Required in stage
Optional in stage
Second term
Both terms
Not organised
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Identical coursesLiturgy in the West: History and Context (B-KUL-A07E2A)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contract
N. | Geiger Stefan (substitute) Aims
Aims:
The course aims to provide insight into the origin and developments of the liturgy in the West up to the present day. Students reflect on the different cultural periods of society and how these shape the liturgy of the Catholic Church and how the liturgy in turn influences the culture. Students examine both the historical and liturgical record and the recent debates among Catholic liturgists concerning the past and future development of the Roman Catholic liturgy. The course will proceed by means of a chronological study of the major periods of the liturgy of the Catholic Church in the West and beyond.
Note: This course is taught at Ealing Abbey, London in early July for the following academic year. It is completed before its course description is posted on the KU Leuven web-site. For course information please visit the web-page for this course at: Institutum Liturgicum. To enquire please write to il@liturgyinstitute.org. After successfully completing this course at Ealing, you may thereafter enrol for this course at KU Leuven to receive KU Leuven study points / ECTS credits.
Previous knowledge
Prerequisites:
It is recommended that participants be familiar with the history of western civilisation in the Christian period and, in particular, with the various liturgical celebrations of the Catholic Church.
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
4 ects. Liturgy in the West: History and Context (B-KUL-A07E2a)
EnglishFormat: Assignment
26 
First termN. | Geiger Stefan (substitute) Content
Content:
After a general introduction, the students will examine and discuss the history of the Liturgy in the West, treated in twelve principal periods.
i. A consideration of the method used and an outline of the different periods.
ii. The characteristics of the different periods of the Roman Catholic Liturgy from New Testament forms to Second Vatican Council.
iii. Conclusions and principles of liturgical renewal.
Course material
Course Material:
♦ The Library resources are available to the participants including research tools
♦ Participants with a personal computer, with a LAN cable or wireless connectivity and a UK plug-in adapter will benefit more readily from online resources.
♦ METZGER, M., History of the Liturgy: The Major Stages, tr. M. Beaumont, Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN 1997.
♦ Introduction to the Liturgy (Handbook for Liturgical Studies 1), ed. A.J. Chupungco, Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN, 1997, 95-113, 131-152, 153-178.
♦ KLAUSER, T., A Short History of the Western Liturgy, tr. J. Halliburton OUP, Oxford 1969.
♦ DIX, G., The Shape of the Liturgy, Dacre, London 1945.
♦ JUNGMANN, J., The Early Liturgy to the Time of Gregory the Great, tr. F.A. Brunner, DLT, London 1960.
Format: more information
Description of learning activities:
♦ study of the recommended literature and liturgical and cultural records;
♦ active participation in class activities;
♦ development of a knowledge of the theological issues involved in the contemporary discussions regarding the renewal and development of the liturgy of the Catholic Church and other Western churches
♦ development of a knowledge of the major issues concerning liturgical renewal since Vatican II.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Liturgy in the West: History and Context (B-KUL-A27E2a)
Explanation
Assessment description:
Examination type: oral (100%); with written preparation.
When: the oral exam is conducted at the end of the final session; written preparation comprises notes handed in at the beginning of the oral exam and kept on file for one year.
Explanation: Students choose one period of liturgical history for more detailed study and prepare the rest of western liturgical history for a more synthetic and reflective response especially in terms of continuity and change. The full mark is based on the student’s oral presentation of their study and their understanding presented to the instructor and their discussion. Students may bring their prepared written notes to this final discussion. The function of written preparation is to help the student prepare a satisfactory answer and to support the student in their oral presentation and discussion. Copies of the liturgical books discussed during the course will be provided for students during the exam.
Assessment criteria: There are two questions in the oral exam. The first question asks for a descriptive-analytical response concerning the characteristics of one of the historical periods examined, selected by the student. The second question asks for a synthetic-applied response covering the major issues concerning the Catholic liturgy in history and culture.
Information about retaking exams
Because this is an intensive summer course, the opportunity for a second exam is by appointment and depends upon the availability of the instructor.