. Johnson Chapter 14 "Making the Most of Trinity Sunday" by Catherine Mowry LaCugna, pp 247-264. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter Chapter y37 The Paschal Vigil Chapter y38 Easter Chapter y39 The Fifty Days / Pentecost
Class #00, Monday, March 10, 2008 – No Class – Retreat week Class #00, Monday, March 17, 2008 – No Class – Monday of Holy Week Class #00, Monday, March 24, 2008 – No Class – Easter Monday
Class #06, Monday, March 31, 2008 – Advent Before Class Read: Connell Vol 1, Chapter 2 Advent pp 53-87Connell Vol 1, Chapter 3 Christmas pp 88-146.Connell Vol 1, Chapter 4 Epiphany pp 147-198. Connell Vol 1, Chapter 5 Candlemas pp 199-234. Johnson Chapter 15 "Constantine and Christmas" by Thomas J. Talley, pp 265-272. Johnson Chapter 16 "The Origins of Christmas: The State of the Question" by Susan K. Roll, pp 273-290. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter y41 Advent
Class #07, Monday, April 7, 2008 – Christmas Before Class Read: Johnson Chapter 17 "The Appearance of the Light at the Baptism of Jesus and the Origins of the Feast of Epiphany: An Investigation of Greek, Syriac, Armenian, and Latin Sources" by Gabriele Winkler, pp 291-348. Johnson Chapter 18 "The Origins and Evolution of Advent in the West" by Martin J. Connell, pp 349-374. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter y42 Christmas Chapter y43 Feasts of the Christmas Season.
Class #08, Monday, April 14, 2008 – Saints Before Class Read: Connell Vol 2, Chapter 5 Ordinary Time, pp 196-240. Johnson Chapter 19 "On Feasting the Saints" by John F. Baldovin, pp 375-384. Johnson Chapter 21 "Forgetting and Remembering the Saints" by James F. White, pp 401-414. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter y51 Saints Chapter y53 January through December Chapter y54 Calendar for the USA.
Class #00, Monday, April 21, 2008 – No Class – Long Weekend
Class #09, Monday, April 28, 2008 – Mary Before Class Read: Johnson Chapter 20 "The Marian Liturgical Tradition" by Kilian McDonnell, pp 385-400. Johnson Chapter 22 "The One Mediator, the Saints, and Mary: A Lutheran Reflection" by Maxwell E. Johnson, pp 415-428. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter y52 Mary
Class #10, Monday, May 5, 2008 – Devotions Before Class Read: Johnson Chapter 23 "The Liturgical Year: Calendar for a Just Community" by John F. Baldovin, pp 429-445. Before Class Write: Reflection Paper. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL and discussion of the readings. Lecture notes: Chapter y61 Devotional Times Chapter y71 Alternative Calendars
Class #11, Monday, May 12, 2008 – Conclusions Before Class Read: Review the reading and class notes. Before Class Write: Review the course objectives and class notes and the reading. Spend some time integrating the material. Reflect on what you have learned. On ANGEL post a concluding project (e.g. a narrated PowerPoint presentation, etc) or a 500-800 word essay reflecting on the course. For example, state something you have learned; explain the major new insights you have had; describe what you think was most important; or write on any other summarizing and synthesizing topic. During Class: Presentation of the postings on ANGEL. Lecture notes: Chapter y89 Conclusions
The participants will be evaluated on class participation and on the written assignments; their ability to articulate to the professor and the other participants what they have read and learned; their ability to enter into dialogue with and to critique the findings of the other participants; the quality of their insight into the process, the method, and the content of the course; and their ability to apply these findings to pastoral situations.
1. Br. Martin Erspamer, OSB 2. Ryan Harpole 3. Br. Silas Henderson, OSB 4. Ignacio Jimenez
5. Michael Johnson 6. John Long 7. Jose Vazquez-Morales
© 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 06/22/08 . Your comments on this site are welcome at webmaster2@tomrichstatter.org.