A new Institute for Liturgical Formation, organized by members and friends of Christendom College’s Graduate School of Theology, will launch this summer. The purpose is to educate and train those responsible for liturgical preparation and execution to more effectively serve the church’s mission to worship God.
The closing words of Cardinal Luis Tagle at the Eucharistic Congress last July emphasized a tremendous need in the church today.
He asked in part: Do Massgoers manifest the presence of Christ through their witness of life, charity and mission? Do our parish communities provide an experience of Jesus’ closeness and caring? Are our families still the primary teachers and transmitters of the faith?
Christopher Carstens, director of the Office of Sacred Worship in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis., editor of Adoremus Bulletin, and co-founder of the institute, was especially struck by Cardinal Tagle’s pointed questions about the liturgy, particularly the Mass.
“Christendom’s new program responds to these valid questions,” Carstens said. “But even beyond the Eucharistic Revival, the liturgy continues to be at the heart of the church’s life — and among the most loved, debated and misunderstood aspects of the faith. Our goal for the institute is to assist priests and liturgical leaders in celebrating the liturgy beautifully and reverently after the mind of the church and to help lead all the baptized deeper into the mystery of Christ present in the Mass, sacraments, and other liturgies.”
When asked what inspired the launch of the institute, R.J. Matava, dean of the graduate school, highlighted the school’s desire to build up and strengthen the life of the church.
“We see the church’s primary mission as to evangelize and catechize people and to worship God,” Matava said. “Our graduate school was founded to support the first of these, and the second is integrally related to it. While it falls primarily to bishops and priests to improve the liturgical life of the church from a ministerial standpoint, a lot of this effort depends on proper liturgical catechesis — not only for the ordained but for the laity as well. Our institution’s motto is ‘Instaurare Omnia in Christo.’ The renewal of the liturgy is at the heart of Christ’s cosmic work of renewing the created order, and so it is central to our institutional mission.”
Beginning this year, the graduate school will offer four summer courses focusing on the liturgy. Participation in the institute also will provide students with opportunities for liturgical preparation and participation, fostering a rich communal life on campus for attendants. Spirituality will be emphasized throughout the entire curriculum.
The institute will take a lived, experiential approach to liturgical training. Students will fulfill their concentration requirements in person during the summer, worship in common, witness sound and beautiful liturgy, and be involved in liturgical preparation during their residence at the institute. Beauty in all of its expressions — especially visual and musical — will permeate the culture of the institute.
Wells is Christendom College’s digital media manager.
