Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MRT5050

 
TITLE The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Theological, Ethical and Canonical Aspects

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Moral Theology

 
DESCRIPTION In this study-unit we will consider reconciliation in its horizontal and vertical aspects, that is, in its theological and anthropological dimensions. Mediating between the two is the Christian’s experience of being “church”—the community that remembers the Christ Event and gathers to proclaim the Good News, even if we continue to live in a world marred by sin. The community of Christians will be described in its mission of being a symbol of reconciliation and therefore as a “reconciling community”. This ministry of reconciliation is exercised both ad intra—especially in the sacrament of reconciliation—and ad extra, in the personal, social and political dimensions of human living (ethics).

Study-Unit Aims:

- To discuss the perennial tension in theological discourse between the mercy of God and the justice of God;
- To present the theology of sin: original sin, venial sin, mortal sin, but also the structural "sinfulness" that permeates our social structures;
- A discussion of the development of the sacrament of reconciliation in the church;
- The pastoral and ethical implications of being a reconciling community and the symbol of reconciliation/salvation in the world.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- distinguish among different theological strands in the tradition that lead to our understanding of sin but also of Christ's reconciling mission in the world;
- relate how these different understandings shape the development of the sacrament of recociliation in the church;
- appreciate the current pastoral challenges for the sacrament of reconciliation, in particular in view of the current papacy's emphasis on the mercy of God.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- critically read selected texts;
- critically evaluate theological arguments for their coherence and persuasiveness;
- analyse how "ideas" shape praxis, not simply on an individual level, but on a collective or social level (e.g. in the church or in politics).

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Coffey, David M. The Sacrament of Reconciliation, Liturgical Press, 2001.
- Dallen, James. The Reconciling Community: The Rite of Penance, New York 1986.
- Luijten, Eric. Sacramental Forgiveness as a Gift of God: Thomas Aquinas on the Sacrament of Penance. Peeters Publishers, 2003.
- Maloney, George A. Your Sins are Forgiven You: Rediscovering the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Orsy, Ladislas. The Evolving Church and the Sacrament of Penance. Dimension Books, 1978.
- Osborne, Kenan B. Reconciliation and Justification: The Sacrament and Its Theology. Wipf & Stock Publication, 2001.
- Ellacuria, Ignacio. Freedom Made Flesh: the Mission of Christ and His Church. Orbis Books, 1976.
- Schoonenberg, Piet. Man and Sin: A Theological View. London 1966.
- Kasper, Walter. Mercy: the Essence of the Gospel and the Key to the Christian Life. Paulist Press, 2013.
- Mahoney, John. The Making of Moral Theology: A Study of the Roman Catholic Tradition. Oxford: Clarendon, 1987.

Additional academic articles and Magisterial documents will be uploaded on VLE.

Supplementary Readings:

- Farren, Paul. Freedom and Forgiveness: A Fresh Look at the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Gula, Richard M. To Walk Together Again: The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Paulist Press, 1984.
- Haring, Bernard. Shalom: Peace - The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Rev Ed. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1968.
- Hellwig, Monika K. Sign of Reconciliation and Conversion: The Sacrament of Penance for Our Times. Liturgical Press, 1984.
- Alison, James. The Joy of Being Wrong: Original Sin through Easter Eyes. Crossroad / Herder& Herder, 1998.
- Bastianel, Sergio. Strutture di peccato. Una sfida teologica e pastorale, Casale Monferrato (AL) 1989.
- Boda, Mark J. and Gordon T. Smith. Eds. Repentance In Christian Theology. Michael Glazier, 2006.
- Schreiter, Robert J. The Ministry of Reconciliation, Spirituality and Strategies. New York 2005.
- Voiss, James K. Rethinking Christian Forgiveness: Theological, Philosophical, and Psychological Explorations. Liturgical Press, 2015.
- Cantalamessa, Raniero. Il Volto Della Misericordia: Piccolo Trattato sulla divina e sulla umana misericordia. Edizioni San Paolo, 2015.
- Kasper, Walter. Pope Francis’ Revolution of Tenderness and Love: Theological and Pastoral Perspectives. Paulist Press, 2015.
- Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. Pastoral Resources for Living the Jubilee: Jubilee of Mercy 2015-2016. Eight Books. Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 2015.
- Virgini, Giuliano. Ed. Pope Francis. The Church of Mercy. Darton, Longman, Todd. 2014.
- Abuelaish, Izzeldin. I shall not hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey. Vintage Publishers, 2011.
- Appleby, Scott and Robert J. Schreiter. Peacebuilding: Catholic Theology, Ethics, and Praxis. Orbis, 2010.
- Baum, Gregory and Harold Wells. Eds. The Reconciliation of Peoples, New York 1997.
- De Gruchy, John W. Reconciliation: Restoring Justice. Augsburg Books, 2002.
- Lederach, John Paul. The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace. Oxford University Press, 2005.
- Redekop, Vern. From Violence to Blessing: How an Understanding of Deep-Rooted Conflict Opens Paths to Reconciliation. Ottawa: Novalis, 2002.
- Redekop, Vern and Thomas Ryba. Eds. Rene Girard and Creative Reconciliation. Lexington Books, 2014.
- Accatoli, Luigi. When a Pope asks Forgiveness: the Mea Culpa’s of John Paul II, New York: Alba House 1998.
- Alison, James. Raising Abel: The Recovery of the Eschatological Imagination. Crossroad, 2003.
- Appleby, R. Scott. The Ambivalence of the Sacred: Religion, Violence and Reconciliation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2000.
- Curran, Charles. The Development of Moral Theology: Five Strands. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2013.
- Keenan, James F. Moral Wisdom: Lessons and Texts from the Catholic Tradition. 2nd Ed. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010.
- Lawrence, Fred. Ed. Communicating a Dangerous Memory: Soundings in Political Theology. Scholars Press, 1987.
- Williams, James G. Ed. Rene Girard, The Girard Reader. Crossroad, 2004.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Seminar

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation (1 Hour) Yes 10%
Assignment Yes 30%
Assignment Yes 30%
Assignment Yes 30%

 
LECTURER/S Rev Richard-Nazzareno Farrugia
Kevin Schembri

 

 
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It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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