Aims

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:
- relate sacramentalism (the 7 major signs as well as the other Christian rites) to human ritualism;
- understand the connection between Christian sacramentalism and salvation, and its state as "locus theologicus" (Lex orandi, lex credendi);
- understand the main part of Christian symbolism as Revelation (sign) and communication (efficiency of salvation), because this symbolism is part of the history of salvation and of the taking root of Christological thought (in the Pascal mystery and eschatological impact of the sacrament).
- use the main tools and the major sources - in particular liturgical books - in order to study the sacraments and the liturgy.

Main themes

To attain these objectives, the course will take up the following topics:
- the study of human ritualism (sign, symbol, rite, symbolic order) and of Christian ritualism and the differences between them: biblical taking root ("History of Salvation"), pneumatical and eschatological dimension ("The Church sacrament of salvation").
- the study of a specific sacrament with its own liturgical celebration: biblical and historical dimension, liturgical literature (old texts and Vatican II liturgy), dogmatic dimension (texts of the Councils), pastoral dimension (doctrinal and pastoral "Praenotanda" of the liturgical books; relation between faith and sacrament).
- practical initiation in the use of the major sources, especially the current liturgical books, and the main tools for studying the sacraments and the liturgy.

Other credits in programs