The Shape of Baptism: The Rite of Christian Initiation

by Aidan Kavanagh

Overview

After revealing the genesis of the Roman tradition of initiation, Kavanagh moves on to the tensions between traditional practice and the need for change. He stresses the Church's ongoing need to focus its efforts on its main concern - the initiation of new members.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814660362
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	01/01/1978
Series:	Studies in the Reformed Rites of the Church , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	5.47(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

Aidan Kavanagh, OSB, (1926-2006) founded the doctoral program in liturgical studies at Notre Dame and served as professor of liturgics at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Yale Divinity School. His texts on liturgy, rites of initiation, and liturgical theology made him a significant figure in American Catholic liturgiology. He is the author of Elements of Rite, On Liturgical Theology, and The Shape of Baptism published by Liturgical Press.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction  ix

The Tradition
Chapter One
  The Foundations   3
  Ablutions and Baptisms in Judaism   6
  The New Testament   11
  Baptism in New Testament Churches   23
Chapter Two
  The Ritualization of Christian Initiation   35
  Aboriginal Patterns: East Syria and the Graeco-Latin West   40
  Roman Adaptation of the Initiatory Pattern of Hippolytus   54

The Reforms
Chapter Three
  The Reforms of the Second Vatican Council: The Context   81
  Baptismal Debates: 1937-1964  86
Chapter Four
  The Reforms of the Second Vatican Council: The Norm of Baptism   102
  The Reforms of the Council   103
  The Norm of the Eucharist   106
  The Norm of Baptism   109
  The Pastoral Roots of the Norm of Baptism   115
Chapter Five
  The Reforms of the Second Vatican Council: The Rites of Adult Initiation   126
  The Structure of the Rites of Adult Initiation   128
  Evangelization and Precatechumenate   129
  The Catechumenate   129
  Period of Purification and Enlightenment   133
  The Sacraments of Initiation   134
  Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogia   142
  Observations   144

The Future
Chapter Six
  Speculations, Observations, and Conclusions   153
  The Pastoral Sensitivity of Baptism   154
  The Meaning and Knowledge of Baptism   158
  Pastoral Observations   163
  Pastoral Cautions   180
  Theological Observations   194
  Summary   199

Bibliography   205
Index   216