MS-WORD DOC

This course is a study of the “sacraments of healing” in the Roman Catholic tradition.  The course will investigate catechetical, doctrinal, historical, moral, canonical, pastoral and liturgical aspects of the Sacrament of Penance and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  The personal and social dimensions of these sacraments will be studied in light of patristic, medieval, Tridentine and modern theological approaches.  The course will include practical instruction on both individual and group celebrations of these sacraments, as well as a practicum on hearing confessions.  The practicum will include guest lectures from priests, religious, and laypersons. Particular attention will be paid to pastoral implications of the diverse cultural and ethnic traditions found in the Catholic communities the students will serve.

The student will understand the historical development and the modern theology of the sacraments of Penance and Anointing.  The student will be competent in and familiar with the rituals of these sacraments: (1) he will be able to hear individual confessions and perform the anointing of the sick at the bedside; and (2) he will be proficient in preparing appropriate liturgies for the celebration of these sacraments in large groups.

1. The course is divided into two sections that run concurrently: (1) a two-hour lecture/discussion section will cover the history and theology of the sacraments of Penance and Anointing; (2) a weekly one-hour practicum will highlight practical aspects of the celebration of these sacraments, especially the art of hearing confessions.

2. In order to maximize the effectiveness of lectures in our culturally diverse student population, comprising a wide range of different linguistic experience and ability, all audio-visual materials presented in lectures will be available through the course website or on DVD in the library. 

3. The weekly lecture/discussion and practicum will be based on assigned readings from: (1) textbooks and (2) documents that may be downloaded from the course website.  Active participation in classroom discussions is essential, and will figure into the final evaluation. Students are urged to bring to classroom discussion their own particular cultural traditions of healing and reconciliation.

4. Both the midterm and final examinations will consist of pastoral case studies in the form of “take-home” essay-questions.  Students are expected to submit their analyses at the beginning of class the following week: these must be typed, double-spaced, and include appropriate references.
    Fifty percent of the grade of the final examination will be based on a “Guide for the Penitent” which each student is to prepare.  It should contain, at a minimum: (1) an introduction to and brief explanation of the ritual; (2) preparation for confession; (3) options for the Prayer of the Penitent (Act of Contrition).

5.  Each student must choose a particular liturgical season or occasion that will serve as the basis for drawing up two liturgies, including homilies, conforming to the norms of the Roman Ritual.  These will be liturgies intended for the celebration of these sacraments with large groups of persons: that is, (1) a Penance Service; and (2) a Celebration of Anointing of the Sick With a Large Congregation.  In addition to the text of these liturgies, together with appropriate homilies, the student will explain in detail the reasons for his choice of readings, prayers, and other options in both liturgies.  These must be typed and submitted on or before November 21^st, 2011.  Homilies will be reviewed and graded separately by faculty from the Department of Homiletics.

6.  All students will be required to demonstrate English and Spanish proficiency in the sacramental forms of absolution and anointing (unless exempted from the Spanish Language requirement by their diocese or religious congregation).

7. Late work will be accepted for a grade only if the professor grants an extension.  Out of fairness to those who submit their work on time, late work will normally be graded down by one-half letter grade for each day it is late.

8. In all written submissions students must clearly distinguish between their own words and sources they are citing. Failure to credit sources that are cited constitutes plagiarism and may result in a grade of "F".

9. The final course grade will be computed as follows: 

1. The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume 1, (ICEL, ISBN: 0814660150, Pueblo, 1990)

2. Pastoral Care of the Sick, Rites of Anointing and Viaticum (Pocket Edition), (ISBN 10: 0-89942-156-3 ISBN 13: 978-0-89942-156-8, Catholic Book Publishing Corporation)

3. A Confessor’s Handbook, Kurt Stasiak, (ISBN: 0809139146, Paulist, 2000).

(Von) Balthasar, Hans Urs, The Glory of the Lord, A Theological Aesthetics, Vol, I: Seeing The Form, (JohannesVerlag, 1961; tr. T & T. Clark, 1982.) III.D, 2.c, “The Sacramental Form,” pp.576-583.

— A Theology of History, “Christ the Norm of History”,  (1959; tr. Sheed & Ward, 1963), pp. 93-97.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church
(Latin/English text – selections on the Sacraments of Healing)

The Code of Canon Law
(Latin/English text – selections on the Sacraments of Healing)

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Circular Letter concerning the integrity of the, Sacrament of Penance, (2000)

Mahony, Cardinal Roger, In Praise of God’s Mercy, Pastoral Letter on the Sacrament of Penance. (Lent, 1990)

Molineaux, Natalie Bright, Medici et Medicamenta, The Medicine of Penance in Late Antiquity, (University Press of America, 2009), ISBN 978-0718-4429-7.  Part One, ch 2, Part Two, ch.s  6-8.

Pope John Paul II,

— Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliation and Penance (1984) On Reconciliation and Penance In The Mission of The Church Today

— Motu Propro: Misericordia Dei (2000) On Certain Aspects of The Celebration of The Sacrament of Penance.

Pontifical Council for Christian Unity,  Directory for the Application of Principles And Norms on Ecumenism (1993) 

Pontifical Council for the Family, “Vademecum for Confessors Concerning Some Aspects of the Conjugal Life” (1997)  

Pretot, O.S.B., Patrick,  “Sacraments and Healing: A Typology of the Relationship between Two Dimensions of Salvation” in Studia Liturgica 36. (2006) pp. 34-59. 

Rahner, Karl. “The Meaning of Frequent Confession of Devotion” in Theological Investigations III. (New York: Seabury, 1967) pp. 177-189. 

— “Problems Concerning Confession”, Theological Investigations III, pp. 190-206. 

— “Guilt and its Remission: the Borderline Between Theology and Psychotherapy”, Theological Investigations II. (Baltimore: Helicon, 1963), pp. 265-281 

— “Forgotten Truths Concerning the Sacrament of Penance”, Theological Investigations II. (Baltimore: Helicon, 1963), pp. 135-174 

— “Remarks on the Theology of Indulgences”, Theological Investigations II. (Baltimore: Helicon, 1963), pp. 175-201

(Von) Speyr, Adrienne, Confession, The Encounter with Christ in Penance, Herder and Herder, 1964 (Ignatius Press) [selections].

Martos, Joseph. Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to the Sacraments in the Catholic Church. Revised and updated edition. (Liguori MO: Liguori/Triumph. 2001. ISBN 0-76480718-8 )

Osborne, Kenan B., O.F.M., Reconciliation and Justification (Paulist, New York, 1990)

Poschmann, Bernhard, Penance and the anointing of the sick. ser,: The Herder History of Dogma, (Herder and Herder, 1964)

Lecture/DISCUSSION: Tuesdays, 9-9:50 am;
PRACTICUM: Thursdays, 9:00-11:50am

1) The Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Sacraments of Healing
Latin/English text – selections on the Sacraments of Healing. This text is part of the Course Documents available for purchase at the beginning of the semester it may also be downloaded from the course website

1. Creation and Fall, (WEEK 1) Catech. § 355-384; 385-421

2. Baptism, the Forgiveness of Sins, and Eternal Life, (WEEK 1) Catech. §; 976-987; 1020-1060

3. The Sacrament of Penance, (WEEKS 2-3)Catech. § 1420-1498

4. Indulgences, (WEEK 3) Catech. § 1471-1479

5. The Sacrament of Anointing, (WEEK 4) Catech. § 1499-1532

2) The Sacraments of Healing in the History of the Church (WEEKS 5-6)

Patristic, Celtic, medieval, Tridentine, and modern development and theology of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  Readings may be downloaded from the course website.

3) Catholic Church Law on the Sacraments of Healing (WEEKS 7-9)

The Code of Canon Law, Latin/English text – selections on the Sacraments of Healing. This text is part of the Course Documents available for purchase at the beginning of the semester it may also be downloaded from the course website

   1.The Sacrament of Penance, (WEEK 7), CIC §  959-997

The Celebration of Penance, CIC §  960-964

The Minister of Penance, CIC §  965-986

The Penitent, CIC §  987-991

Preparation, CIC §  914-916

Indulgences, CIC § 992-997

   2. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, (WEEK 8) CIC § 998-1007

Celebration, CIC § 999-1002 , CIC §

Minister, CIC § 1003

Recipient, CIC § 1004-1007

   3. Sacramental ministry to members of other Churches (WEEK 9), CIC § 842-844

   4. Particular Issues involving various canonical penalties, (WEEK 9), CIC §  1354-1357; 1378 1388 

4) The Rituals of Healing (WEEKS 10-14)

The Rite of Penance and Pastoral Care of the Sick: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume 1,

a) Individual absolution in private and communal rites; general absolution. The Rites pp. 517-629; Cardinal Roger Mahony, In Praise of God’s Mercy, Pastoral Letter on the Sacrament of Penance. (Lent, 1990)

1. Review of the Liturgy of Private Confession, The Rites § 1-30 

2. Communal Penance and Reconciliation, The Rites § 31-35

3. General Absolution, The Rites § 36-40

b) The Sacrament of Anointing and its relation to the pastoral care of the sick, The Rites pp. 755-908. private (The Rites § 1-41) and group celebration, (The Rites § 97-110)

5) Confessional Practice (Thursdays, WEEKS 1-14)

a) The art of confessional practice: A Confessor’s Handbook, Kurt Stasiak

b) professional ethics and appropriate boundaries 

c) The deeper meaning of “guilt” and “healing”. Similarities and distinctions between: (1) the Sacrament of Penance, (2) pastoral counseling, and (3) spiritual direction.  Rahner, articles above: (a) “Meaning...”; (b) “Problems...”; (c)“Guilt...”

6) Recent Developments and Controversies (WEEK 14)

Complementary Theologies of the Sacraments of Healing. Pope John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliation and Penance (1984) ; and Motu Propro: Misericordia Dei (2000). CDF, Circular Letter ... Integrity.

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