Liturgy Institute London

For a detailed and peaceful study of Liturgy

Courses Summer 2015

A listing of our courses for the summer of 2014 is available here,
and for the
 summer of 2016 here.

Our courses summer 2015 are based on the licentiate curriculum of the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Rome, taught in English in London in summer and accredited by KU Leuven in Belgium. The following links provide the full course listings at KU Leuven for the:

Master of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies and the
Master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion.

St Bede Lecture

The annual St Bede Liturgy Lecture will be given by Bishop Philip Egan by invitation at St Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough, on Saturday 4 July 2015.

Course Offerings Summer 2015

Our summer courses are arranged in three blocks of two weeks each. These course descriptions are subject to change. Additional courses may be added.

Block 1: 13 – 24 July 2015 (not 18 or 19 July)

L701 Liturgical Research Seminar (IL certificate course)

L702 Liturgy in the West: History and Context (IL certificate course)

L714 Liturgical Spirituality (IL certificate elective)

Block 2: 27 July – 7 August 2015 (not 1 or 2 August)

L704 Liturgical Hermeneutics 1 (IL certificate course)

L712 The Eucharist in History (IL certificate elective)

L715 Pastoral Liturgy (IL certificate elective)

Courses are not held during the week of 10-14 August.

Block 3: 17 – 28 August 2015 (not 22 or 23 August)

L511 Intermediate Latin for Liturgists (IL course for Latin qualification)

L711 Proficient Latin for Liturgists (IL certificate elective)

L719 Seminar on Christian Marriage (IL certificate course)

Latin Summer Term

Block 3 – not for credit: 17 – 21 or 17 – 28 August 2015

Enrol for first week only: 17-21 August 2015
Enrol for both weeks: 17 – 28 August 2015 (not 22 or 23 August)

LA411 Latin First Experience: Beginning Latin (not for credit – no exams)

Latin Second Experience is a conversational course not currently offered.

LA511 Latin Third Experience: Intermediate Latin (not for credit – no exams)

L711 Latin Fourth Experience: Proficient Latin for Liturgists (not for credit – no exams)

LA811 Latin Fifth Experience: Reading Cicero’s Letters (not for credit – no exams)

Course Descriptions

General information. Each course runs Monday – Friday for two weeks for a total of ten sessions. Most course sessions lasts 2 hours and 36 minutes plus a break.

Block 1: 13 – 24 July 2015

(Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July are free days)

L701 Liturgical Research Seminar     (required for IL certificate)     KU Leuven 4 credits
Prof. Daniel McCarthy OSB

At the end of the course each student will be prepared conduct their own Master’s level research in liturgy with skills in three areas:
1) gathering the essential body of information,
2) interpreting a liturgical event and
3) developing a coherent presentation.
Each student will research and present the history and theology of an agreed upon collect type prayer.

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Dates: 13-17 July (Monday to Friday; Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July are free days)
20-24 July (Monday to Saturday)

Hours: 10.00-13.00 (including a break).

A fuller description of the course is available here,
and a link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven here.

L702 Liturgy in the West: History and Context     (required for IL certificate)     KU Leuven 4 credits
Prof. Ephrem Carr OSB

The course aims to provide insight into the origin and developments of the liturgy in the West up to the present day. Students reflect on the different cultural periods of society and how these shape the liturgy of the Catholic Church and how the liturgy in turn influences the culture. Students examine both the historical and liturgical record and the recent debates among Catholic liturgists concerning the past and future development of the Roman Catholic liturgy. The course will proceed by means of a chronological study of the major periods of the liturgy of the Catholic Church in the West and beyond.

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Dates: 13-17 July (Monday to Friday; Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July are free days)
20-24 July (Monday to Saturday)

Hours: 15.00-18.00 (including a break).

A fuller description of the course is available here,
and a link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven here.

L714 Liturgical Spirituality      (elective for IL certificate)     KU Leuven 4 credits
Prof. James Leachman OSB

At the end of the course each student will be prepared to:
i. describe the history of the growing separation of liturgy and interior prayer,
ii. understand and describe the conflict over liturgical spirituality and popular piety,
iii. analyse and coherently present specific examples of reconciling liturgy and spirituality,
iv. understand the celebration of the liturgy as source of motivation for daily life,
v. explain the role of the liturgy in promoting the integral human formation of the ecclesial person.

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Dates: 13-17 July (Monday to Friday; Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July are free days)
20-24 July (Monday to Saturday)

Hours: 09.30-12.30 (including a break). 

A fuller description of the course is available here
and a link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven here.

Block 2: 27 July – 7 August 2015

(Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August are free days)

L704 Liturgical Hermeneutics 1     (required for IL certificate)     KU Leuven 4 credits
Prof. Daniel McCarthy OSB

At the end of the course each student will be prepared:
i. to interpret a liturgical prayer and its rite using a selection of analytical tools and liturgical dimensions,
ii. describe the proper contribution of each analytical tool and liturgical dimension, for the interpretation of a specific text or rite,
iii. situate another person’s interpretation of a liturgical prayer or rite according to these interpretative tools and liturgical dimensions

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing

Dates: July 27-31 (Monday to Friday; Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August free)
August 3-7 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 10.00-13.00 (including a break).

A fuller description of the course is available here,
and a link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven here.


L 712 The Eucharist in History     (elective for IL certificate)     KU Leuven 4 credits
Prof. Ephrem Carr OSB

This course considers the two major parts of the Eucharist; the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist and is designed to lead the reader through the major periods of cultural and theological change in the Church particularly in the West up to the present. We wish clearly to indicate the changes in the liturgical forms throughout history and to present the theological understandings of the Eucharist in the different periods. In this way it is hoped that readers will understand both what the Church teaches and the reasons given for these teachings.

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing

Dates: July 27-31 (Monday to Friday; Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August free)
August 3-7 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 15.00-18.00 (including a break).

A fuller description of the course is available here,
and a link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven here.


L715 Pastoral Liturgy     (elective for IL certificate)     in process:KU Leuven 4 credits
Prof. Enda Murphy

At the end of the course each participant will be prepared to:
i. Describe the considerations involved in celebrating a rite in the student’s pastoral context,
ii. In light of official ecclesial instructions,
iii. And in light of the contributions of theologians such as Joseph Jungmann, Mark Searle,
iv. And in light of the pastoral experience of rites developed for other cultural contexts.
v. Rites include the celebration of the Christian Initiation, the Eucharist, Marriage, Liturgy of the Hours, Christian Funerals..

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Dates: July 27-31 (Monday to Friday; Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August free)
August 3-7 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: to be determined 09.30-12.30 (including a break).

A fuller description of the course is available here.
The course descriptor at KU Leuven is not yet available.

Block 3: 17 – 28 August 2015

(Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August are free days)

L711 Proficient Latin for Liturgists     (elective for IL certificate)     KU Leuven 4 credits
Prof. Daniel McCarthy OSB

Students will encounter Latin liturgical texts and Latin authors writing on the liturgy from many ages. They will proceed to a greater facility and ease with the Latin language and come to a more detailed and direct understanding of liturgical texts. They will develop a fuller expression of liturgical ideas accurately and beautifully in both Latin and English. Specific elements of the language considered include the four participles and infinitives; ablatives absolute, gerunds and gerundives; sentences in the ‘accusative with the infinitive’; purpose and result clauses and other usages of the subjunctive. Our review includes the sequence of tenses. We use the teaching method of Reginald Foster OCD directly from the draft copy of his book Ossa Latinitatis Sola, due out in October. This for credit course includes the Readings session in Cicero’s Letters (LA811 below)

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Dates: 17-21 August (Monday – Friday; Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 August are free days)
24-28 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 14.30-17.30 (including a break)

A fuller description of the course is available here,
and a link to the course descriptor at KU Leuven here.

L719 Seminar on Christian Marriage   (a seminar for IL certificate)   KU Leuven 4 credits.
 Prof. Ephrem Carr OSB

This seminar considers the history and development of Christian Marriage. Students will examine a selection of texts and trace their origin and development through history, examine how they have been proclaimed and interpreted up to the present. Students are helped to learn from each other by seminar presentations and to edit their own work in the light of others’ presentations. In this way students refine their research skills and prepare a seminar paper which may later be developed into a Master’s thesis.

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Dates: 17-21 August (Monday – Friday; Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 August are free days)
24-28 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 09.30-12.30 (including a break).

A fuller description of the course is available here.
The descriptor of this course ‘Research Seminar in Liturgical Studies’ at KU Leuven describes this same seminar offered in summer 2014 on the eucharistic prayers. The KU Leuven link will be updated to this new topic in mid July 2015.

Latin Summer Term

Block 3 – not for credit:
Enrol for first week only: 17-21 August 2015
or for both weeks: 17 – 28 August 2015

(Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August are free days)

LA411 Latin First Experience: Beginning Latin     (not for credit – no exams)
Enrol for the first week or for both weeks
Instructor: Harrie Lyons
Moderator Daniel McCarthy

No knowledge of the language is presumed. The First Experience of the Latin language introduces the student to authentic Latin literature with a clear presentation of how human thought is expressed in Latin. Learn to pronounce and read Latin from original texts, both ancient and modern. Learn to compose your own sentences. Instruction given in English, working patiently, using simple texts for a clear understanding of what the author originally said. No rushing to impress others, just clear concise understanding. We use the teaching method of Reginald Foster OCD directly from the draft copy of his book Ossa Latinitatis Sola, due out in October.

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Enrol for the first week only: 17-21 August
Enrol for both weeks: 17-21 August (Monday – Friday; Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 August are free days)
and 24-28 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 10.00-12.30 (including a break) for the presentation of the Latin language
and 14.00-15.00 for a review of the daily homework.

A fuller description of the cours is available here.
Enrol directly with the Benedictine Study and Arts Centre.

Latin Second Experience is a conversational course not currently offered.


L511 Latin Third Experience: Intermediate Latin     (not for credit – no exams)
(for Latin proficiency exam to enter the IL certificate programme and the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Rome)
James Leachman

Students will begin to understand the meaning and usages of the subjunctive mode mostly in reading and also in writing the Latin language. Presumed is a knowledge of the verb in all times of the indicative. This course is intended to prepare the student for the entrance requirement into the IL certificate programme of studies in Liturgy and for the entrance exam in Latin for the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Rome, and for the credited course Proficient Latin for Liturgists L711. As such, this course is not accredited. We use the teaching method of Reginald Foster OCD, retired papal Latinist of forty years, directly from the draft copy of his book Ossa Latinitatis Sola, due out in October.

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Enrol for the first week only: 17-21 August
Enrol for both weeks: 17-21 August (Monday – Friday; Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 August are free days)
and 24-28 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 10.00-12.30 (including a break) for the presentation of the Latin language by Paul-Isaac Franks
and 14.00-15.00 for an examination of Latin texts; Liturgical Latin with James Leachman, other Latin texts with Paul-Isaac Franks

A fuller description of the course is available here.
Enrol directly with the Benedictine Study and Arts Centre.

L711 Latin Fourth Experience: Proficient Latin for Liturgists
(this credit course may be taken not for credit – no exams)
Prof. Daniel McCarthy OSB

Students will encounter Latin liturgical texts and Latin authors writing on the liturgy from many ages. They will proceed to a greater facility and ease with the Latin language and come to a more detailed and direct understanding of liturgical texts. They will develop a fuller expression of liturgical ideas accurately and beautifully in both Latin and English. Specific elements of the language considered include the four participles and infinitives, sentences in the ‘accusative with the infinitive’ and purpose and result clauses. Our review includes the sequence of tenses. We use the teaching method of Reginald Foster OCD, retired papal Latinist of forty years, directly from the draft copy of his book Ossa Latinitatis Sola, due out in October.

Students may enrol in this session alone, although it is one part of the course L711 Proficient Latin for Liturgists, which includes the reading session in Cicero’s letters (LA811 below). 

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Enrol for the first week only: 17-21 August
Enrol for both weeks: 17-21 August (Monday – Friday; Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 August are free days)
and 24-28 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 14.30-17.30 (including a break)

A fuller description of the course is available here.
Enrol not-for-credit directly with the Benedictine Study and Arts Centre.
A link to the for-credit course descriptor at KU Leuven is here.


LA811 Latin Fifth Experience: Reading Cicero’s Letters     (not for credit – no exams)
Prof. Daniel McCarthy OSB

This is a reading course of the Letters Cicero wrote to family and friends. Every letter integrates many aspects of the Latin language, and quickly provides a synthesis of the whole language including: the sequence of tenses, indirect discourse and questions, expressions of purpose and result and characteristic result, conditionals, modal attraction; gerunds, gerundives, ablatives absolute. Students will gain a more synthetic understanding of the Latin language and gain greater clarity about its modes of expression and their ambiguities. We use the teaching method of Reginald Foster OCD, retired papal Latinist of forty years, directly from the draft copy of his book Ossa Latinitatis Sola, due out in October.

Students may enrol in this reading session alone, although it is one part of the course L711 Proficient Latin for Liturgists, which includes presentations of specific aspects of the Latin language. 

Location: Benedictine Study and Arts Centre, Ealing, London

Enrol for the first week only: 17-21 August
Enrol for both weeks: 17-21 August (Monday – Friday; Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 August are free days)
and 24-28 (Monday to Friday)

Hours: 16.45-17.30

A fuller description of the course is available here.
To take the course not for credit, enrol directly with the Benedictine Study and Arts Centre.
This course is also offered as part of a credit course at KU Leuven.

FAQs: Frequently asked questions about the summer session

© James Leachman, O.S.B., updated by Daniel 18 July 2015.