Liturgical Books

Course Summary

This course on Liturgical Books introduces students to some of the most utilized liturgical books of the Roman Catholic Church.  Each week there will be a focus on a specific book or rite of the church.  Week One will be an introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church outside of Eucharistic liturgies.  Week Two will focus on the Lectionary, and the history of the cycles of readings.  The Rites of RCIA and of Baptism, how the faithful are initiated into the Church, are central to the discussion of Week Three.  Week Four details the Roman Missal, the book which contains the prayers and instructions for celebrating Mass in the Catholic Church.  Finally, in Week Five, the Rite of Christian Funerals, an essential piece for all those in ministerial settings in the Church, will be examined.  The goal of each session is not to just to become familiar with the texts, but to draw on them as resources for the ministerial and liturgical life in the Church. 

Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's.

General Course Objectives

• Comprehend the role of The Liturgy of the Hours within the life of the Church. Students will be familiar enough with the text to utilize them as a prayer resource both personally and professionally.
• Develop an appreciation and understanding for the Lectionary, its historical development and its role as the foundation for the Liturgy of the Word and the liturgical life of the Church.
• Become familiar with the Baptismal Rite and the RCIA Journey, making connections with a larger understanding of Initiation.
• Articulate the basic functions of the Roman Missal and why a new one was adopted. Be able to explain the nuances of employing the depth of the prayers offered for particular liturgical celebrations.
• Understand the basic structures of liturgical celebrations of the Rite of Christian Funerals & The Order of Celebrating Matrimony
• Demonstrate an ability to utilize the rites’ books in specific pastoral situations.

Course Materials

• No books required. All readings are online.

Course Structure and Highlights

• Week 1: The History of Liturgical Books in the Church
  • Course introduction and overview
  • What is the Liturgy of the Hours?
  • A brief history of the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Learning how to Pray the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Understanding the spiritual benefits of the Liturgy of Hours
• Week 2: Meet the Lectionary
  • What is the Lectionary - How the Lectionary and the Bible differ from each other.
  • Understanding the structure of the Lectionary
  • Explain the cycle of the lectionary and its relationship to the liturgical calendar
  • Understand the uses of the Lectionary outside of Mass / Lectio Divina (heart /hand)
• Week 3: Meet the Rites of Christian Initiation and Baptism
  • Introduction to Sacrament of Baptism
  • Celebrating the Baptismal Rite for Infants and Children
  • Introduction to the RCIA & its 4 phases
  • Celebrating the Rite of Acceptance
  • The Meaning of the Catechumenate (paragraph 75)
• Week 4: Meet the Roman Missal
  • The creation of the Roman Missal
  • General Instruction of the Missal
  • Order of the Mass
  • Appreciating the diverse options contained within the Missal
• Week 5: Meet the Order of Christian Funerals / Order of Celebrating Matrimony
  • Describe the Catholic Funeral Rites / Matrimonial Rite without Mass.
  • Describe the Catholic Marriage, focusing on the Liturgy Outside of Mass
  • Describe using the rituals in a pastoral setting.
  • Wrap up the class.

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