Liturgy in the West: History and Context

Photo of Ephrem CarrIL: L702; PIL: 94017
KU Leuven: B-KUL-A07E2A
4 study points

Taught byProfessor Ephrem Carr

 

Aims:
The course aims to provide insight into the origin and developments of the liturgy in the West up to the present day. Students reflect on the different cultural periods of society and how these shape the liturgy of the Catholic Church and how the liturgy in turn influences the culture. Students examine both the historical and liturgical record and the recent debates among Catholic liturgists concerning the past and future development of the Roman Catholic liturgy. The course will proceed by means of a chronological study of the major periods of the liturgy of the Catholic Church in the West and beyond.

 

Note to students enrolling for credit at KU Leuven:

This course is taught at Ealing Abbey, London from 7 to 18 July 2014 for academic year 2014-2015. This course begins well before its course description is first posted on the KU Leuven web-site. To enquire please write to: il AT bsac.ac DOT uk. After successfully completing this course at Ealing, you may thereafter enrol for this course at KU Leuven to receive KU Leuven study points / ECTS credits.

 

Dates: 7 – 18 July 2014 (Saturdaya 12 and Sunday 13 July are free days)

Hours: 15.00-18.00 (including a 24 minute break)

The course anticipates the student will spend 60 hours in personal reading and study.

 

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre (at Ealing Abbey)
74 Castlebar Road Ealing London, W5 2DD, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8862 2156 Fax: +44 (0)20 8862 2133
For further details or to register contact the Centre at:
E-mail: centre AT bsac.ac DOT uk; il AT bsac.ac DOT uk

 

KU Leuven awards 4 study points to this graduate course.
The Institutum Liturgicum requires this course for its IL certificate.

 

Previous knowledge

It is recommended that participants be familiar with the history of western civilization in the Christian period and, in particular, with the various liturgical celebrations of the Catholic Church.

 

Content

After a general introduction, the students will examine and discuss the history of the Liturgy in the West, treated in twelve principal periods.

i. A consideration of the method used and an outline of the different periods.
ii. The characteristics of the different periods of the Roman Catholic Liturgy from New Testament forms to Second Vatican Council.
iii. Conclusions and principles of liturgical renewal.

Course Material

♦ The Library resources are available to the participants including research tools
♦ Participants with a personal computer, with a LAN cable and a UK plug-in adapter will benefit more readily from online resources.
♦ M. METZGER, History of the Liturgy: The Major Stages, tr. M. Beaumont, Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN 1997.
Introduction to the Liturgy (Handbook for Liturgical Studies 1), ed. A.J. Chupungco, Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN,  1997, 95-113, 131-152, 153-178.
♦ T. KLAUSER, A Short History of the Western Liturgy, tr. J. Halliburton OUP, Oxford 1969.
♦ G. DIX, The Shape of the Liturgy, Dacre, London 1945.
♦ J. JUNGMANN, The Early Liturgy to the Time of Gregory the Great, tr. F.A. Brunner, DLT, London 1960.

 

Course activities

♦ study of the recommended literature and liturgical and cultural records;
♦ active participation in class activities;
♦ development of a knowledge of the theological issues involved in the contemporary discussions regarding the renewal and development of the liturgy of the Catholic Church and other Western churches
♦ development of a knowledge of the major issues concerning liturgical renewal since Vatican II.

 

Evaluation description

Examination type: oral (100%); with written preparation.

When: the oral exam is conducted at the end of the final session; written preparation comprises notes handed in at the beginning of the oral exam and kept on file for one year.

Explanation: Students choose one period of liturgical history for more detailed study and prepare the rest of western liturgical history for a more synthetic and reflective response especially in terms of continuity and change. The full mark is based on the student’s oral presentation of their study and their understanding presented to the instructor and their discussion. Students may bring their prepared written notes to this final discussion. The function of written preparation is to help the student prepare a satisfactory answer and to support the student in his or her oral presentation and discussion. Copies of the liturgical books discussed during the course will be provided for students during the exam.

Criteria for evaluation: There are two questions in the oral exam. The first question asks for a descriptive-analytical response concerning the characteristics of one of the historical periods examined, selected by the student. The second question asks for a synthetic-applied response covering the major issues concerning the Catholic liturgy in history and culture.

Second opportunity to sit the exam: Because this is an intensive summer course, the opportunity for a second exam is by appointment and depends upon the availability of the instructor.

 

Note: Students must be over 18 years of age.

This course has been designed to be taken alone or in conjunction with L701 Liturgical Research Seminar as the foundation courses for the programme of studies in liturgy. Otherwise this course may be taken with L716 Liturgy and Ecumenism.

If students enrol in two concurrent courses, they may wish to prepare for the intensive schedule by reading suggested texts before the course begins.

The instructor will arrange with the students to be available regularly for some time in the Study Centre and is also available by appointment.

 

Dates: 2014 Block I

7-11 July (Monday to Friday; Saturday 12 and  Sunday 13 July are free days)
14-18 July (Monday to Friday)

Students are invited to attend the annual St Bede Lecture to be held at Ealing Abbey on Saturday afternoon 5 July.

 

Accommodation:

Non residential day students are welcome.

Limited accommodation is available through Ealing Abbey house for guests or other religious houses or nearby.

Residential students may arrange to arrive on Friday 4 July or Saturday morning 5 July to attend the St Bede Lecture that afternoon.

Residential students may arrange to arrive on Saturday 5 or Sunday 6 July or before the lecture begins at 10.00 on Monday 7 July 2014.

Residential students may arrange to depart depart after the lecture ends at 13.00 on Friday 18 or on Saturday 19 July 2014.

 

Additional information from KU Leuven course web-site

 Academic year: 2014−2015

 Study points: 4

 Language: English

 Difficulty: Master’s level-Introductory

 Duration: 26.0 hours

 Periodicity: Taught annually in Block I

 POC: POC Theology and Religious Studies

 

This course is included in

Master of Theology and Religious Studies Study Abroad Programme in European Culture and Society (PECS).

A link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven is not yet available, but the course is based on one previously offered (link here).