Baptism and Confirmation 5241a - St. Peter's Seminary

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SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 5241A
SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION I: Baptism and Confirmation

FALL 2011

MONDAY 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Room 102, St. Peter's Seminary

A. COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course aims to help students understand the shape and meaning of the Roman Catholic Church's rites of Baptism and Confirmation by studying the foundational scriptural texts and the rich historical tradition out of which these rites have developed. Special attention will be given to post-Vatican II revisions to the sacramental rites of Baptism and Confirmation and to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

B. GOALS

Students' growth in

KNOWLEDGE:
- of how rites of initiation are currently celebrated and understood among Christians, especially those in communion with the Bishop of Rome
- of the historical development of and rationale for RC liturgical practice and theological understanding and especially of the scriptural texts and patristic writings which ground current Roman Catholic practice
- of some of the theological and pastoral issues associated with Baptism and Confirmation
- of materials currently available for catechesis of parents seeking Baptism for their children, of those seeking full communion and of candidates for Confirmation as well as for RCIA and or adult education programs

SKILL:
- in catechizing effectively those, from whatever background, who seek Baptism or Confirmation for themselves or for their children
- in responding effectively to pastoral and canonical questions related to Sacraments of Initiation, esp. Baptism and Confirmation
- in supporting inter-church families in the Christian upbringing of their children

APPRECIATION:
- of the importance of celebrating Baptism and Confirmation well
- of offering ongoing support for parents, godparents and sponsors
- of the sacramental tradition of the Eastern Catholic Churches
- of the spiritual gifts and insights many non-Catholic Christians bring with them when they seek full communion with the Roman Catholic Church

C. ASSESSMENT

Ten Short Reflections on assigned readings		20%
Mid-Term (Oct. 31)		20%
RCIA/Reception into Full Communion Assignment (due Nov. 28)		20%
Homily assignment (due Dec. 5)		15%
Final Exam (Dec., date TBA)		25%

Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the dates indicated.

D. READINGS (Required)

Turner, Paul	Ages of Initiation with CD-Rom of source excerpts. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000.	(Available for purchase in class.)
Witczak, Michael G.	The Sacrament of Baptism. Lex Orandi Series. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2011
Course pack	Readings for Systematic Theology 5241A	(From Inprint in the Community Centre at UWO; available mid-Sept.)

Either	The following three CCCB publications:	(Available in class through the Liturgy Office at a discount.)

CCCB	The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Ottawa: CCCB Publications Service, 1987.
CCCB	Rite of Baptism for Children. Ottawa: CCCB Publications Service, 1989.
CCCB	Rite of Confirmation: Ritual and Pastoral Notes. Ottawa, CCCB Publication Service, 1987.

Or

	The Rites of the Catholic Church, Vol. 1 Prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. Study edition. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press (A Pueblo Book), 1990.

Additional reading swill be assigned from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Documents of Vatican II and the Code of Canon Law.

E. SCHEDULE

*For class on*	*Topic*	*Read:*

Sept. 12	New Testament - Pauline letters - Synoptics and Acts

Sept. 19	New Testament - Gospel and Letters of John - Revelation - Deutero-Pauline letters - Hebrews and other letters	Turner, Ages, Ch. 1 Witczak, ix-xvi, 145-152 (Get a head start on patristic reading assignments!)

Sept. 26	Second and Third Centuries - The Didache - Justin Martyr - The Apostolic Tradition - Tertullian - Cyprian	Didache Justin Martyr, First Apology (nn. 1-3, 6-20, 61-68.) Apostolic Tradition 15-21 and 27 Tertullian of Carthage, On Baptism Cyprian of Carthage, Letters 64 and Letter 69

Oct. 3	Fourth and Fifth Centuries - Cyril of Jerusalem - Ambrose - John Chrysostom - Augustine	Turner, Ages, Ch. 2 Cyril of Jerusalem, Lectures 1, 2, and 3 on the Mysteries Ambrose of Milan, On the Mysteries John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instructions, 2, 9 and 11 Augustine, The Punishment and Forgiveness of Suns and the Baptism of Little Ones, Bk. 1, nn. 1, 9-14 ______Letter 98 to Boniface ______On Baptism against the Donatists, Bk. 1, Ch. 1, 10-12, 14, 18

Oct. 10	(Thanksgiving - no class)

Oct. 17	Medieval Developments - Gelasian Sacramentary - William Durandus - Thomas Aquinas - The Council of Florence Reformation and Consolidation - Challenges of the Reformers - Teaching of the Council of Trent	Turner, Ages, Ch. 3-7, pp. 7-27 (material on CD if you have time) Thomas Aquinas, ST 3a, 62, 3 and 63, 2, 3 and 6. The Roman Catechism, "Baptism" and "Confirmation"

Oct. 24	Background to Vatican II - Roman Missal - Liturgical Movement - Pre-conciliar reforms Mid-Term Review	Turner, Images, Ch. 8-12, pp. 38-48 Witczak, 3-15 and 162-164
Oct. 31	Mid-Term Vatican II on - Sacraments of Initiation - Principles of Liturgical Reform Post-conciliar implementation and interpretation - Canon Law and the Catechism on Sacraments of Initiation	Witczak, 164-169. Sacrosanctam concilium, nn. 1-71 Code of Canon Law, Canons 840-896 Catechusm of the Catholic Church, Art. 1210-1321

Nov. 7	The Rites - different forms for different situations - Initiation of adults - Initiation of Infants - Emergency situations	"Christian Initiation, general introduction." Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Rite of Baptism for several Children outside mass and within Mass and Pastoral Notes (National Liturgical Office, Ottawa)

Nov. 14	Ecumenism and Rites of Initiation - Rites of Initiation in other Christian communities - Mutual recognition of sacraments of initiation - Reception into full communion of those from other Christian communities	Witczak, 49-68, 98-142, 169-173 "Preface" and "Baptism" from Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry. Rite of Reception into full Communion.

Nov. 21	Rite of Confirmation - structure of the rite - issues related to Confirmation - meaning of sacrament - age of reception	Rite of Confirmation with Mass and Pastoral Notes (National Liturgical Office, Ottawa) Turner, Ages, pp. 49-64

Nov. 28	RCIA Assignment due! Issues related to Baptism - Baptism and Salvation - Family environment and Baptism - Godparents - Baptism and Eucharist	CDF, Instruction on Infant Baptism ITC, The Hope of Salvation

Dec. 5	Homily Assignment due! Synthesis and Review

F. UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS

Students are responsible for knowing the University’s academic policies and regulations and any particularities of their own course of study. These can all be found at the University’s website (http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf). Ignorance of these policies is not an excuse for any violation thereof. The following policies are particularly important to note:

Submission of Assignments: It is the responsibility of the student to organize his or her work so that the assignments are completed on time. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment will be deducted for each day it is overdue without permission.

Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt by quotation marks and/or footnotes. Plagiarism is a major academic offense. Students may be required to submit their work in electronic form for plagiarism checking.

Selection and Registration of Courses: Students are responsible for ensuring that their selection of courses is appropriate and accurately recorded, that all prerequisite course(s) have been successfully completed, and that they are aware of any anti-requisite course(s) that they have taken.