Heffernan, Thomas J., and E. Ann Matter (eds). The Liturgy of the Medieval Church. Kalamazoo, MI: Western Michigan University, 2001. ISBN 1-58044-008-8 (paperbound).
Published for The Consortium for the Teaching of the Middle Ages, Inc., by Medieval Institute Publications. Quirky collection of articles, some surveying a particular field for beginners in the study of medieval liturgy, some detailed studies of particular topics. Six Parts + introductory essay by the editors (mostly summarizing the individual articles). In addition to a General Index, three specialized indices (medieval manuscripts, biblical citations, and modern scholars) and a helpful Glossary. The articles are:
Part One: The Shape of the Liturgical Year
Stephan Borgehammar's "A Monastic Conception of the Liturgical Year" (13-44) provides too short a history of the LY's development to be useful and a standard introduction to medieval interpretation of texts applied to the liturgy as prolegomena to his real interest: summarizing the PL 174 sermons from the Benedictine monastery of Admont for their understanding of the Liturgical Year.
Jonathan Black's "The Divine Office and Private Devotion in the West" (45-71) summarizes the standard accounts of the history of the Liturgy of the Hours in Bradshaw and Taft with a few reflections on the impact of the Office on various classes of the populace.
Thomas J. Heffernan's "The Liturgy and the Literature of Saints' Lives" (73-105)
Part Two: Particular Liturgies
Demetrios J. Constantelos' "Liturgy and Liturgical Daily Life in the Medieval Greek World -- The Byzantine Empire" (109 -
Sven Helander's "The Liturgical Profile of the Parish Church in Medieval Sweden" (145- )
Lawrence E. Frizzell and J. Frank Henderson's "Jews and Judaism in the Medieval Latin Liturgy" (187 -
Martin R. Dudley's "Sacramental Liturgies in the Middle Ages" (215 -
Sherry L. Reames' "The Office for Saint Cecilia" (245 - )
Part Three: The Physical Setting of the Liturgy
Elizabeth C. Parker's "Architecture as Liturgical Setting" (273 -
Nancy Spatz' "Church Porches and the Liturgy in Twelfth-Century Rome" (327 -
Elizabeth Parker McLachlan's "Liturgical Vessels and Implements" (369 -
Part Four: The Liturgy and Books
Jeanne E. Krochalis and E. Ann Matter's "Manuscripts of the Liturgy" (433 -
Roger S. Wieck's "The Book of Hours" (473 -
Part Five: Liturgy and the Arts
Ambrose-Aristotle Zographos' "Iconography in the Liturgical Life of the Medieval Greek Church" (517 -
Evelyn Birge Vitz' "The Liturgy and Vernacular Literature" (551 -
Thomas P. Campbell's "Liturgical Drama and Community Discourse" (619 -
Gabriela Ilnictchi's "The Music of the Liturgy" (645 - )
James W. McKinnon's "Gregorius Presul Composuit Hunc Libellum Musicae Artis" (673 -
Part Six: Expanding the Definitions of Medieval Liturgy
C. CLifford Flanigan, Kathleen Ashely, and Pamela Sheingorn's "Liturgy as Social Performance: Expanding the Definitions" (695 -
Klauser,
Theodor. A Short History of the
Western Liturgy: An Account and Some Reflections.
2nd ed. John
Halliburton, trans. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1979.
Klauser focuses on the evolution in the Latin rite.
Its historical value is somewhat impaired by Klauser’s special pleading
on topics of interest at the time of the Second Vatican Council.
Martimort,
A.G. gen. ed. The
Church at Prayer – One-Volume Edition.
Matthew J. O’Connell, trans. Collegeville,
MN: The Liturgical Press, 1992.
A compact encyclopedia summarizing historical sources, their development, past
and present practices, general liturgical principles and theologies of the
Eucharist, the other sacraments and the liturgical year.
Metzger,
Marcel. History of the Liturgy: The
Major Stages. Collegeville, MN:
The Liturgical Press, 1997.
Metzger demonstrates the way in which the “essentials” of liturgy were held commonly between Eastern and Western churches in the first millennium, then goes on to explain the historical divergence of the Western churches in the second millennium that precipitated the urgent calls for reform and renewal in the Second Vatican Council
Wegman, Herman. Christian Worship in East and West: A Study Guide to Liturgical History. New York: Pueblo, 1985.
Provides historical outline, cultural data, and orders of service and texts for liturgical worship in six eras: pre-312 CE, 312-600 CE, 600 – 1085 CE (in the West), 1985 – 1563 CE (in the Roman Catholic West), 600 – the present (for the Byzantine liturgy), and 1500 – the present (Reformation and Counter-Reformation in the West).
White, James F. A Brief History of Christian Worship. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1993.
Concisely sketches the social context, initiation, sacramental and occasional offices of daily, weekly, and yearly prayer, and sacramental and pastoral settings for on-going worship (leadership, preaching, music, architecture) for six eras: New Testament, early Christian centuries, Middle Ages, Reformation, Modern Times, and the Future. Written from a Methodist perspective, though consciously ecumenical.
2.1. Christian Initiation
Johnson, Maxwell E. The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1999.
Written from textual, historical, theological, and ecumenical perspective for (advanced) undergraduates and above. Excellent surveys of present scholarship on New Testament origins of the rites, pre-Nicene period, 4th-5th centuries in East and West, medieval West, Protestant and Catholic Reformations, and contemporary practices/theologizing in the (Western) churches. Contains two somewhat extraneous chapters on baptismal preparation and the origins of Lent (furthering Talley’s theories) and implications of baptismal spirituality for contemporary Christian living. See my review in Pro Ecclesia.
2.1.1. Baptism
Kavanagh,
Aidan. The Shape of Baptism: The
Rite of Christian Initiation. Collegeville,
MN: The Liturgical Press,
This
book is theological and pastoral commentary on the history and reform of the
rites of initiation. It analyzes
the Roman initiatory tradition to interpret the Second Vatican Council’s Rite
of Christian Initiation of Adults in an effort to show why and how this rite
serves as primary and normative for all other aspects of initiatory polity in
the Roman Rite.
Searle, Mark. Christening: The Making of Christians. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1980.
Short history of Christian Initiation. Detailed exposition and commentary on the Roman Catholic Rite of Baptism of Infants (1969) and Rite of Confirmation (1972). Short reflection on Eucharist as repeatable sacrament of initiation.
2.1.2. Confirmation
Austin, Gerard. The Rite of Confirmation: Anointing with the Spirit. New York, NY: Pueblo, 1985.
Short history of Confirmation. 20th century reforms in Roman Rite Roman Catholic, Episcopal, WCC, Lutheran, United Methodist, and Presbyterian traditions. Commentary on history of and 20th century Roman Catholic reforms of the rite of blessing of oils and the rite of consecrating chrism. Future issues.
2.1.3. First Eucharist / Communion of Infants
2.2. Eucharist
Emminghaus, Johannes H. The Eucharist: Essence, Form, Celebration. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1978.
Basic structure and historical changes in the celebration of the Mass. Detailed commentary on the Order of Mass with a Congregation in the Roman Missal stemming from the Second Vatican Council (but prior to the Missale Romanum 2002).
Mitchell, Nathan. Cult and Controversy: The Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass. New York, NY: Pueblo, 1982.
History of the cult of the eucharist outside Mass. Detailed commentary on post-Vatican II reforms: Holy Communion outside Mass, Special Ministers of Communion, Eucharistic Worship outside Mass, Eucharistic devotions.
2.3. Penance/Reconciliation
Dallen, James. The Reconciling Community: The Rite of Penance. New York, NY: Pueblo, 1986.
History of sacramental penance: origins, controversy and institution, canonical penance, pastoral adaptation in the Middle Ages, origins of modern confession, modern penance and the Counter-Reformation. Detailed commentary on the post-Vatican II revised rites: process of reform, theological foundations, liturgies of conversion and reconciliation, shaping the future.
Hellwig, Monica K. Sign of Reconciliation and Conversion: The Sacrament of Penance for Our Times. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, 1982.
Contemporary questions about the sacrament. Perspectives on sin, repentance and conversion. History of sacramental penance: rites of penance and reconciliation in the patristic church, growth of private and voluntary confession and reconciliation, merger of the traditions and consequent problems. Theology of the sacrament: efficacy, grace, satisfaction, indulgences, role of confessor, connection to social justice. Retrospect and prospect.
2.4. Anointing of the Sick
Empereur, James. Prophetic Anointing: God’s Call to the Sick, the Elderly, and the Dying. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, 1982.
Short history of the sacrament of anointing. Theology of the sacrament of anointing. Detailed exegesis of James 5:13-16. Perspectives on anointing as a sacrament of vocation. Detailed commentary on post-Vatican II rites for pastoral care of the sick and the dying.
Gusmer, Charles W. And You Visited Me: Sacramental Ministry to the Sick and the Dying. New York: Pueblo, 1984.
Short outline of tradition of anointing with oil. Detailed commentary on post-Vatican II reformed rites for the sick and the dying. Theological dimensions of sickness and healing. Questions for pastoral practice.
2.5. Matrimony
Mackin, Theodore. What is Marriage? New York, NY—Ramsey, NJ: Paulist, 1982.
Primitive Christian understanding of marriage. Christian marriage in the Roman Empire. The defense of marriage in the patristic era. Augustine on the nature of marriage. Marriage in Europe and medieval canonists. Medieval theologians and the nature of marriage. Definition of Marriage in the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Modern Catholic challenges to the canonical definition. Vatican II and the nature of marriage. Defining marriage since Vatican II and Humanae vitae. Critical reflections. N.B. The book came out BEFORE the 1983 Code modified some of its teaching on marriage.
Searle, Mark, and Kenneth W. Stevenson. Documents of the Marriage Liturgy. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1992.
Introductory Essay by Stevenson: “An Overview of History”. 26 texts in English translation from Book of Tobit and Jewish marriage rite to “An Ecumenical Marriage Rite” (1985). Concluding Essay by Searle: “Notes for a Theology of Marriage”.
Stevenson, Kenneth. Nuptial Blessing: A Study of Christian Marriage Rites. London: Alcuin Club/SPCK, 1982.
Background: Jewish and Christian evidence through the 6th century CE. Development in Medieval West and East. Reformulations by 16th century CE Protestant Reformers. Adaptation and rethinking in Roman and Anglican traditions as well as Reformed traditions.
2.6. Holy Orders
Bradshaw, Paul. Ordination Rites of the Ancient Churches of East and West. New York, NY: Pueblo, 1990.
Introduction: sources for and structures of the rites of ordination of bishops, presbyters, deacons, deaconesses, and minor orders. Translation of and commentary on Patristic texts (Apostolic Tradition, Canons of Hippolytus, Apostolic Constitutions, Testamentum Domini, Sacramentary of Sarapion), Eastern Texts (Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, East Syrian, Georgian, Jacobite, Maronite, Melkite), and Western Texts (Roman, Gallican, Mozarabic, English, composite rite).
Osborne, Kenan B. Priesthood: A History of the Ordained Ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. New York, NY—Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1988.
Ecclesiological presuppositions. Ministry of Jesus. Ministry: 27–110 CE. Ministry: 90—210 CE. Ministry in the High Patristic Church: 210—600 CE. Ministry in the Early Medieval Church: 600--1000 CE. Ministry in the Scholastic Period: 1000—1400 CE. Ministry in the Theology of the [Protestant] Reformers. Sacrament of Order and the Council of Trent. Sacrament of Order in Counter-Reformation Theology. Ministry in the documents of Vatican II. Christian Ministry in Ecumenical Perspective.
Puglisi, James F. The Process of Admission to Ordained Ministry: A Comparative Study. Volume I: Epistemological Principles and Roman Catholic Rites. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1996.
Meaning of episcopal and presbyteral ministry according to the Apostolic Tradition, the Verona collection of libelli missarum, Gallican usages, and later developments of the Roman Rite. Theological reflection on the images, persons, functions, priestly ministry, eschatology, pneumatology, governance, and structuring of the church and ordination in the light of these documents.
2.7. Funerals
2.8. Liturgical Day: Liturgy of the Hours
Campbell, Stanislaus. From Breviary to Liturgy of the Hours: The Structural Reform of the Roman Office 1964-1971. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1995.
Structure of the Roman Office from the 6th to the 20th centuries. 20th century developments to Vatican II. The work of the Consilium and Coetus IX 1963-1971. The post-Vatican II reform of the Office: structure of the hours as a whole, structure of individual hours. Evaluation of the reform: significant break with the past, but too monastic in structure for the needs of parish clergy, non-monastic religious communities, laity.
Guiver, George. Company of Voices: Daily Prayer and the People of God. New York: Pueblo, 1988.
Prayer and Human Nature [N.B. Best defense of liturgical prayer for First World contemporaries I’ve found]. History and content of daily prayer. Interpreting the facts. Sources: diagrams of the development of daily prayer – very useful.
Taft, Robert. The Liturgy of the Hours in East and West: The Origins of the Divine Office and its Meaning for Today. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1986.
Formation of the tradition. Divine Office in the Christian East: Armenian, Assyro-Chaldean, West Syrian, Maronite, Coptic, Ethiopic, Byzantine. Liturgy of the Hours in the Western traditions: From Office to Breviary, Roman Office, Hours in the Churches of the Reformation. Toward a Theology of the Liturgy of the Hours as the Church’s School of Prayer. [N.B. Standard work on the history of the hours]
2.9. Liturgical Week: Sunday
2.10. Liturgical Year
Nocent, Adrian. The Liturgical Year. 4 vols. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany. Lent, Holy Week. The Easter Season. Sundays in Ordinary Time. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1977.
Introductions to the seasons followed by detailed analysis of the readings for each Sunday and major feast of the Church Year according to the post-Vatican II Roman Rite Lectionary for Mass.
Talley, Thomas. The Origins of the Liturgical Year. New York: Pueblo, 1986.
History of Pascha. History of Christmas/Epiphany. History of the Process of Conversion [N.B. Prebaptismal fast of forty days in Alexandria]. Strong influence on Maxwell Johnson’s The Rites of Christian Initiation.
2.11. Liturgical Music
Joncas, Jan Michael. From Sacred Song to Ritual Music: Twentieth-Century Understandings of Roman Catholic Worship Music. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1997.
Definition, purpose, qualities, personnel, and instruments associated with Roman Catholic worship music according to nine documents: Tra le sollecitudini (1903), Musicae sacrae disciplina (1955), Instruction on Music and the Liturgy (1958), Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963), Musicam sacram (1967), Music in Catholic Worship (1972), Liturgical Music Today (1982), the Milwaukee document (1992), the Snowbird Statement (1995).
Westermeyer, Paul. Te Deum: The Church and Music. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1998.
History of Church Music: Old Testament roots, New Testament, first centuries, before and after Charlemagne, 16th century Reformation currents, post-16th century Reformation developments, before and after the French and American revolutions, contemporary issues. [N.B. Written from a USA Lutheran perspective]
2.12. Liturgical Art
2.13. Liturgical Architecture
White, Susan J. Art, Architecture, and Liturgical Reform: The Liturgical Arts Society (1928—1972). New York, NY: Pueblo, 1990.
History of the Liturgical Arts Society. Theology [more accurately, principles of] the Liturgical Arts Society.