This unit gives sustained attention to the liturgical celebration of the sacrament that completes Christian initiation and lies at the heart of the church’s life and mission: the eucharist. It begins with an overview of the evolution of Eucharistic rites from New Testament times, then studies the principles that govern the Catholic celebration of eucharist today as spelt out in the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal, paying particular attention to the role of music in the celebration. It considers the preparation of children for their first communion and the church’s norms for celebrating eucharist with children. Finally it deals with rites of Eucharistic devotion and the nature and conduct of Sunday Celebrations of Word and Communion.

Pre-requisites:
DL350

Requirements:
intensive mode

Assessment:

• one 2,000 word essay - 50%
• one 1,000 word class presentation - 25%
• one 1,000 word evaluation of a liturgical celebration - 25%

Bibliography:

• Baldovin, John F. Bread of Life, Cup of Salvation: Understanding the Mass. Come and See Series. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2003.
• Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Celebrating the Mass: A Pastoral Introduction. London: Catholic Truth Society, 2005.
• Dallen, James. The Dilemma of Priestless Sundays. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1994.
• Emminghaus, Johannes H. The Eucharist: Essence, Form, Celebration. 2nd ed. Translated by Linda M. Murray. Revised and edited by Theodor Maas-Ewerd. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1997.
• General Instruction of the Roman Missal. English Translation by the International Committee on English in the Liturgy, 2002.
• Johnson, Lawrence J. The Mystery of Faith: A Study of the Structured Elements of the Order of Mass. Rev. ed. Washington, DC: Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, 2003.
• Martin, James, ed. Celebrating Good Liturgy: A Guide to the Ministries of the Mass. Chicago: Loyola, 2005.
• Mitchell, Nathan. Cult and Controversy: The Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass. New York: Pueblo, 1982.
• The Sacramentary. New York: Catholic Book Publishing, 1985.