010012 SE Visible Signs of an Invisible Reality: Liturgical Symbols Are they still relevant today? (2026S)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Mo 02.02.2026 10:00 to We 25.02.2026 10:00
- Deregistration possible until Su 15.03.2026 10:00
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: German
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
ACHTUNG, Termin Freitag 22.5.2026, 15:00 - 17:15 ist nicht digital, sondern ein verpflichtender Auswärtstermin in der Domsakristei.
- Wednesday 11.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum i1 (islam), Schenkenstraße 8-10, EG005
- Thursday 16.04. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 2 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
- Thursday 30.04. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 2 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
- Thursday 07.05. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
- N Thursday 21.05. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 2 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
- Friday 22.05. 15:00 - 17:15 Digital
- Thursday 28.05. 16:45 - 20:00 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
Presentation
Written seminar paper
Active participation in discussionsBy registering for the course, participants agree that any assessed coursework may be subjected to electronic plagiarism checks.
Written seminar paper
Active participation in discussionsBy registering for the course, participants agree that any assessed coursework may be subjected to electronic plagiarism checks.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Regular attendance, presentations, and seminar papers are required; further information will be provided on Moodle. Minimum requirements are a successful presentation and a seminar paper that meets academic standards. Minimum attendance: 80%.
To receive a positive grade, you must complete your seminar paper according to the course instructor's specifications, give a presentation, and actively participate. Examinations: 50% seminar paper, 25% presentation, 25% active participation in discussions.
To ensure your performance is assessed appropriately and fairly, both the grading scheme for seminar papers and the study objectives defined in the preliminary discussion of the seminar will be defined in advance as reference points and made available to you. The degree to which these defined requirements are met will determine the final grade.
The seminar paper must be submitted via Moodle by a date determind in the first session. If this partial assessment is graded negatively, and thus the assessment of the entire course is negative, you will be given an opportunity to improve it. You will receive feedback with criteria you must meet for the partial performance to be assessed positively. You must meet these criteria by resubmitting the improved partial performance via Moodle by December 15, 2026. If you miss the deadlines or fail to meet the criteria, you will receive a negative grade.
To receive a positive grade, you must complete your seminar paper according to the course instructor's specifications, give a presentation, and actively participate. Examinations: 50% seminar paper, 25% presentation, 25% active participation in discussions.
To ensure your performance is assessed appropriately and fairly, both the grading scheme for seminar papers and the study objectives defined in the preliminary discussion of the seminar will be defined in advance as reference points and made available to you. The degree to which these defined requirements are met will determine the final grade.
The seminar paper must be submitted via Moodle by a date determind in the first session. If this partial assessment is graded negatively, and thus the assessment of the entire course is negative, you will be given an opportunity to improve it. You will receive feedback with criteria you must meet for the partial performance to be assessed positively. You must meet these criteria by resubmitting the improved partial performance via Moodle by December 15, 2026. If you miss the deadlines or fail to meet the criteria, you will receive a negative grade.
Examination topics
(see bullet point above)The Turnitin program is used to check submitted seminar papers for plagiarism.Note on AI usage:In the event of suspicion of non-transparent use of AI (e.g., by citing or specifying the type of usage), the course instructor reserves the right to conduct a "grade-relevant discussion" or "plausibility discussion."
Reading list
Materials and further reading will be made available throughout the course via the corresponding Moodle course.Basic literature (sample):* J. BRAUN, Die Liturgische Gewandung, Freiburg 1907 (NDr. 1964)
* DERS., Das Christliche Altargerät, München 1932
* A. KIRCHGÄSSNER, Heilige Zeichen der Kirche, Aschaffenburg 2. Aufl. 1961
* R. GUARDINI, Von heiligen Zeichen, Mainz 17. Aufl. 1961
* H. REIFENBERG, Bemühungen um Zeichen in der Liturgie, in: Th.MAAS-EWERD (Hg.), Lebt unser Gottesdienst?, Freiburg 1988, 63–74
* Liturgisches Jahrbuch 31/1 (1981) 1–64
* M. LURKER, Die Botschaft der Symbole, München 1990
* Gestalt des Gottesdienstes (Gottesdienst der Kirche. Handbuch der Liturgiewissenschaft 3), Regensburg 2. Aufl. 1990
* DERS., Das Christliche Altargerät, München 1932
* A. KIRCHGÄSSNER, Heilige Zeichen der Kirche, Aschaffenburg 2. Aufl. 1961
* R. GUARDINI, Von heiligen Zeichen, Mainz 17. Aufl. 1961
* H. REIFENBERG, Bemühungen um Zeichen in der Liturgie, in: Th.MAAS-EWERD (Hg.), Lebt unser Gottesdienst?, Freiburg 1988, 63–74
* Liturgisches Jahrbuch 31/1 (1981) 1–64
* M. LURKER, Die Botschaft der Symbole, München 1990
* Gestalt des Gottesdienstes (Gottesdienst der Kirche. Handbuch der Liturgiewissenschaft 3), Regensburg 2. Aufl. 1990
Association in the course directory
für 011 (15W) FTH 17 oder FTH 26, 198 418 BA UF RK 16, 199 518 MA UF RK 02 oder RK 05, 033 195 (17W) BRP 18krp, BRP 18ktb, 066 800 M21
Last modified: Tu 03.02.2026 16:25
This seminar aims to present and explore, collectively, the fundamental symbols essential to the celebration of the liturgy (such as gestures of prayer, natural elements, liturgical vessels and insignia/vestments, as well as spatial conditions, etc.) as they have developed over time. Particular emphasis will be placed on opening up these symbols for contemporary understanding, making them fruitful for today, and situating them within a broader context of religious studies and cultural analysis.
In addition, the seminar is intended to provide basic introductory knowledge for students who are not studying theology (e.g. religious studies, ethnology, cultural studies).Content
Rites and rituals play a fundamental role in most religions and also in secular contexts; this is especially true of Christian liturgy. Just as the theological and anthropological dimensions of the liturgy are manifold, so too are the forms of expression and signs through which liturgy “takes place” and assumes concrete form. Worship is real and effective only as a living action, as an embodied process of communication within the community and with God, for “through perceptible signs the sanctification of humanity and the glorification of God are signified and brought about” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Art. 7).
Within this dialogical process of signs between God and his people, and within the celebrating community itself, the human person has from earliest times been integrally and constitutively involved with all intellectual, emotional and bodily capacities for expression (gestures of prayer such as standing, sitting, kneeling, walking). At the same time, the entire surrounding world comes into play, with its natural elements (water, bread, wine, light, incense), as well as created elements (candles, liturgical vessels and vestments/insignia, the altar, spatial conditions, etc.) and technical aids.Method
Lecture, presentation, discussion, seminar paper.