DESCRIPTION: This is a doctoral level seminar, open at the 500-level to a limited number of advanced master's level students by special permission. The phrase Lex Orandi/Lex Credendi, attributed to the fifth-century monk Prosper of Aquitaine, has both described and defined the task of liturgical theology. This task is to define the relationship between the Law of Prayer (Lex Orandi) and the Law of Belief (Lex Credendi). This seminar will survey the history of this relationship and the contemporary expressions within the Christian churches today.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Lex Orandi/Lex Credendi is the central pastoral issue for liturgy. How you worship will define what you believe. So too, what you believe should inform how you worship. The congruence between our belief and our worship is a central pastoral concern. This analysis leads to a corollary issue: the relationship between corporate prayer (liturgy) and private prayer (spirituality). It also defines the relationship between liturgy and life in areas such as justice, evangelism, ecclesiology, and eschatology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four learning outcomes for this course: (1) To attain an overview of the history of liturgical theology and the schools of thought that have developed; (2) To examine the relationship between ritual and the life of faith; (3) To develop a methodology of pastoral liturgy that reflects on current praxis, evaluates it using historical, theological and ritual models, and reappraises the praxis; and (4) To formulate operative definitions of worship and liturgical theology.

COURSE FORMAT: The seminar will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. It will have some lectures by the professor, but will be mostly seminar presentations and discussions.

REQUIRED READING:

Course Reader.

Crainshaw, Jill. Wise and Discerning Hearts: An introduction to Wisdom Liturgical Theology. Pueblo, 2000. ISBN 9780814661823. List price: $32.95.

Ellis, Christopher. Gathering: A Theology and Spirituality of Worship in the Free Church Tradition. London: SCM Press, 2010. ISBN 9780334029670. List price: $34.99.

Muir, Edward. Ritual in Early Modern Europe. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997. ISBN 9780521602408. List price: $33.00.

Hughes, Graham, Worship as Meaning: A Liturgical Theology for Late Modernity. Cambridge, 2003. ISBN 9780521535573. List price: $39.99.

Vogel, D., ed. Primary Sources of Liturgical Theology: A Reader. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2000. ISBN 9780814661785. List price: $49.95.

Zimmerman, Joyce A. Liturgy and Hermeneutics. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN 9780814624975. List price: $9.95.

Crainshaw, Jill. Wisdom's Dwelling Place: Seeking a Wisdom-based Liturgical Spirituality. OSL Publications, 2010. ISBN 9781878009661. List price: $19.95.

Kavanagh, Aidan. On Liturgical Theology. New York: Pueblo Pub. Co., 1984. ISBN 9780814660676. List price: $25.95.

Lathrop, Gordon. Holy Things. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993. ISBN 9780800631314. List price: $32.95.

Saliers, Donald. Worship as Theology: Foretaste of Glory Divine. Nashville: Abingdon, 1994. ISBN 9780687146932. List price: $27.00.

Schmemann, Alexander. Introduction to Liturgical Theology. Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 1986. ISBN 9780913836187. List price: $20.00.

1. Completion of assigned readings, reflection papers on readings, participation in our class discussions and attendance (20%).

2. One oral presentation to the class on a specific theologian's liturgical theology (40%).

3. Final paper (40%):
   For Master's students, a final paper in which the student defines his/her liturgical theology in relationship to his/her ecclesial tradition and two theologians.
   For Doctoral students, a final paper in which the liturgical theology of a two liturgical theologians is described and assessed.