Signs and gifts of God: Sacraments of life and church (CT3310Y)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit aims to present with ecumenical sensitivity the origin, meaning and purpose of the Christian sacraments. It begins by outlining foundational concepts upon which contemporary sacramental theology rests, including the importance of symbol, ritual, Jesus as primordial sacrament and the Church as fundamental sacrament. Using this framework, the unit then undertakes a survey of the seven sacraments, paying particular attention to their historical, symbolic, liturgical and pastoral dimensions. Finally, the unit explores and evaluates more recent directions within sacramental theology as a discipline.

Unit code: CT3310Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate the importance of foundational concepts such as symbol and ritual in defining and describing sacraments
2.

Critically discuss the importance of Jesus Christ as primordial sacrament and the Church as fundamental sacrament in defining and describing sacraments
3.

Identify significant developments in the historical evolution of the sacraments
4.

Analyse the sacraments in terms of their key historical developments, symbolic meanings, and liturgical expression
5.

Analyse how the sacraments manifest the presence and work of the Holy Spirit

Unit sequence

1xfoundational CT unit

Pedagogy

synchronous lectures and tutorial discussions

Indicative Bibliography

  • Chauvet, Louis-Marie. The Sacraments: the Word of God at the Mercy of the Body. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2001.
  • Larson-Miller, Lizette. Sacramentality Renewed: Contemporary Conversations in Sacramental Theology. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2016.
  • Martinez, German. Signs of Freedom: Theology of the Christian Sacraments. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2003.
  • Martos, Joseph. Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to Sacraments in the Catholic Church. Ligouri MO/Triumph, 2001.
  • Mitchell, Nathan. Meeting Mystery: Liturgy, Worship, Sacraments (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2006.
  • Nutt, Roger W. General Principles of Sacramental Theology. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2017.
  • Osborne, Kenan. Sacramental Theology: A General Introduction. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1988.
  • Philibert, Paul. At the Heart of Christian Worship: Liturgical essays of Yves Congar. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2010.
  • Rahner, Karl. The Church and the Sacraments. New York: Herder and Herder, 1963.
  • Schillebeeckx, Edward. Christ the Sacrament of Encounter with God. New York & London: Sheed & Ward, 1963.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Portfolio - Weekly summaries of Readings 1500 30.0
Essay 1500 30.0
Essay 2000 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 29 Aug, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-08-29 11:45:32 +1000