Liturgical and Sacramental Theology (CT9102C)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

The intersection of sacramental and liturgical theology is the meeting point of the Church at worship. In and through the sacramental/liturgical rites of the Church the Paschal Mystery is made present and effective. Liturgy and sacraments are not merely objects of study but mysteries to be celebrated and lived. Enacting liturgical sacramental rites amounts to the Church effectively 'doing' theology, the rites themselves being the source for theological reflection.

With due reference to the ancient maxim Lex orandi, lex credendi (the law for prayer is the law for faith) and to the notion of human symbolic ritual activity, this unit will explore some of the Catholic Church's liturgical and sacramental rites. It will also examine how liturgical theology is an independent theological discipline with its own special subject (the liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church) distinct from other methods and theological disciplines. The unit will introduce students to the claim that the liturgy, of its very nature, is always expressive of the faith of the Church.

Unit code: CT9102C

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Explain how the liturgical assembly and its action, by way of the liturgy and sacraments, can serve as the “primary locus” for the Christian’s encounter with God.
2.

Elaborate how the theological imperative that Christ’s paschal mystery is at the heart of all liturgical and sacramental celebrations can be articulated.
3.

Utilise and critique the liturgical and sacramental rites of the Church as genuine theological sources.
4.

Articulate clearly the distinction between "liturgical theology" and a "theology of liturgy."
5.

Conduct systematic and critical theological research into the role of liturgical and sacramental theology for the life of the worshipping Church.

Unit sequence

24 points of CT

Pedagogy

Lectures, Tutorials, Seminars

Indicative Bibliography

  • Chauvet, Louis-Marie. Symbol and Sacrament: A Sacramental Reinterpretation of Christian Existence. Liturgical Press, 1995.
  • Fagerberg, David W. Theologia Prima: What is Liturgical Theology? 2nd ed. Hillenbrand Books, 2004.
  • Irwin, Kevin W. Context and Text: Method in Liturgical Theology. Revised edition. Liturgical Press, 2018.
  • Kavanagh, Aidan. On Liturgical Theology: The Hale Memorial Lectures of Seabury–Western Theological Seminary, 1981. Pueblo, 1984.
  • Lathrop, Gordon W. Holy Things: A Liturgical Theology. Fortress, 1993.
  • Power, David N. Unsearchable Riches: The Symbolic Nature of Liturgy. Pueblo Publishing, 1984.
  • Senn, Frank C. Embodied Liturgy: Lessons in Christian Ritual. Fortress Press, 2016.
  • Schmemann, Alexander. Introduction to Liturgical Theology. Translated by Ashleigh E. Moorhouse. St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2003.
  • Vatican Council II. Sacrosanctum concilium. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. 4 December 1963. In The Liturgy Documents: A Parish Resource, 4th ed. Liturgy Training Publications, 2004.
  • Vogel, Dwight W., ed. Primary Sources of Liturgical Theology: A Reader. Liturgical Press, 2000.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

2500-word essay

2500 30.0
Portfolio

4,500-word project

 4500 70.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 10:21:50 +1000