Liturgical Institute Summer Program 2009

Summer courses and distinguished faculty, June 8 to July 17:

Session I, June 8 to June 26

Eucharist: Theological Issues, Sr. Sara Butler, St. Joseph Seminary, Dunwoodie

Classic Eucharistic polemics are explored in context: among them sacrifice, communion, epiclesis, memorial, veneration outside Mass, and the foundation of liturgical ministries. Particular attention is paid to Eucharistic controversies regarding the Real Presence of Christ, and an exploration is made of the various theoretical explanations the Church has used to express this dogma of faith. The Church is considered as a Eucharistic community. Ecumenical considerations are also treated.

Eucharist: Origins and Structure, Fr. John Laurence, SJ, Marquette University

This class begins with a study of the origins of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. It follows the historical development of Eucharistic worship in the patristic period and the middle ages. The revision of the Roman rite following the Council of Trent is considered, along with the transition to the 1970 missal. Finally students will study the Missale Romanum of 2002 in detail, as well as questions regarding translation of liturgical texts. Knowledge of Latin is recommended but not required.

History and Spirituality of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, Dr. Lynne Boughton, The Liturgical Institute, and guest

Pope Benedict XVI’s assurance in the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum that every Roman Rite priest may offer the Eucharist and other sacraments according to the form of the rite that was preeminent prior to 1969, provides new opportunities for people to encounter a manner of worship that represents two millennia of exegetical reflection and theological contemplation. Now designated as the “extraordinary” form of the Roman Rite, the Mass that serves as the rite’s liturgical center requires careful consideration. The constituent structures of this eucharistic liturgy’s ordo missae, the content of its ecclesiastical propers, its protocols for integrating biblical readings and antiphons, and the complex character of its multiple eucharistic prefaces and single eucharistic prayer (Roman Canon) preserve a form of liturgical celebration that was already well-established in Europe and North Africa before the 5th century. Subtle but meaningful refinements in this liturgy were implemented by Popes Gregory the Great (7th century), Innocent III (13th century), Pius V (16th century) and, at the start of the Second Vatican Council, John XXIII (1962). In a two-part course that considers the history and spirituality of the Mass of the Roman Rite in its extraordinary form, students will examine the theological foundations and tangible traditions within the Mass whose antiquity and subsequent centuries of celebration on every continent testify to the capacity of liturgy to transcend historical epochs and cultural divisions.


 Session II, June 29 to July 17

Christian Initiation, Rev. Liam Walsh, OP

 The sacraments of initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist – guide a person into the life of Christ in the communion of the Church. The current Catholic rites of initiation are examined in their theological, historical, canonical, and practical aspects. In particular, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is studied in detail. Special attention is given to the patristic documents which constitute the foundation of the revised rites. The Eucharist is explored briefly as the sacrament which concludes Christian initiation.

Music and Worship, Dr. Susan Treacy, Ave Maria University

The place of music in human culture is examined from the perspective of a philosophy of aesthetics. The historic role of music in the elaboration of the mysteries of the Christian faith is explained. The official documents of the Church produced during the twentieth century are discussed in detail. The current musical structure of the Roman liturgy is explored, and practical principles for the advancement and management of liturgical music programs are proposed.  

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