Signs and gifts of God: Sacraments of life and church (CT2310Y)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit aims to present with ecumenical sensitivity the origin, meaning and purpose of the Christian sacraments. It begins by outlining foundational concepts upon which contemporary sacramental theology rests, including the importance of symbol, ritual, Jesus as primordial sacrament and the Church as fundamental sacrament. Using this framework, the unit then undertakes a survey of the seven sacraments, paying particular attention to their historical, symbolic, liturgical and pastoral dimensions. Finally, the unit explores and evaluates more recent directions within sacramental theology as a discipline.

Unit code: CT2310Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate the importance of foundational concepts such as symbol and ritual in defining and describing sacraments
2.

Discuss the importance of Jesus Christ as primordial sacrament and the Church as fundamental sacrament in defining and describing sacraments
3.

Identify and analyse significant developments in the historical evolution of the sacraments
4.

Analyse the sacraments in terms of their key historical developments, symbolic meanings, and liturgical expression

Unit sequence

1x foundational CT unit

Pedagogy

synchronous lectures and tutorial discussions

Indicative Bibliography

  • Chauvet, Louis-Marie. The Sacraments: the Word of God at the Mercy of the Body. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2001.
  • Cooke, Bernard. Sacraments and Sacramentality. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1983.
  • Larson-Miller, Lizette. Sacramentality Renewed: Contemporary Conversations in Sacramental Theology. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2016.
  • Martinez, German. Signs of Freedom: Theology of the Christian Sacraments. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2003.
  • Martos, Joseph. Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to Sacraments in the Catholic Church. Ligouri MO/Triumph, 2001.
  • Mitchell, Nathan. Meeting Mystery: Liturgy, Worship, Sacraments (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2006.
  • Nutt, Roger W. General Principles of Sacramental Theology. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2017.
  • Osborne, Kenan. Sacramental Theology: A General Introduction. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1988.
  • Philibert, Paul. At the Heart of Christian Worship: Liturgical essays of Yves Congar. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2010.
  • Rahner, Karl. The Church and the Sacraments. New York: Herder and Herder, 1963.
  • Schillebeeckx, Edward. Christ the Sacrament of Encounter with God. New York & London: Sheed & Ward, 1963.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Portfolio - Weekly Summary of Readings 1500 40.0
Essay 2500 60.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 29 Aug, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-08-29 11:45:23 +1000