Annotated Bibliography in Theological Liturgical Studies

1. General Liturgical Theology

Irwin, Kevin.  Liturgical Theology: A Primer.  Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1990.

This work presents an overview of how liturgy and theology have been related from the patristic to the modern era.  It summarizes and critiques the major contributions to this topic by Americans or those whose work has influenced the American discussion during the past three decades.

Irwin, Kevin.  Context is Text: Liturgical Theology.  Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press,

Kavanagh, Aidan.  On Liturgical Theology.  Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1984.

This work combines two related discourses, one on the nature and extent of Christian liturgy, another on the nature and extent of liturgical theology strictly so-called.  The thesis of the book suggests that the liturgical act of Christians is the primary and irreducible theological act of Christians; that the two acts are really one and the same act.  It argues that the liturgical scholar tries to account for all this and attempts to help secondary theologians read the process adequately.

Power, David.  “Unripe Grapes: The Critical Function of Liturgical Theology,” Worship 52/ (September 1978): 386-399.

An important essay that examines a new role for liturgical theology today, which has predominately a critical function rather than an explanatory one.  The author indicates four presuppositions about liturgy that necessitate this critical function, he then offers a brief definition of critical liturgiology, and finally he offers five tasks of the same that must be brought to the analysis of any liturgical celebration.

Vogel, Dwight.  Primary Sources of Liturgical Theology: A Reader.  Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2000.

A selection of representative writings from important thinkers in the Euro-North American context who have shaped our understanding of liturgy.  The articles are arranged around nine seminal questions that students of liturgical theology need to engage for an adequate introduction to the field.

2. Particular Liturgical Theologies

2.1. Christian Initiation

2.1.1. Baptism

 

2.1.2. Confirmation

2.1.3.  First Eucharist / Communion of Infants

 

2.2. Eucharist

 

2.3. Penance/Reconciliation

 

2.4. Anointing of the Sick

 

2.5. Matrimony

 

2.6. Holy Orders

 

2.7. Funerals

 

2.8. Liturgical Day: Liturgy of the Hours

 

2.9. Liturgical Week: Sunday

 

2.10. Liturgical Year

 

2.11. Liturgical Music

Deiss, Lucien.  Visions of Liturgy and Music for a New Century.  Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1996.

Ministerial function of music.  Participants in liturgical song.  Detailed analysis of the songs of the Mass according to the post-Vatican II Ordo Missae.  [N.B. Slight updating of Spirit and Song of the New Liturgy]

 

2.12. Liturgical Art

Reinhold, Hans A.  Liturgy and Art.  New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1966.

Definition of liturgy and liturgical prayer.  Symbolism and Mystery.  Liturgical vs. devotional art.  Three liturgical subjects: etimasia, Parousia, Pantokrator.  Kitsch.  Distinguishing liturgical from other art, especially in the context of the Roman liturgy.  [N.B. Quirky]

 

2.13. Liturgical Architecture