How Marriage Became One of the Sacraments : the sacramental theology of marriage from its medieval origins to the Council of Trent by
Among the contributions of the medieval church to western culture was the idea that marriage was one of the seven sacraments, which defined the role of married folk in the church. Although it had ancient roots, this new way of regarding marriage raised many problems, to which scholastic theologians applied all their ingenuity. By the late Middle Ages, the doctrine was fully established in Christian thought and practice but not yet as dogma. In the sixteenth century, with the entire Catholic teaching on marriage and celibacy and its associated law and jurisdiction under attack by the Protestant reformers, the Council of Trent defined the doctrine as a dogma of faith for the first time but made major changes to it. Rather than focusing on a particular aspect of intellectual and institutional developments, this book examines them in depth and in detail from their ancient precedents to the Council of Trent.
Marriage by
A collection of the best contemporary essays on the theology and ethics of marriage.
Marriage and Sacrament: a theology of Christian marriage by
At a time in human history when women and men are more concerned about interpersonal relationships and when there is an extensive questioning of the specific relationship between a woman and a man in marriage, Marriage and Sacrament offers an understanding of how to live out the Christ-meaning and Church-meaning of that relationship so that, by living martially and sacramentally, couples can reveal to the world and to the Church the deeper meaning of al human love. The book examines the relationship among love, marriage, and sacrament; it examines the meanings of the sacrament of marriage, its biblical basis, its history and what happens when it comes to an end; it examines sexual love, indissoluble love, fruitful love, and ecumenical love in relationship to both marriage and sacrament. Marriage and Sacrament is an indispensable resource for pastoral ministers and ministry students as well as al who contemplate or are now partners in marriage.
Pastoral Care of the Sick : rites of anointing and viaticum by 
Recovering the Riches of Anointing by
Recovering the Riches of Anointing is a collection of the papers presented at an international symposium sponsored by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) as part of a long-term exploration of topics of theological and pastoral concern in pastoral care of the sick. This book looks at the anointing of the sick from the vantage point of theology, history, and canon law. Since Vatican II the training and commissioning of lay Eucharistic ministers has enabled the sick and dying to receive the nourishment of Christ's body and blood regularly in their confinement at home or an institution. The sacraments of penance and the anointing of the sick, however, have become less and less available as the number of ordained priests in chaplaincy is decreasing. In response to this pastoral problem Bishop Richard J. Sklba, auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee, suggested that the NACC gather theologians together to explore the history and practice of this sacrament and other rituals in the rich tradition of the Church. Thus the papers concerning this particular sacramental ministry were written and delivered at this conference. Recovering the Riches of Anointing will be helpful for professional ministers of pastoral care; professional pastoral, liturgical, and sacramental theologians; and those engaged in pastoral ministry formation. Chapters and contributors are Introduction," by Kevin Tripp and Genevieve Glen, OSB; "The Paschal Mystery: The Intersection of Ecclesiology and Sacramental Theology in the Care of the Sick," by Susan K. Wood, SCL; "Anointing of the Sick and the Forgiveness of Sins," by Peter E. Fink, SJ; "The Practice of Anointing and the Development of the Doctrine," by Michal Drumm; "The Development of Sacramental Doctrine in the Church: Theory and Practice," by Kevin Irwin; "Ministers and Rites for the Sick and Dying: Canon Law and Pastoral Options," by John M. Huels, OSM; and "Going Forth in the Spirit: The Road Before Us," by Genevieve Glen, OSB Genevieve Glen, OSB, is oblate director and a member of the retreat staff at the Abbey of St. Walburga in Virginia Dale, Colorado. She has written and lectured extensively on liturgical theology and spirituality. "
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick by
2006 Catholic Press Association Award Winner! The ritual Pastoral Care of the Sick offers the church a wealth of assistance in visiting and praying with the sick, in facilitating services of Communion, and in tailoring the sacramental rites of anointing and Viaticum to meet the particular circumstances of each individual illness and journey into death. Anointing of the Sickis a theological introduction to the rite and focuses on the whole spectrum of pastoral care of the sick. Lizette Larson-Miller explores the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and the crucial role played by a biblical text from the Letter of James in reconstructing a rite for the sick rather than only for the dying. She looks at the central sacramental ideas surrounding the anointing of the sick that emerge from the three primary actions: the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands, and the anointing with the blessed oil. Chapters are An Overview of the Rites of Pastoral Care of the Sick, The Threefold Ritual Center of Anointing of the Sick, Theological Questions from the Rite, and The Contexts of Church and Culture for Pastoral Care of the Sick. Lizette Larson-Miller, PhD, is a Professor at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California.
Anointing with the Spirit: the rite of confirmation - the use of oil and chrism by 
Confirmation: how a sacrament of God's grace became all about us by
What are we doing when we confirm teenagers? Why is the religious education of teenagers so perplexing? Why is confirmation often a moment of "graduation" out of parish life? Confirmation: How a Sacrament of God's Grace Became All about Ustells the story of how confirmation, more than any other sacrament, has interacted with secular culture to give rise to these kinds of pastoral challenges. At the same time, confirmation has, over the course of the twentieth century, become a sacramental stamp of approval for various Catholic renewal movements. The cultural shifts of the last century have led to various theological themes for confirmation, creating a crisis of meaning today. Is confirmation a personal choice for faith, or is it the deepening of an ongoing relationship with the Divine? Timothy Gabrielli gives us a fresh approach for addressing these pressing questions.
Understanding the sacraments : confirmation by
Sacraments are at the heart of our lives as Catholics, the way we celebrate together our continuing conversion and encounter with God. Sacramental preparation is essential if we are to experience the fullness of our life in community and in Christ. Ever conscious of the complex history of the church and its dynamic relationship to ritual, Father Lawrence Mick provides these books 'convenient, individual chapters of his popular Understanding the Sacraments Today 'as a companion to the ongoing and repeated practices that nourish us. Confirmation practices have varied throughout church history. Yet whether confirmation is experienced independently as a teenager or adult, or in conjunction with baptism and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, it affects us the same. Confirmation is the sacrament that confers on the believer the Holy Spirit, the Advocate promised by Jesus. As such, confirmation is best seen not as a requirement for membership in the church but as an opportunity for continued growth and conversion in Christ. As we mature in faith, we recognize our gifts within the Body of Christ and renew our commitment to follow Jesus. In Confirmation, Mick provides a meaningful introduction to the history, theology, and practice of the sacrament, complete with questions for further reflection. Lawrence E. Mick, a priest in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, is a liturgical consultant and writer whose numerous books include Understanding the Sacraments Today and Living Baptism Daly(both published by Liturgical Press).
Doors to the Sacred by
A work of major importance, written for an ecumenical audience, "Doors to the Sacred" is a sweeping and detailed account of the historical and cultural evolution of sacramental rituals and practices. Since its initial publication, the book has garnered widespread critical acclaim and has become a mainstay not only for students but for all thinking Christians who want to understand the past fully while making their present participation in the sacraments more genuine and intelligent. Martos has greatly expanded all of the bibliographic material and has incorporated the latest developments in theological study and inquiry. His focus is on the seven ecclesial sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing, Marriage, and Orders. Though based on thorough research and impressive scholarship, "Doors to the Sacred" is written in a lively style that will be welcomed by a general audience. "Paperback"
The Liturgy Documents Volume two : essential documents for parish sacramental rites and other liturgies by 
Pastoral Foundations of the Sacraments by
A logical presentation of the sacraments as the principle acts of worship in the Catholic church. Synthesizes contemporary research on symbol, ritual, and sacramental, liturgical and pastoral theology into a single, readable resource. Each chapter ends with questions for reflection and discussion.
Sacraments: A New Understanding for a New Generation by 
The Sacraments : historical foundation and liturgical theology by
"The heart of this book is about the ways in which the liturgy of the sacraments has been celebrated and understood in history and the ways in which the liturgy can (and should) influence how we understand the sacraments today.¿ In the first text of its kind, renowned liturgical scholar Kevin W. Irwin offers a thorough explanation of the sacraments in their intimate relationship to liturgy. In Part 1 he traces the historical evolution of sacraments and sacramental practice from their biblical foundations through the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Part 3 concerns a theology of sacraments based on the liturgy as a major and firm foundation for understanding the theology of the sacraments today. Bridging these two main parts are two methodological chapters that describe the sources and method to be applied in Part 3. The Sacraments and Their Liturgical Foundation is an indispensable resource for scholars and students who need to understand the sacraments as they should be understood: in their historical and theological relationships to the liturgy.
The Sacraments in Religious Education and Liturgy by 
One Baptism by
Most Christians would say that baptism is the one sacrament Christians of al denominations share, that it is the source of ecumenical unity among al Christian churches. But how true is that? Is there really one baptism," as we profess in the Nicene Creed? If we disagree about what baptism does, can we really say that baptism unites us? To address this central question Susan Wood brings together the history and theology of baptism (systematic, sacramental, and liturgical), focusing especially on the divergent paths taken in the understanding of the sacrament since the Reformation. Founded not only in her study of theology but also in her years of participation in ecumenical dialogues, her perspective will illuminate this problem for readers and point the way toward deeper understanding. Susan K. Wood, SCL, is professor of theology at Marquette University. Active in ecumenical work, she serves on the U.S. Lutheran 'Roman Catholic dialogue, the U.S. Roman Catholic 'Orthodox Theological Consultation, the conversation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Baptist World alliance, and the international Lutheran 'Roman Catholic Dialogue. She is an associate editor of Pro Ecclesia and serves on the editorial advisory board of the journal Ecclesiology. In addition to numerous articles, she has published Spiritual Exegesis and the Church in the Theology of Henri de Lubac (Eerdmans, 1998), Sacramental Orders (Liturgical Press, 2000), and is the editor of Ordering the Baptismal Priesthood (Liturgical Press, 2003). "
Return to Grace: a theology of infant baptism by 
The Sacrament of Baptism by
The celebration of the sacrament of baptism underwent a major change in the years after the Second Vatican Council (1962 '65). The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was revised to take into account the situation of the contemporary world by incorporating insights from the earliest centuries of the Church. The Rite of Baptism for Children was renewed to take into account the role of parents and godparents in a more direct way. These two situations 'the initiation of adults who profess their own faith and the baptism of children whose faith is professed for them 'are the object of this book. The symbols and actions of the rites together with the words of Scripture and prayer are explored to answer the question: How do these celebrations reveal a theology of initiation and baptism for today's Catholic community? Michal G. Witczak, SLD, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and an assistant professor in liturgical studies at The Catholic University of America. His writings have appeared in Theological Studies, Ecclesia Orans, and Liturgical Ministry.
Encountering Christ in the Eucharist by
Draws upon the best of recent biblical, historical, and theological sources to explore how Christ is present in the celebration of the Eucharist in the assembly, presiding minister, biblical word, and ritual sacrament
Models of the Eucharist by
Explores in a clear manner how the liturgy of the Eucharist contains a wealth of theology and spirituality about the Eucharist itself and the way it shapes our view of the Christian life.
The Sacrament of the Eucharist by
In The Sacrament of the Eucharist, the latest volume in the Lex OrandiSeries, John D. Laurance considers the Eucharist by way of two questions: How, by his first-century life, death, and resurrection, does Jesus Christ save all human beings throughout history from eternal death and make possible their permanent union with God? How is that salvation made available now through the community of the church in her liturgical celebrations? Soteriology and ecclesiology therefore play a prominent role in Laurance's investigation. After forging a theology of the liturgy primarily out of the work of Rahner, Kilmartin, and Chauvet, the author investigates the nature of the lex ordandi, lex credendirelationship and offers guidelines on how best to read the church's faith in her life of prayer. He then uses both steps to discover the faith meaning of a particular Eucharist as typically celebrated in a modern American parish on Sunday morning.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation by
2002 Catholic Press Association Award Winner! Although it did not come from Christ in the form it has today, it is clear from Scripture that reconciliation was central to the ministry of Christ. In The Sacrament of Reconciliation David Coffey examines the theology of reconciliation and addresses the crisis that the sacrament faces in the present pastoral situation of the Church. Father Coffey calls on Scripture and tradition, to the magisterium, and to theology in his analysis. However, he also moves beyond these to look at the practice of the Church and to the liturgy as it is regulated, celebrated, and experienced. In doing so, he presents a theology of the sacrament of reconciliation that is truly based on, and inspired by, the liturgy. This theology is molded by two contextual factors: the crisis that the sacrament is currently undergoing in the developed nations of the West and the restrictions imposed by Rome on the third rite," the most communal of the three forms of the sacrament. Since the sacrament of reconciliation exists for the forgiveness of postbaptismal sin, chapter one is devoted to a theology of sin. Here, Father Coffey identifies what the main theological cause is at the heart of the present crisis, namely, a serious and widespread confusion about the nature of sin. Chapter two focuses on the Church's ministry of reconciliation. This chapter provides both essential knowledge and a response to the widely held view that one does not need to turn to the Church in order to obtain forgiveness from God for sin. Chapter three examines the four parts of the sacrament: contrition, confession, absolution, and the prescribed work of penance. The investigation in this chapter suggests theological limits to possible future reforms of the sacrament. In chapter four Father Coffey offers a detailed examination of the three sacramental rites and the no sacramental service set down by The Rite of Penance. Finally, in chapter five, Father Coffey offers some predictions about the future of the sacrament, based on his study. Chapters are *A Theology of Sin, - *The Church's Ministry of Reconciliation, - *The Parts of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, - *The Rites of Reconciliation, - and *Prognostications. - David M. Coffey is a priest of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia. He holds the William J. Kelly, S.J., Chair of Catholic Theology at Marquette University. He has published numerous articles in theological journals and several books. "
The Sacrament of Reconciliation by
The central theme of the study is Christ as the sacrament of reconciliation of the human being with God. In light of this premise, the study is divided into two main parts. The first part concentrates on the human response to grace, thus personal justification. In this section different but related topics are studied: the human act and its limitations; the nature of sin in antithesis to the virtue of justice implanted in the human heart. The second part of the study takes care of the sacrament of reconciliation as understood in Catholic dogma. An historical survey of the sacrament brings into focus the teaching of the Fathers of the Church which was implemented by ecumenical and particular councils and codifications. The same historical survey prepares the reader for a better understanding of the canons on Penance. The canons of the Latin and of the astern Rite codes are presented with an explanation when necessary. Through the study of these canons it becomes clear that concern of the Church is to protect the sacredness and the dignity of the sacrament as well as the dignity of the penitent.
Stories of Coming Home: finding spirituality in our messy lives by
A book that helps readers wade through the messiness in their lives, thereby offering nourishment, encouragement and solace.
Mission and Ministry: history and theology in the sacrament of order by 
Sacramental Orders by
Ordained ministry cannot be understood by itself or only in its relationship with Christ. It must find its identity in relationship to the Church, for it exists to serve and build up the Church. In Sacramental Orders Susan Wood places the theology of ordained ministry within its ecclesial foundations, identifying four concepts that shed light on different aspects of ordained ministry and its relationship to the Church: a monarchical and hierarchical concept; a eucharistic, collegial model of ministry representing the communion of particular Churches; the priest, prophet, and king, which structures the concept of the Church as the people of God; and a theology of the Church as a sacrament of Christ and ordained ministry as a sacrament of the Church. Sacramental Orders is a liturgical and theological study of ordained ministry grounded in the liturgy of the 1990 typical edition of the rites. It addresses the three Orders within the one Sacrament of Order: bishop, presbyter, and deacon. By including each order with this study, the interrelationship between the three becomes more apparent, and the theology of one is allowed to inform the theology of the others. Wood points out that one of the challenges in theologies of ordained ministry today is to distinguish a bishop from a presbyter when both are ordinations to the priesthood and presbyters are assuming a greater ministry of oversight as they pastor more than one parish, and to distinguish deacons from presbyters at a time in church history when deacons are assuming more presbyteral functions. Sacramental Orders also focuses on the mutual reciprocity in the relationship between liturgical rite and the theology of the sacrament as explained in ecclesial documents. The ordination rites reflect the theology expressed by Vatican II and yet also present a theology of the sacrament embedded in the liturgical texts and actions. Chapters are The Ecclesiological Foundations of Ministry," "The Liturgical Rite of the Ordination of a Bishop," "The Sacramentality of Episcopal Consecration," "The Liturgical Rite of the Ordination of Presbyters," "Theology of the Presbyterate," "The Liturgical Rite of the Ordination of Deacons," and "Questions Concerning the Diaconate." Susan K. Wood, SCL, PhD, is Associate Professor of Theology at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN. She is the author of articles published in Theological Studies, Pro Ecclesia, One in Christ, Worship, Studia liturgica, Communio, and Studio Canonica. She is a member of the U.S. Lutheran/Roman Catholic Dialogue. "