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Knowledge of the main types of the forms of daily prayer and some important phases of their historical development; increased awareness of the problems with daily common prayer in the present situation of the church

Daily common prayer, especially in the morning and in the evening, has been lost in Christian communities of the western churches (except in monasteries). The liturgy of the hours has for centuries become the “breviary” of the priest, who, canonically obliged to do it, recites it alone. The general reform of the liturgy post Vatican II has, until now, not brought much change to this situation. To restore adequate forms of daily common prayer for Roman-catholic communities, it will not suffice to give an introduction to the present form of the liturgy of the hours in the Roman-catholic church, but it is necessary to review the history of this kind of liturgy, especially in the ancient church. Only on the basis of historical knowledge valid forms for the future can be developped.

Lecture, possibility to pose questions

Oral (alternatively written) examination.  Subjects: the contents of the oral presentation in the lecture plus the study of special literature which will be announced at the beginning of the semester.

R. Taft, The Liturgy of the Hours in East and West. The Origins of the Divine Office and Its Meaning for Today. Collegeville 1986

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Compulsory registration via LFU-online.