Vocation – Matrimony and Orders
Module Code: 612TMO Credits: 10 Contact Hours: 30 Level: 6 Lecturer: David Blowey OFM Conv
Syllabus
The Sacraments of Vocation are at the Service of Communion and Mission; they confer a special grace for a particular mission in the Church to serve and build up the People of God, contributing in a special way to ecclesial communion and to the salvation of others.
This module will build on the relevant elements already introduced in the Sacraments module, presenting each of the two Sacraments of Vocation from a two-fold perspective: biblical and dogmatic.
Matrimony
- marriage in the Plan of God’s Church
- biblical Theology of Married Life
- historical Development of the Formalization of the Sacrament
- post-Vatican II Matrimonial Theology
Holy Orders
- ministry in the Life of the Church (Lay Ministry)
- priesthood of the Old Covenant
- the Priesthood of Jesus Christ
- post-Biblical Developments
- post-Vatican II Ministerial Developments: (a.) Episcopal Ordination; (b.) Presbyterial Ordination; (c.) Diaconal Ordination; (d.) ‘Minor Orders’ or ‘Ministries’
Aims
- to give students a thorough knowledge and understanding of the function and place of (a) Matrimony and (b) Holy Orders in the Roman Catholic tradition.
- to explore the biblical tradition of the Sacraments of Vocation in the Catholic-Christian tradition
- to examine the historical development of the theological aspects of those sacraments
- to present the Church’s post-Vatican II theology of Matrimony and Holy Orders.
Assessment
Students are required to write one essay of at least 3,000 words, chosen from selected options.
Evaluation
At the end of the Term this Module will be evaluated by the students
Teaching Methods
The module is primarily geared to a lecture/discussion format intimately linked to the various biblical and theological texts assigned. The students, through discussion and sharing of personal research, will deepen their apprehension of the core elements of these teachings which they will carry with themselves in their future ministry, whether as lay or ordained ministers.
Knowledge and Understanding
At the end of this module students will have acquired:
- an expertise to critically ascertain situations and texts concerning both the Sacrament of Matrimony and of Orders,
- a deeper knowledge of the interpretation and application of the traditions of the Catholic Church in this regard.
Subject Specific Skills
At the end of the module students will be able
- to explain the theological perspective of the Roman Catholic Church with regards to Matrimony and Orders,
- to clearly distinguish the ministerial roles and responsibilities in the diaconal, presbyteral, and episcopal spheres.
Transferable Skills
On the human/ministerial level students will have acquired -
a sufficient understanding of the theological aspects of the Sacraments of Vocation which for those who so desire will facilitate their progression to the ministerial/pastoral courses offered in a Masters of Ministry.
On the theological level students will be able -
- to analytically assess information from various sources (e.g., sacred scripture, historical texts in translation, official Church documents, etc.),
- to critically enhance their own private research in this field.
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