Course Description:

This course will address fundamental principles, history, and implications of Catholic worship for people who participate in liturgy, especially as Church musicians. In this introductory course, students will learn the fundamentals of liturgy and liturgical theology and how liturgical principles and history bear upon the duties and attitudes of the modern leader of liturgical music, especially with regard to music selection. Course material will concretely connect theoretical knowledge of liturgical principles with practical application of those principles.

Course Objectives:

1. To reflect critically and creatively on the nature and significance of the Roman Catholic liturgical tradition and the practice of doing liturgical theology.
2. To discern and discuss, in the informed way, the implications of such fruitful reflection on the role of the modern leader of liturgical music, especially with regard to preparing for liturgy.
3. To understand and articulate connections between liturgy, discipleship and the social life of the community of believers.
4. To systematize and implement a method of music evaluation and selection that is informed by Roman Catholic liturgical traditions, especially the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Vatican Council II) and the 2002 General Instruction on the Roman Missal (or 2002 GIRM) and other authoritative and important Church documents that address liturgical music.
5. To become acquainted with the history and practice of liturgical enculturation and some of the various ways in which it shapes American Catholic liturgy.