TRS5452 - Ecclesiology and Liturgy

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a sympathetic understanding of the history, development and traditions of liturgy in the Latin and (some) Eastern Catholic Rites;
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the historical development of a range of theological ‘models’ of the church;
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the different roles of the People of God within the Catholic Church and a critical awareness of the issues raised by this;
Demonstrate knowledge of the key Catholic documents on the Church, and an ability to use them competently and critically as sources;
Demonstrate knowledge of the key Catholic documents on the liturgy and sacraments, and an ability to use them competently and critically as sources.

Content:

This module introduces students to the theology of the Church as the People of God, as expressed in the Catholic Church’s self-understanding, and its liturgical expression through prayer and sacraments. Through this module, students will develop an understanding of the close links between ecclesiology and liturgy. They will study the historical development of sacraments and the life of prayer in the Latin Rite and some Eastern Catholic Rites. They will follow a historical approach to the development of ecclesiology from the biblical period to contemporary scholarship, enabling them to understand developments in their historical, cultural, and ecclesial contexts.
Core content will include:
- The importance of sacraments in Catholic Theology;
- The link between ecclesiology and liturgy;
- The examination of key Vatican II documents, especially Lumen Gentium and Sacramentum Concilium;
- The historical developments leading to these documents.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning and teaching takes place in plenary sessions and using blended learning. It may also include group activities and also opportunities for individual help through face-to-face meeting or online means. Scheduled learning activities are varied and include include: lecture-style presentations by the module tutor or occasional guest speaker; seminar-style discussion of a particular topic; informal prepared presentations by students, followed by discussion; debates; and other exercises as appropriate to material and group. Students receive guidance on reading in preparation for each session and activity and learning is supported by the VLE (Moodle) and sometimes by readers and other resources. Guidance on research and essay-writing is integral to the learning and teaching process in each module and may also be supported by tutorial guidance on essay plans if requested.

Lecture
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 20

Seminar/Workshop
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Assessment: