010072 SE Liturgical Rites Surrounding Illness and Death (2022W)

The (Catholic) Church demonstrates its care for the sick by visiting them, lifting them up through the sacrament of anointing and strengthening them through the sacrament of the Eucharist. It does this during the entire period of illness, but especially when the sick are in mortal danger. It stands by them in prayer and entrusts them to God, especially at the hour of death. In death, all life on this earth, including human life, comes to a certain end. The human way of dealing with this certainty, i.e. with dying and death, has always been characterized by rituals in all religions. The ultimate reason for the faith and hope of Christians in the face of death is the death and resurrection of Jesus. For centuries, the Christian liturgy was the most common form of coping with the turning point of dying and death in our part of the world. Today, other rituals are increasingly being added and new ones are emerging. The demand for independent ritual providers is no longer limited to urban centers.

This requires (Catholic) theologians to reflect anew on their own tradition and at the same time to consciously perceive current trends and challenges, their opportunities and dangers.
The celebration of the sacraments of the sick and the liturgy of death and burial must be examined in terms of their significance for the sick or dying and the dead, as well as for the grieving bereaved. In doing so, it is crucial to also deal with the rites and rituals of other Christian denominations and religions (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism ...) in the case of illness and death and to enter into discussions with members of other denominations and religions.
An excursion to the central cemetery with a visit to the funeral museum is planned as part of the seminar, and at least two funeral parlors will also introduce themselves. A representative of the hospital chaplaincy will also be invited.

After completing this course, students will be able to name the components and significance of the rituals of the sick, dying and burial of the church, religious community or worldview to which they themselves belong and recognize similarities and differences to other approaches. They are also able to reflect on the (primarily Christian) rites and rituals associated with illness, dying and death against the background of anthropological principles.