Liturgical Theology
2004 New York, New York
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
Convener 2004
Judith M. Kubicki (assistant professor of liturgical and sacramental theology, Department of Theology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY)
Seminar Participants 2004
Seminar members: (in attendance) Andrea Bieler, Therese DeLisio, David Fagerberg, William Kervin, Judith M. Kubicki, Gordon Lathrop, John Laurance, John McKenna, Martha Moore-Keish, Mary Pope, Ann Riggs, Don Saliers, Philip Sandstrom, Rhoda Schuler, Eileen Scully, Teresa Lockhart Stricklen, Jeffrey VanderWilt, Dwight Vogel, Louis Weil
Visitors: Jim Farwell, Christopher Grundy, Hiroko Hiraoka, David S. Jaconsen, Larry Sibley, Tom Trinidad, Yuki Yamamoto
Seminar Report 2004
The seminar devoted itself to the discussion of five papers, several of which addressed the annual meeting’s topic of the relationship of violence and ritual. Papers, which were distributed by e-mail prior to the meeting, were presented by both senior and junior members.
Presentations/discussion
David Fagerberg
The seminar opened with a discussion of David Fagerberg’s paper, “Deepening the Grammar of Liturgy.” The paper, which is actually chapter one of his recently published book, Theologia Prima: What Is Liturgical Theology?, explores the relationship between liturgy and theology by considering the former something more than human ritual and the latter something more than what is studied by academics. It examines the impact that the synthetic whole (liturgical theology) must have on our understanding of the parts (liturgy and theology). Fagerberg retrieves the category of “askesis” to liturgical theology as a way to assess or interpret that impact. Discussion centered around the idea that liturgy, in its thin sense, is an expression of how we see God; liturgy, in its thick sense, is an expression of how God sees us. The overriding question, then, is where is thick liturgy found.
Jeffrey VanderWilt
Jeffrey VanderWilt led a discussion of his paper, “The Sacrifice of the Mass Revisited: Mimetic Violence and the Eucharist.” The paper, a work in progress, brings four themes to bear on the problem of Eucharistic sacrifice: an application of René Girard’s theory of religious violence, an appreciation of the ecumenical difficulties posed by theologies of Eucharist as sacrifice, and a prognosis for any future theology of Eucharist as sacrifice. VanderWilt’s intention is to affirm historical formulations of the Eucharist as sacramental participation in the death of Christ and to find in the Eucharist the power to put an end to potential forms of religious violence. Conversations focused on the extent to which Girardian construction of religious violence might facilitate this study and on additional resources offered to enhance the final project.
Dwight Vogel
Dwight Vogel provided background and rationale for his outline of a proposed work entitled, “Mystery and Meaning: A Sacramental Theology.” Vogel identified key recent work influencing his perspective and invited suggested further bibliography from participants. His project is divided into three main parts: The Sacramental in Human Experience, the Sacrament in Christian Community, and Sacramentality and the Life-Significance of the Sacraments. In all, nineteen topics are anticipated. A lively discussion of Vogel’s outline and bibliography followed, with several members offering further resources for Vogel to consider.
Rhoda Schuler
The second day of seminar work began with a discussion of Rhoda Schuler’s paper, “Pilgrimage to Shanksville, Pennsylvania: Where Heaven and Earth Meet in American Civil Religion.” Based on interviews with local volunteers who staff the Flight 93 Temporary Memorial Site near Shanksville, PA (where Flight 93 crashed on 9/11/01) and analysis of written notes left by visitors, Schuler’s paper argues that the site functions as a place of pilgrimage within American civil religion as defined by Robert Bellah. The paper argues that the memorial site provides a sacred place of pilgrimage and considers heroic those who died in the crash as a way for U.S. citizens to find meaning in the events of 9/11. Evidence from interviews and visitors’ notes indicates that the site is considered a sacred space because of the unrecovered remains of the “heroes” who died there. Notes left by visitors addressed directly to the crash victims suggest a religious dimension to the veneration of these “heroes.” Discussion of the paper revolved around problems that arise from confusing civil religion with Christianity.
Andrea Bieler
Andrea Bieler presented her latest book: Die Sehnsucht nach dem verlorenen Himmel. Juedische und christliche Reflexionen zu Gottesdienstreform und Predigtkultur im 19. Jahrhundert (Praktische Theologie heute, Bd.65) Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 2003 (Longing for the Lost Heaven: Jewish and Christian Reflections on Worship Reform and the Culture of Preaching in the 19th Century). Her book focuses on the question of how Jewish and Christian liturgists, preachers, and scholars faced the challenges of religion and modernity that erupted in the context of 19th century Germany. The discussion that followed concentrated on the issues of historical reconstruction of embodiment and “body politics” in worship as they can be studied, e.g., in synagogue orders. The group also discussed conclusions that might be drawn from historical work for current debates about liturgy in multi-religious contexts.
Plans for next year include an in depth consideration of the book, Worship as Meaning by Graham Hughes. Members of the seminar are invited to offer response papers to the book as part of the work of the 2005 meeting. Time will also be allotted to reports on works in progress.