The Liturgical Movement

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Shedding light on arguably one of the most significant developments of the Roman Catholic Church in the 20th century, this course aims above all to stimulate students to think about the meaning and the future of public Christian worship practices. It will focus on historical events and evolutions, on prominent figures and places, as well as on foundational writings and documents. Students will get to know how the pastoral commitment of the Liturgical Movement’s promoters went hand in hand with profound scholarship, both historical and theological, and why that matters. Due attention will be paid to an ad litteram reading of Sacrosanctum Concilium, Vatican II’s first fruit, and to the way in which the liturgical reforms were implemented. In this context, it will also be explained which discussions about liturgy, tradition, language, and culture there were before, at, and after the Council.