The Center for Liturgy’s director, Fr. Foley,
is Distinguished Liturgical Scholar in the Department of Theological
Studies at Saint Louis University. Among his courses he has taught
'Liturgy and Sacraments' and 'Beauty as a Road to God.' The latter
is an inter-departmental doctoral course, team-taught with Professor
Eleonore Stump of the Philosophy Department.
Fr. Diederich, having spent a lifetime teaching liturgy to theology
students, now teaches German, Latin and Greek to Saint Louis
University students. He is now completing long research into
the origins and the differing versions throughout history of
the famous medieval prayer, Anima Christi, or “Soul of
Christ.” This rhythmic prayer has been a part of the prayer
tradition of many saints, including that of St. Ignatius Loyola,
founder of the Jesuits.
Fr. Foley has written the book Creativity and the Roots of Liturgy
as well as scores of articles and book chapters, including:
• Review of the book Creative
Spirituality by Robert Wuthnow. Theological Studies, December
2002 edition
• "All at Once the Music Changed"—chapter in the book Toward
Ritual Transformation, The Liturgical Press, 2003.
• "Why Are They Writing All This Music?"—chapter in the
book, Postmodern Worship and the Arts (ed. D. Adams and M. Moynahan), Resource
Publications, 2002
• 30 entries in Worship Music: A Concise Dictionary, ed. Edward Foley Capuchin,
The Liturgical Press, 2000.
• "Media And The Spirit of God: Redefining The Human Person" The
Way, 1998
• "The Challenge of Composing for the Church," (The Pastoral
Musician, 1997)
1996-97 Articles in Today's Liturgy (Oregon Catholic Press)
• "Liturgy as a Work of Art"
• "Liturgy as Narrative: the Church Enacts Who It Is"
• "Liturgy As Ritual: Why All the Repetition?"
• "Desire for God, the Engine for Personal and Communal Prayer"
Fr. Foley, Sr. Carol Marie, and other members of
the staff have taught seminars or symposia in Big Sur, Boise,
Camden AL, Cape Fear, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Columbia MO, Ft. Walton Beach FL, Grand Island NY, Grand Rapids, Hamilton Ontario,
Honolulu, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha,
Phoenix, Rolla MO, Le Roy NY, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego, Seattle, Shreveport,
Spokane, St. Paul MN, Toledo, Warrenton VA, Wilmington NC, Winnipeg, Washington
DC and Wichita KS, to give a sampling.
Paul Hasser and Scott Pluff teach a one-year course to the VOICES student interns.
They cover such topics as the content of the Eucharistic Liturgy the shape
of prayer services, liturgy of the word, decor within sacred space, etc. Please
see the Internship Program section of this web site for more.
The Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University sees teaching and academic
research as integral to its mission. Without a theoretical and historical understanding
of ritual, mythos, theology, the gospel, dogma and arts such as music, the
other
activities of the Center would lose their grounding and purpose.
It is obvious that in a Catholic university the liturgy must be, in fact
and in theory, the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed
and
the fountain from which all her power flows.
