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Music, Liturgy, and Spirituality E-Tutorials
E-Tutorials are available at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
E-Tutorials by Subject / Language
Music, Liturgy, and Spirituality
- Benedictine Spirituality In Our Time
- Big Bang Spirituality: Creation, Evolution, the Cosmos and Rational Faith
- Christian Spirituality
- Contemporary Trends in Church Music
- Creating a Gathering for Peace
- Hymnology: Past and Present
- Irish Spirituality
- Methods of Musical Archaeology: The Origins of the Proper Chants of the Roman Mass
- Processional Chants: A Pilgrim People Sings
- Sacred Music in the Church: A History and Philosophy
- Spirituality and Psychology
- Thomas Merton, Zen and Taoist Spirituality
Benedictine Spirituality In Our Time
Faculty: Dr. Anthony Burkart (Profile)
Description: Benedict, who crafted the “Rule of St. Benedict”, possessed a certain genius for the understanding of human nature, its strengths and frailties, and how this configured itself into the life of community. Although originally intended for the eremitic(monastic) community of his time its profundity possess a universality to all times and applicability to human community outside of cloistered life. Two aspects permeate the Benedictine approach, balance and living with paradox and contradiction in the rumble tumble of our daily lives. We will use two required texts. One is a nuts and bolts look at the “Rule” in our contemporary time. The other is an opportunity to read the “Rule” in a Lectio format(Lectio is an approach that allows the head to connect with the heart) and respond to it from your own personal experience and insights.
Required Readings:
- Chittester, Joan Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996)
- Vest, Norvene Preferring Christ: Devotional Commentary and Workbook on the Rule of St. Benedict (Harrisburg, Pa., Source Books, 2004)
Big Bang Spirituality: Creation, Evolution, the Cosmos and Rational Faith
Faculty: RP Jorge R. Colón, C.Ss.R., S.T.D., Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies (Profile)
Description: The course explores the basic relationship between the origin of the universe, creation, evolution, and the final consummation of creation. It considers theological and scientific perspectives, and leads the student to discover new links between science and spirituality.
Required textbook for the graduate and undergraduate level:
-
Christoph Cardinal Schönborn. Chance or Purpose?: Creation, Evolution and a Rational Faith. San Francisco, Ignatius Press 2007. www.ignatius.com
Additional Graduate Level Texts and Recommendations (pick one additional text for this course)
- Simon Singh. Big Bang. The Origin of the Universe. NY Harper Collins Publishers 2004.
- Stephan Otto Horn and Siegfried Wiedenhofer. Creation and Evolution. San Francisco Ignatius Press 2008.
- Brian Swimme. The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos: Humanity and the New Story. Maryknoll, NY 2008. www.maryknoll.org
Christian Spirituality
Faculty: RP Jorge R. Colón, C.Ss.R., S.T.D., Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies (Profile)
Description: A study of the basic theological foundations of Christian Spirituality, considering its biblical images and its historical expressions in the Church. The course will explore the types of Christian spiritualities, some denominational considerations in Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism, and will study the link between the basic Christian mysteries and spirituality, such as creation, the Trinity, the incarnation, redemption and resurrection. It will also study some examples of classic texts of major spiritual masters.
Required textbook for the graduate and undergraduate level:
- Alister E. McGrath, Christian Spirituality. Blackwell Publishing 1999. www.blackwellpublishing.com
Additional Graduate Level Texts and Recommendations (pick one additional text for this course)
- Olivier Clement, On Human Being: A Spiritual Anthropology. Hyde Park, NY 2000 www.newcitypress.com
- William J. O’Malley. Holiness. Maryknoll, NY 2008 www.maryknoll.org
- William A. Barry. A Friendship Like No Other: Experiencing God’s Amazing Embrace. Chicago, Loyola Press 2008. www.loyolabooks.org
- George A. Maloney. Discovering the Hidden Reality: A Journey into Christian Mystical Prayer. Staten Island, NY 204 www.albahouse.org
- George A. Maloney. Abiding in the Indwelling Trinity. Mahwah, NJ 2004 www.paulistpress.com
Contemporary Trends in Church Music
Faculty: Dr. Martha H. Sobaje (Profile)
Description: The issue of contemporary vs. traditional music for worship has never been more controversial than it is today. This e-tutorial is designed for those who want to examine contemporary, traditional, and blended styles of church music, with the goal of forming some conclusions and philosophies for their own church situation.
Readings:
- The New Worship: Straight Talk on Music and the Church (Expanded Edition) by Barry Leisch.
- Worship at the Next Level: Insight from Contemporary Voices edited by Tim A. Dearborn & Scott Coil.
Creating a Gathering for Peace
Faculty: Dr. Vivian Dettbarn (Profile)
Description: The purpose of this tutorial is to:
- allow the student to explore various writings on the subject of peace
- create a proposal for a peace/prayer event based on the ideas that have grown out of the assignments.
Required Readings:
- The Road to Peace: Writings on Peace and Justice, by Henri J. M. Nouwen
- Peace Is the Way: Bringing War and Violence to an End, by Deepak Chopra
- The Future of Peace: On the Front Lines with the World's Great Peacemakers, by Scott Hunt
- Living Peace: A Spirituality of Contemplation and Action, by John Dear
Hymnology: Past and Present
Faculty: Dr. Martha H. Sobaje (Profile)
Description: In this e-tutorial the student will gain an understanding of the history of hymnology, those components that make up good hymns, and tools for effective use of congregational hymn-singing in the present day worship service.
Readings:
- A Survey of Christian Hymnody by David W. Music & Milburn Price.
- Hymns: A Congregational Study (Student Edition) by James R. Sydnor.
In Search of Spirituality: A Resource Guide for Catholics and Protestants
Faculty: Dr. John H. Morgan (Profile)
Description: This tutorial is designed for clergy and ministry professionals, whether Catholic or Protestant, who wish to take a closer look at the basic components of spirituality as understood in the Christian tradition. Because Catholic spirituality has dominated Christian tradition, the tutorial is from that historic perspective but presented in such a fashion as to encourage and elicit participation in the study of spirituality for all Christians. There is an emphasis upon the saints and mystics of the Church, the terminology of spirituality, and the classic texts in Catholic spirituality. The textbook used in the tutorial was written specifically to assist individuals in becoming generally acquainted with the fundamental components of the tradition. It includes a summary of the Creeds, the Councils, and a listing of religious orders.
Readings:
- Catholic Spirituality: A Guide for Protestants by John H. Morgan (Wyndham Hall Press, 1994)
Irish Spirituality
Faculty: Dr. Anthony Burkart (Profile)
Description: Ours is an age in which the institutional church struggles amidst the rapidly changing templates of our world’s circumstances.
The church, its clergy and laity wrestle with its role, how to act that out in the world, worship and its meaning and living breath in our lives, gender identities, issues of sexuality and the roots of the Christian tradition and transformational teachings of Jesus.
In the past twenty five years there has been a renewed interest in Celtic Christianity for some quite specific reasons. The Celts never institutionalized, dove underground when the Roman Church attempted to absorb it. Gender made little difference in the functions within church life, women and men sharing in ecclesiastical functions and roles, bishopry and leadership, abbots and abbotress’s of monastic communities which usually incorporated whole villages. But perhaps most significant is that the contemplative tradition was never divorced from the life of the people allowing the head-heart connection to permeate the daily life of the church community.
Most scholars agree that the term “Celtic Christianity” is inaccurate and much to all encompassing. After the 5th century, the church in Ireland, Wales and Scotland took distinctly different turns and varied forms. So we will focus in Irish Celtic Christianity as such in it’s form and practice.
There remains an extensive list of books available but for the purpose of this brief course. We will look at two books as required reading and one which is optional but of immense interest, fun and entertaining.
Required Readings:
- Joyce, Timothy Celtic Christianity: Sacred Tradition, Vision of Hope (San Francisco, Orbis Books, 1998)
- O’Donohue, John Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom (New York: Cliff Street Books, Harper Collins Publishers, 1997)
Optional Reading:
- Moorehouse, Geoffrey Sun Dancing: Life in a Medieval Irish Monastery (New York: Harvest Books, 1999)
Methods of Musical Archaeology: The Origins of the Proper Chants of the Roman Mass
Faculty: Dr. Christoph Tietze (Profile)
Description: James McKinnon and Christoph Tietze researched a cross-section of the same sources and came to some divergent conclusions. The student will study the methods behind each text and develop skills for further study.
Required Readings:
- James McKinnon, The Advent Project: The Later-Seventh-Century Creation of the Roman Mass Proper.
- Christoph Tietze, Hymn Introits for the Liturgical Year: The Origin and Early Development of the Latin Texts. Chicago: Hillenbrand Books, 2005
Processional Chants: A Pilgrim People Sings
Faculty: Dr. Christoph Tietze (Profile)
Description: This course will explore the processional chants of the Mass (introit, gospel acclamation, offertory, and communion) and other liturgical and devotional services (e.g. Easter Vigil, Palm Sunday, and Holy Thursday processions, Stations of the Cross, etc). During this course, the student will examine the texts associated with each procession, the musical form of the associated chant, the historical context in which these processions were and are used, and some contemporary applications.
Required Readings:
- Hiley, David. Western Plainchant - A Handbook. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995.
- (a) for students with some knowledge of Latin:
Graduale Romanum. Solesmes: Abbaye Saint-Pierre, 1973.
or
Graduale Triplex. Solesmes: Abbaye Saint-Pierre, 1979.
(b) for students with limited or no knowledge of Latin:
The Gregorian Missal for Sundays. Solesmes: Abbaye Saint-Pierre, 1990.
Optional Reading:
- Christoph Tietze, Hymn Introits for the Liturgical Year: The Origin and Early Development of the Latin Texts. Chicago: Hillenbrand Books, 2005
Sacred Music in the Church: A History and Philosophy
Faculty: Dr. Brian J. Taylor (Profile)
Description: This tutorial is designed to give the student a thorough grounding in the history of Christian sacred music with an emphasis on the theological and cultural influences which affected its development. This history will deal primarily with the dominant European tradition, but it will also look at non-Western traditions, both in terms of their own integrity and in terms of their interplay with the European tradition. In addition, it will examine a number of parallel developments from the last 200 years. From this study the student will gain an understanding of the different philosophies that led to the great diversity of styles and performance practices in Christian sacred music. As the student encounters these different philosophies the student can develop or refine his/her own philosophy of sacred music in the Church.
Required Readings:
- The Story of Christian Music, Andrew Wilson-Dickson, Lion Publishing, 1992
- Te Deum: The Church and Music, Paul Westermeyer, Fortress Press, 1998
Spirituality and Psychology
Faculty: Dr. Anthony O. Nwachukwu (Profile)
Description: There is a big connection between spirituality and psychology. Prayer could be a spiritual exercise if demonstrated in action. Most people think that spirituality is based on the number of hours spent in a Church or the hood of a monk. Spirituality has nothing to do with all that except when intrinsically evaluated within the context of decision and behavior. On the other hand, it takes into account all the minutest details of what we do, the way we do it, the intention for it etc cetera. In this sense, psychology becomes a vehicle through which spirituality becomes feasible and attainable. There can be psychology without spirituality or religion, but there can be no religion or spirituality without psychology. Besides, spirituality is not the same thing as religion per se.
Required Readings:
- Keeping Human Relationships Together: Self Guide to Healthy Living (NY: iUniverse Publishers, 2010).
- Being Human: Perspective in Meaning and Interpretation (2nd ed.)
Thomas Merton, Zen and Taoist Spirituality
Faculty: Ekman P. C. Tam, Ph.D. (Profile)
Professor of Spirituality and Psychotherapy
Description: This E-Tutorial explores Thomas Merton's writings in and understanding of Zen Buddhism and classical Taosim and what Merton, as a Christian contemplative, had learned from them. A reflection on the dialogue between Christian Spirituality and Zen and Taoism will also be emphasized.
Required Readings:
- Tam, Ekman P. C. Christian Contemplation and Chinese Zen-Taoism: A Study of Thomas Merton's Writings. Hong Kong: Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre, 2002.
Available from Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre. Download PDF order form.
- Forest, Jim. Living With Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1992.