Campus: Box Hill
Mode: Blended
Delivery Notes:

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?

Contact hours 36
Total time commitment 200
Start date 28 Jul, 2025
Census date: 19 Aug, 2025
End date: 14 Nov, 2025
Academic staff: Rev Dr Greg Brett
Textbook(s): No textbook is required for this unit.

Unit code: CT9310Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

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