Teacher(s)

Chevalier Catherine;

Language

French

Main themes

To achieve its set goals, the course will examine the biblical and historical records by analyzing sacramental practices to the present rituals. This historical approach will be crossed with the systematic dossier that will address the major stages of Christian reflection in sacramental theology, up to the present day.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	- to use the major sources and working tools concerning sacramentality and its history; - to situate the theological and anthropological issues of sacramental reflection; - to understand the challenges of the  sacraments in inter-denominational dialogues. According to the Bachelor's Degree in Religious Sciences: A. To master the knowledge to explain Christianity in its cultural environment according to theological disciplines; A.3. To understand and explain the liturgical and pastoral situation of a Christian community; A.5. To understand and interpret historical and juridical sources relating to the Christian Faith;
2	B. To use appropriate concepts to develop theological reflection; B.4. To perceive the complementarity of the theological disciplines of positive theology, systematic theology and practical theology;
3	D. To develop a personal theological reflection and critical thinking; D.3. To distinguish between the theological analysis of an issue or situation and a commonsense analysis.

Content

The course will be developed in two stages. The first stage "biblical" will focus on the rooting of sacramentality in the Old Testament, the texts of the New Testament and the apostolic fathers. The second stage "historical and systematic" will study the evolution of the understanding of sacramentality from the patristic period until the present day, paying special attention among others to Tertullian, Thomas Aquinas and Louis-Marie Chauvet. The liturgical movement and the orientations taken by the Vatican Council will be treated. Ecumenical issues will also be discussed.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

In order to develop the spirit of historical and theological analysis and the liturgical sensitivity of the students, the course will consist of lectures on biblical texts as well as historical and theological texts. Students will also have to study a question of sacramental theology which will be discussed during the course.
Il est possible de suivre le cours à distance, moyennant la participation à 3 rencontres : une en début de cours, une au milieu pour rendre compte de l'observation d'une liturgie eucharistique et une entre la fin du cours et l'examen.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Students who take the class in class will be evaluated on the basis of three exercises:

• a short review of a sacramental theology work;
• an observation exercise of a Eucharistic liturgy;
• the presentation of a sacrament through a poster.

Students who follow the course online will be evaluated on the basis of three exercises :

• Reading a book on the Eucharist (in the bibliography) and the book of Michel Scouarnec, Les symboles chrétiens. Les sacrements ne sont pas étranges, Paris, 1998 (Vivre – Croire – Célébrer).
• an observation exercise of a Eucharistic liturgy;
• an exam of the entire course, based on questions given in advance.

Other information

On Moodle

Bibliography

Louis-Marie Chauvet, Les sacrements : Parole de Dieu au risque du corps (Recherches), Paris, L'Atelier, 1997 (nouvelle édition : Le corps chemin de Dieu. Les sacrements, Paris, 2010)
Jean-Philippe Revel, Traité des sacrements. 1, Baptême et sacramentalité, 2 vol., Paris, Cerf, 2004-2005
Michel Scouarnec, Les symboles chrétiens. Les sacrements ne sont pas étranges (Vivre – Croire – Célébrer) , Paris, 1998
Bernard Sesboüé, Invitation à croire. 2. Des sacrements crédibles et désirables, Paris, Cerf, 2009

Faculty or entity

TEBI