Music and Religious Belief: Understanding the Eucharist Through Hymns
Michael Driscoll
Wednesdays, April 20 & 27
This seminar will look at how hymn singing influences our understanding of the Eucharist and cues those who sing them about what to believe. Hymns, normally composed for liturgical use, have other purposes that extend their usage into religious instruction and knowledge of Christian faith. Day one of the seminar will look at the Communion service from the time of the Early Church through the reign of Constantine when Christianity moved from a persecuted sect to a tolerated and recognized religion of the Roman Empire. Recognizing song as a source and expression of belief, we will demonstrate with selected hymns, the changing attitudes about the Eucharist from the time of the apostles until about the year 800. Day two will continue the historical treatment of the Communion liturgy from the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation to the present day. These hymns will reveal the evolving Eucharistic theology of the Christian Church.
“I had heard very good things – they were right! The TAS seminar was top of the line – professional, informative, engaging, and fun!”
“Fr. Driscoll was wonderful. He was so knowledgeable and made the experience more than just a study. He has a great sense of humor, too.”
“I can think of nothing that would have improved the seminar I attended. It was fantastic!”
| Fr. Michael A. Driscoll, a priest of the Diocese of Helena in Montana, is a professor in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. His interests are in the area of liturgy and sacramental theology. He earned his doctorates at the University of Paris (Sorbonne) and the Institut Catholique. Fr. Driscoll has published a book about the sacrament of penance in the Middle Ages and numerous articles on sacramental topics. He has served many years as convener of the study group in Medieval Liturgy for the North American Academy of Liturgy, of which he was also president. He is a member of the international ecumenical association Societas Liturgica where he serves on the Executive Council and convenes the ongoing seminar in western medieval liturgies. He has served as an advisor to the United States Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, as well. Fr. Driscoll sings in three local choirs and loves music from the Middle Ages to the present. |
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