Signs and Gifts of God: Sacraments of Life and the Church (CT9310Y)

Thursday, 6pm PROPOSED TEACHING SCHEDULE: 2025

WEEK ONE – 31st July: Sacramental Imagination: Introduction. Introduction to the Unit: Its purpose and relevance. A. Lived Experience of Sacraments B. The Principle of Sacramentality. C. Outline of Unit

Recommended Reading:

“Sacraments, Theology of… New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol 12 (1967), 806-815. George Worgul, “Redefining the term “Sacrament,” in From Magic to Metaphor (New York: Paulist Press, 1980), 123-128.

WEEK TWO – 7th August: Contemporary Issues – Anthropological Foundations. A. Human Roots of Ritual B. Persons as Embodied Spirits C. Persons as Communal

Required Reading:

Ray Noll, “Dimensions of Sacrament,” in Sacraments: A New Understanding for a New Generation (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1999), 5-18.

WEEK THREE – 14th August: Jesus as Primordial Sacrament A. The Context of Jesus and Sacraments B. Differing Approaches: Reverse Chalcedon and Soteriological Approach C. Sacramental Significance of Traditional Christological Doctrines D. Jesus Christ is the Revelation/Disclosure of Who God is

Required Reading:

Herbert Vorgrimler, “Theological Preconditions for Sacramental Theology,” in Sacramental Theology (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1992), 5-19.

WEEK FOUR – 21st August: Church as (Fundamental) Sacrament A. As Christ So We B. The Church as Sacrament C. The Church’s sacramental Structure D. History of the Designation: Church as Sacrament E. Vatican II and Church as Sacrament

Required Reading:

Kenan Osborne, “The Church as Basic Sacrament,” in Sacramental Theology: A General Introduction (New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1988), 86-99.

WEEK FIVE – 28th August: Sacrament of Initiation: Baptism A. What is revealed? Its Meaning B. Biblical Foundations C. The Rite of Initiation D. Baptism and Early Church E. Theological Reflection F. Theological Note: Grace and Efficacy.

Required Reading:

Kenan Osborne, “Holy Baptism and Contemporary Theology,” in The Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1987), 79-96.

WEEK SIX – 4th September: Sacrament of Initiation: Confirmation A. A Sacrament in Search of a Theology? B. Biblical Foundations C. Historical Developments D. Theological Reflection E. Theological Note: Sacramental Character.

Required Reading:

Paul Turner, “The Origins of Confirmation,” in Maxwell Johnson (ed), Living Water, Sealing Spirit: Readings on Christian Initiation (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1995), 238-258.

WEEK SEVEN – 11th September: Sacrament of Initiation: Eucharist A. The Da Vinci Image B. New Testament Texts C. Jewish Meals D. Last Supper and Passover Meals E. The Eucharist and Resurrection F. Eucharist as Sacrament; as Remembrance; as Eschatological G. Theological Note: Transubstantiation

Required Reading:

Kenan Osborne, “The Eucharist, an Integral Part of Christian Initiation,” in The Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1987), 226-234.

WEEK EIGHT – 18th September: Sacrament of Healing: Reconciliation

A. Jesus and Forgiveness of Sin B. Biblical Foundations C. Forgiveness in the Ancient Church D. Development of the Sacrament E. Reconciliation, Vatican II and after. F. Theological Note: Indulgences.

Required Reading: Ray Noll, “Reconciliation: Sacrament of Forgiveness,” in Sacraments: A New Understanding for a New Generation (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1999), 111-124.

WEEK NINE – 9th October: Sacrament of Healing: Anointing of the Sick A. Illness and Suffering B. The Practice of Anointing C. The Rise of Extreme Unction D. The revised Sacrament of Anointing

Required Reading:

Herbert Vorgrimler, “Anointing of the Sick,” in Sacramental Theology (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1992), 226-236.

WEEK TEN – 16th October: Sacrament of Vocation: Marriage A. The Sacramentality of Human Friendship B. Covenant and Contract C. The Development of a Theology and Law D. Vatican II E. Theological Reflection F. Theological Note: Future—Marriage as Sacrament or Sacramental?

Required Reading:

Karl Lehmann, “The Sacramentality of Christian Marriage,” in Contemporary Perspectives in Christian Marriage, eds. Richard Malone and John Connery (Chicago, Il.: Loyola University Press, 1984), 91-116.

WEEK ELEVEN– 23rd October: Sacrament of Vocation: Priesthood A. The Origin of Office/Orders in the Church B. Biblical Findings C. The development of Teaching about the Sacrament of Orders D. The Sacrament of Orders: Systematic Aspects E. Theological Note: Married Priests/ Women Priests.

Required Reading:

John Baldovin, “The Priest as Sacramental Minister: History and Theology,” in Donald Dietrich (ed). Priests for the 21st Century (New York: A Herder & Herder Book/Crossroad, 2006), 19-32.

WEEK TWELVE – 30th October: Weaving the Tapestry A. The Integrating Dynamic of Sacraments B. The Ecumenical context of Sacraments C. Where to now?