Liturgical Studies: Secondary Sources

Secondary sources build on primary sources by interpreting, analyzing, and assessing information from primary sources.  Secondary materials often have a persuasive, analytical aim not characteristic of primary material.  I find these bibliographies of William Harmless, SJ, of Spring Hill College to be quite useful:

SACRAMENTS & CHRISTIAN WORSHIP (new 12/99)

I.  Liturgy & Sacraments    

1. History of Christian Worship: Surveys & Introductions
2. Principles of Liturgy: Surveys & Introductions
3. Liturgical Theology: Essays
4. Sacramental Theology: Studies
5. Liturgical Music, Art & Architecture
6. The Liturgical Year
7. The Liturgical Movement: 19^th & 20^th Centuries

II. Christian Initiation    

1. Surveys & Introductions
2. Baptism in the New Testament
3. History of Baptism: Patristic Texts
4. History of Baptism: Studies
5. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
6. Confirmation
7. Infant Baptism
8. Contemporary Reflections: Theology, Spirituality, Catechesis, Ministry

III. History of the Eucharist    

1. Surveys & Introductions
2. Eucharist in the New Testament
3. The Eucharist in the East: The Early Greek & Syrian Traditions
4. The Eucharist in the West: Roman, African & Gallican Traditions
5. The Eucharist in the Middle Ages
6. The Lord’s Supper in the Reformation
7. The Jewish Roots of Christian Worship

IV. The Theology of Eucharist    

1. The Eucharistic Prayer
2. Eucharist & the Word of God
3. Eucharist as Meal Service
4. Eucharist as Memorial
5. Eucharistic Presence
6. Eucharistic Sacrifice
7. Eucharist & Baptism
8. Eucharist, Church Unity & Ecumenism
9. Eucharist & Social Justice
10. Eucharist & Eschatology

V. Pastoral Issues & The Eucharist    

1. Eucharistic Ministry
2. Priestless Sundays & Communion Services
3. Frequency of Eucharistic Celebrations
4. Liturgical Language & Other Disputed Questions
5. The World Church & the Eucharist of the Future

Examples of secondary sources

One-Volume Liturgical Histories

Klauser, Theodore.  A Short History of the Western Liturgy.

Wegmann, Herman.  Christian Worship in East and West: A Study Guide.

White, James.  A Short History of the Liturgy.

Multi-volume Liturgical Histories

The Church at Prayer.

Handbook of the Liturgy

Anamnesis.

Examples of secondary sources

• Biographies
• Books - Detailed analysis by scholars and experts with criticisms, commentaries, and interpretation of primary ideas and findings.
• Commentaries 
• Dissertations 
• Journal articles - Shorter and more specific analysis, criticisms, commentaries, and interpretations of particular aspects of primary ideas and findings.
• Literature reviews - summaries of current primary literature within a specific field.
• Newspaper articles - Articles which report on earlier findings, or offer commentary or opinions.
• Scholarly web sites - Published by scholars/experts in a subject 
• Web/Internet - Web sites that comment on earlier findings or research.   (Note:  use extreme caution when using the Internet as a source.  Remember, on the Internet, a page citing authoritative findings could have been published by anyone in the world.)