SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY

Transcription

1 SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY RGT 3436 HF M. LAVIN COURSE DESCRIPTION The sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Orders, and Marriage explored as symbols of life, challenges to human existence, life-functions of the church, features of Christology, and as revelation of the Triune God. COURSE OUTLINE 1. Introduction 2. What is Sacramental Theology? 3. Symbol and Sacrament 4. Jesus: Primordial Sacrament/Church: Fundamental Sacrament 5. Baptism/Confirmation 6. Eucharist I 7. Eucharist II 8. Reconciliation 9. Anointing of the Sick 10. Holy Orders 11. Marriage 12. Synopsis -READING WEEK- -EXAM WEEK-

2 COURSE OBJECTIVES To establish the anthropological, biblical, theological, historical, and philosophical bases of the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church To explore each sacrament as a. a symbol of life, b. a challenge to human experience, c. a life-function of the Church, d. a feature of Christology, e. revelation of the Triune God. To establish the relationship between sacramental theology and the major components of systematic theology. To discuss the pastoral foundations of the sacraments by connecting them to those areas in life which bring meaning to human experience. This will be done through a consideration of contemporary models for understanding the sacraments and relating these to pastoral practice. To explore the theology of the sacraments from an ecumenical perspective by discussing the divergence between the various Christian traditions. COURSE OUTCOMES Participants will be able to: identify sacraments as symbols of life, challenges to human existence, lifefunctions of the church, features of Christology, and as revelation of the Triune God; integrate an understanding of the sacraments within systematic theology; contextualize an understanding of the various sacraments into pastoral practice; understand the ecumenical challenges of differences in interpretation of the sacraments and their meaning; situate the Catholic understanding of the sacraments within their ecclesial context. COURSE REQUIREMENTS The requirements of the course are threefold: 1) careful reading of assigned works; 2) attendance and consistent participation in class discussions; and 3) fulfillment of the written requirements. 1) A careful reading of assigned works: The readings for each class have been chosen as a foundation for the written assignments and for seminar discussions. 2) Involvement in class sessions, built upon careful preparation by way of study. This means establishing a disciplined method of reading reflectively, such as:

3 a. Taking notes on key ideas in the reading; b. fashioning some mode of personal appropriation of what has been read, such as keeping a journal, belonging to a regular study group, and/or responding in a non-discursive mode (e.g., poetry, drawing, etc.); c. preparing for class sessions, especially those involving discussion and written assignments. 3) Written assignments. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS 1. A paper entitled Symbol and Sacrament. A 3-4 page, double-spaced paper on the importance of an understanding of symbol for sacramental theology. The readings for this assignment are: Martos, Doors to the Sacred, and ; Chauvet, The Sacraments, 69-96, and Rahner, The Theology of Symbol, Theological Investigations, Vol. IV, Any direct or indirect use of the readings should be appropriately footnoted and bibliography added. 2. Reading Sheets on any two of the sacraments answering the following questions integrating the readings from Martos, and Chauvet and/or Vorgrimler. i. What is the most significant scripture passage regarding this sacrament? Why? ii. What is the most significant conciliar declaration regarding this sacrament? Why? iii. What is the most significant historical/theological development regarding this sacrament? Why? iv. What is the most significant contemporary issue regarding this sacrament? Why? Due Date: The class during which the chosen sacrament is discussed. 2. Case study on the sacrament of Baptism. A case study will be provided, together with a Case Study - Response Sheet. In the response sheet the assignment requires the completion of Sacramental Concerns, the Canonical Concerns, the Social (Community) Concerns, and the Pastoral Concerns connected with the case study. 3. Case study on the sacrament of Eucharist. (See format in #2 above) 4. Case study on the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. (See format in #2 above) 5. Structural Elements of the Sacraments - Using the sheet provided, identify ONE of the sacraments as 1) symbol of life; 2) a challenge to human existence; 3) a life-function of the church; 4) a feature of christology; and 5) revelation of the triune God.

4 6. A final research paper, 5 pages, double-spaced with appropriate footnoting and bibliography. For this assignment, participants are required to choose one of the sacraments and one of the major elements of the course in combination. For example: Baptism as a Symbol of Life Reconciliation as a Life-Function of the Church Eucharist as a Feature of Christology Marriage as a Revelation of the Triune God OR Choose one of the sacraments and analyze it using the methodology that Louis Marie Chauvet outlines in his book The Sacraments: the Word of God a the Mercy of the Body. The paper should evidence the following: Clear thesis statement Focused argument Analytical development Critical analysis Summation WEIGHTING AND EVALUATION OF ASSIGNMENTS Paper on Symbol and Sacrament. 20% The evaluation of this assignment will consider the following: Strong evidence of engagement with the assigned readings A depth of understanding of symbol An understanding of how symbol relates to the experience of sacrament The symbolic nature of the human person Reading Sheets 5% each reading sheet, total of 10% (2 in total) The evaluation of these assignments will consider the following: Strong evidence of engagement with readings Accuracy of answers to the questions Insights into contemporary issues

5 Case studies 10% each case, total of 30% (3 in total) The evaluation of the case studies will consider the following: Strong evidence of a depth and breadth of an understanding of the Sacramental, Canonical, Social, and Pastoral Concerns of the case under consideration Appropriate pastoral response Structural Elements of the Sacraments 10% The evaluation of this assignment will consider the following: The ability to identify and state clearly the structural elements The ability to integrate the symbolic, theological, and pastoral components of the sacrament Final Paper 30% The evaluation of this paper will consider the following: Clear and well developed thesis statement Analytic and integrative ability Critical evaluation that evidences the assumptions of authors, as well as your own assumptions Knowledge base of the literature Grammatical structure