GTH 504: Sacraments of Initiation
Syllabus- Summer 2004
July 19- August 5
M-TH 1:00-3:30 pm
SE 106
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Instructor: |
Raymond A. Patterson, Ph. D |
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Office: |
SE 225 |
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Phone: |
ex. 2427 |
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E-mail: |
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Web Page: |
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Office Hours: |
By appointment |
Course Description
GTH 504: Sacraments of Initiation examines the process of Christian initiation, particularly as expressed in theRoman Catholic Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). To have a full understanding of the RCIA as it took form in the post-Vatican II era, it is necessary to examine the individual sacraments of initiation that form the process- Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist- from the perspective of their respective ritual foundations, historical origins and evolution, liturgical structure, current theological thinking, and pastoral practice. The course, then, will consist of three parts:
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1) |
An introduction to the study of
sacraments, including an overview of important anthropological, liturgical,
and theological concepts, as well as a review of the historical background
for developments in Christian theology |
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2) |
An in-depth examination of each of the
sacraments of initiation, focusing on their ritual characteristics,
Scriptural foundations, historical development, and contemporary theological
understanding |
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3) |
An analysis of the RCIA, considering the entire catechumenal procedure and the theological understanding the role that the three sacraments play in the process |
Required Texts:
Students should have access to a Bible. I’ll be using the New American Bible, but other translations are acceptable. The texts for the class, available at the bookstore, are:
Osborne, Kenan. The Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist. New York: Paulist Press, 1998. (ISBN #0809128861)
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults/ Study Edition. Liturgy Training Publications, 1988. (ISBN #0930467949)
Other readings will be made available as handouts distributed during class or as readings placed on Reserve. Students should search the library catalog for all reserve readings, which are organized by the title of the book or article listed under my name. Select the title to see the folder number of the article or call number of the book. Please do not mark the Reserve readings when taking notes.
Texts on Reserve:
Austin, Gerard. Anointing with the Spirit : the Rite of
Confirmation.
Dujarier, Michel. The Rites of Christian Initiation.
Finn, Thomas. Early
Christian Baptism and the Catechumenate: Italy, North Africa, and Egypt.
Kavanagh, Aidan. Confirmation : Origins and Reform.
Kavanagh, Aidan. Shape of Baptism: the Rite of Christian
Initiation.
Johnson, Maxwell, ed. Living Water, Sealing Spirit: Reading on Christian
Initiation.
Johnson, Maxwell. The Rites of Christian Initiation : their Evolution and
Interpretation.
Marsh, Thomas. Gift of Community : Baptism and Confirmation.
Martos, Joseph. Doors to the Sacred: an historical introduction to
sacraments in the Catholic Church.
Morris, Thomas. The RCIA: Transforming the Church.
Murphy Center for Liturgical Research, ed. Made, Not Born.
Osborne, Kenan. Christian Sacraments of Initiation : Baptism, Confirmation,
Eucharist.
Riley, Hugh. Christian
Initiation.
Searle, Mark, ed. Alternative Futures for Worship, Vol. II; Baptism and
Confirmation.
Whitaker, E.C. Documents of the Baptismal Liturgy.
White James, Protestant worship : traditions in transition.
White, James. The Sacraments in Protestant Practice and Faith.
Wilde, James, ed. Commentaries: Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults
World Council of Churches. Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry.
Yarnold, Edward. Awe-inspiring rites of initiation : the origins of the RCIA.
Class Requirements:
Regular attendance is expected of all students. If a student is unable to attend class, he or she should notify the instructor.
All assignments should be handed in during class. I will consider an assignment completed when I receive a hard copy- you should not submit a paper as an E-mail attachment.
Students will be evaluated on the following course work:
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Three 4-5 page written assignments |
75% |
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Class Participation |
25% |
Class Schedule
(The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule. Students will be notified in class of any changes.)
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July 19 |
Introduction and Course Requirements Anthropology of Ritual and Initiation |
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July 20 |
Anthropology of Baptism Early Christian Practice Osborne, 24-78 |
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July 21 |
Baptism II: Reformation and Tridentine Approaches White, The Sacraments in Protestant
Practice and Faith, 31-72. |
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July 22 |
Baptism III:
BEM Document on Baptism (online
and on reserve)
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July 26 |
Baptism IV: Written Assignment # 1 Due |
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July 27 |
Confirmation I Osborne, 109-139. |
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July 28 |
Eucharist I Osborne, 159-189. |
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July 29 |
Eucharist II
Osborne, 226-233 (optional 190-225) |
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August 2 |
Eucharist III Written Assignment #2 Due Osborne, 226-233. |
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August 3 |
RCIA-I
Lumbala, 9-18 (handout) |
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August 4 |
RCIA -II |
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August 5 |
RCIA-III Written Assignment #3 Due by Friday, August 6th |
Other texts of interest:
Gelpi, Donald. Committed Worship.
Dunning, James. New Wine, New Wineskins.
Thurian, Max, ed. Churches Respond to BEM.
Fahey, Michael, ed. Catholic Perspectives on Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry.
Bourgeois, Henri. On Becoming Christian.
Searle, Mark. Christening: The Making of Christians.
Mitchell, Leonel. Initiation and the Churches.
Bishop's Committee on the Liturgy. Christian Initiation of Adults: A
Commentary.
Power, David and Maldonado, Luis, ed. Liturgy and Human Passage. (Concilium
112)
Power, David and Maldonado, Luis, ed. Structures of Initiation in Crisis
(Concilium 122).
Adult Baptism and the Catechumenate (Concilium 22).
Cramer, Peter. Baptism and Change in the Early Middle Ages, c. 200- c. 1150.