Sacrements : Approche liturgique et pastorale

Teacher(s)

Chevalier Catherine;

Language

French

Main themes

In order to achieve its set objectives, the course will tackle the issues facing sacramental practice and reflection today in the wake of the liturgical reform initiated by the Second Vatican Council and the challenges of secularization and unity of Christians.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	- to use the instruments of work, especially the rituals resulting from the liturgical reform, concerning the sacraments; - to situate the liturgical and pastoral issues of current sacramental practices. According to the Bachelor's Degree in Religious Sciences: A. to master the knowledge to explain Christianity in its cultural environment according to theological disciplines; A.3. to understand and explain the liturgical and pastoral situation of a Christian community; A. 5. to understand and interpret historical and juridical sources relating to the Christian Faith;
2	B. To use appropriate concepts to develop theological reflection; B.4. To perceive the complementarity of the theological disciplines of positive theology, systematic theology and practical theology;
3	D. To develop a personal theological reflection and critical thinking; D.3. To distinguish between the theological analysis of an issue or situation and a commonsense analysis. D.4. to equip oneself to promote self-learning and personal development throughout life.

Content

After a thematic and historical introduction that will focus in particular on the implementation of the liturgical reform initiated by the Council, the course will work by dossier; for each dossier, a biblical and historical approach will prepare the theological and liturgical reflection, for which reference will be made to the corresponding liturgical rituals. The ‘Baptism’ and ‘Confirmation’ files will address the issue of initiation from the point of view of the renewal brought about by the liturgical approach to the catechumenate of adults. The ‘Eucharist’ dossier will look at the practice of the Eucharist from the perspective of the major options of liturgical renewal. The ‘Sacrament of Reconciliation’ dossier will look at the challenges of the new ritual and the difficulties encountered in implementing it. The ‘anointing of the sick’ section will look at the transition from ‘extreme unction’ to ‘anointing of the sick’. With regard to ordinations, the course will look at the ecclesiological implications of the choices made in the new ritual. Finally, for the ‘sacrament of marriage’, we will study the new ritual and the reflection on the preparation of this sacrament.

Teaching methods

The course will consist in lectures, personal work on biblical and historical texts as well as on contemporary liturgical documents to develop students' analytical skills and their liturgical and theological sensitivity.  Students will also have to observe a celebration of the Eucharist which will be discussed in a class session.

Evaluation methods

Students following the course in class will be assessed on the basis of the following exercises:

• Eight short reading and analysis assignments on ancient and/or contemporary conciliar or liturgical texts (called ‘homework’), to be completed before the course concerned by each assignment (20%). 
• An exercise in observing a Eucharistic liturgy (20%);
• An oral examination in which the student tackles a liturgical or sacramental pastoral issue, based on a personalised re-reading of the course (60%).

Except in the case of students taking the course solely by distance learning, attendance is compulsory. In the event of absence, students will be asked to complete a short quiz on the content of the session, based on the course notes available on Moodle.
Students following the distance learning course will be assessed on the basis of the following exercises:

• Eight short reading and analysis assignments on ancient and/or contemporary conciliar or liturgical texts (called ‘homework’) and eight short formative quizzes on the first part of the course and on each of the sacraments (4/20). The short quizzes allow you to check whether students have acquired the essential elements of the course. They are not assessed, but you must complete them to pass the course.
• An exercise in observing a Eucharistic liturgy (20%);
• An oral examination in which the student tackles a liturgical or sacramental pastoral issue, based on a personalised re-reading of the course (60%).

The same assessment method will be used in September.

Online resources

On Moodle

Bibliography

Louis-Marie Chauvet, Le corps chemin de Dieu. Les sacrements, Paris, 2010
Paul De Clerck, Vivre et comprendre la messe, Paris, Cerf, 2016
Arnaud Join-Lambert , Guide pour comprendre la messe, Paris, 2002
Service national de pastorale liturgique et sacramentelle, 59 questions sur l'eucharistie : repères pour les pratiques eucharistiques, Paris, Cerf, 2000 (Guides Célébrer 6).
Bernard Sesboüé, Invitation à croire. 2. Des sacrements crédibles et désirables, Paris, 2009

Faculty or entity

> TEBI