Course Number: DTH 800
Course Title: The Seven Sacraments
Term: Fall 2016
Instructor
Daniel G. Van Slyke, S.T.D., Ph.D.
Email: [email protected]
1. Course Description
This course explores the concept and nature of “sacrament” in general and then each of the seven
sacraments of the Church in particular (the fundamentals of each sacrament’s doctrine and theology,
the rites for celebrating the sacraments, the historical development of each sacrament and current
issues and debates surrounding the sacraments).
2. Envisioned Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the dogmatic discipline of sacramental
theology based upon the teachings of the magisterium and grounded in the teaching of the
doctors of the Church;

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the principles, sources, and methods of the
science of sacramental theology;

Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to explain the major dogmatic teachings of the
Catholic Church on each sacrament in particular and on divine worship in general;

Students will be able to demonstrate competence to distinguish properly Catholic
understandings and approaches to sacramental theology and to recognize and appropriate
critically what is good from other understandings and approaches.

Students will be able to demonstrate conversance in the doctrine and theology of the
sacraments of the Catholic Church, and know how to negotiate the liturgical, pastoral, and
canonical sources for celebrating the sacraments.
3. Course Schedule †
PART 1. The Sacraments in General
Topic 1: Words About Worship
Required Readings
•
CCC §§1066-1134
•
Van Slyke, Foreword, pp. 5-6
•
Van Slyke, chap. 1, “Words about Worship,” pp. 7-11 and pp. 18-21
1
•
Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, Liturgical Leadership in a Secular
Society: A Bishop's Perspective (June 2015)
Recommended Readings
•
The Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Confession of Faith
•
The Confession of Faith of Michael Paleologue, presented at the Second Council of Lyons
(1274)
•
The Decree of the Council of Florence for the Armenians (1439)
Topic 2: The Sacraments in General
Required Readings
•
CCC §§1134-1209
•
Council of Trent, Session 7: Decree Concerning the Sacraments, Canons on the
Sacraments in General
•
Van Slyke, chap. 1, “Words about Worship,” pp. 11-17
•
Edward N. Peters, “Liturgical Law: The Last Labyrinth”
Recommended Readings
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III, qq. 60-65
Topic 3: A Pope and a Council on Sacred Liturgy
Required Readings
•
Pope Pius XII, Encyclical on the Sacred Liturgy Mediator Dei (20 November 1947) esp.
§§1-65
•
Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum concilium (4
December 1963)
Recommended Readings
•
Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on the 25th Anniversary of the Promulgation of the
Conciliar Constitution “Sacrosanctum concilium” Vicesimus quintus annus (4 December
1988)
•
Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on the 40th Anniversary of the Constitution on the
Sacred Liturgy “Sacrosanctum concilium” Spiritus et Sponsa (4 December 2003)
PART 2. The Sacraments of Initiation
Topic 4: Baptism
Required Readings
•
Council of Trent, Session 5: Decree Concerning Original Sin
•
Council of Trent, Session 7: Canons on Baptism
•
Rite of Baptism for Children, in Rites, vol. 1, pp. 361-407
•
CCC §§1210-1284
•
Van Slyke, chap. 2, “Baptism: The Gateway to Sacramental Life”
Recommended Readings
•
Code of Canon Law (1983), Title I: Baptism, canons 849-878
2
•
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Infant Baptism Pastoralis
actio (20 October 1980)
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III, qq. 66-71
Topic 5: Confirmation
Required Readings
•
Council of Trent, Session 7: Canons on Confirmation
•
Pope Paul VI Apostolic Constitution on the Sacrament of Confirmation Divinae consortium
naturae (15 August 1971), in Rites, vol. 1, pp. 472-478.
•
Rite of Confirmation, in Rites, vol. 1, pp. 469-515
•
CCC §§1285-1321
•
Van Slyke, chap. 3, “Confirmation: Mission and Power”
•
Van Slyke, “Confirmation: A Sacrament in Search of a Theology?” New Blackfriars 92
(2011) 521-551
Recommended Readings
•
Code of Canon Law (1983), Title II: Confirmation, canons 879-896
•
Alvaro Corrada, Bishop of Tyler, TX, Pastoral Reflection on the Sacrament of Confirmation
(7 October 2005)
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III, q. 72
Topic 6: The RCIA
Required Readings
•
RCIA, in Rites, vol. 1, pp. 35-107, §§1-137
•
RCIA, in Rites, vol. 1, pp. 108-169, §§138-251
•
RCIA, in Rites, vol. 1, pp. 170-286, §§252-504
Recommended Readings
•
Ambrose of Milan, On the Mysteries (De mysteriis) and On the Sacraments (De
sacramentis)
PART 3. The Most Holy Sacrament
Topic 7: The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Altar
Required Readings
•
Council of Trent, Session 13: Decree and Canons Concerning the Most Holy Sacrament of
the Eucharist
•
Council of Trent, Session 21: The Doctrine of Communion Under Both Kinds and the
Communion of Little Children
•
Council of Trent, Session 22: Doctrine and Canons Concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass
•
The Order of Mass, in The Roman Missal (International Committee on English in the
Liturgy, 2010)
•
CCC §§1322-1419
•
Van Slyke, chap. 4, “The Most Holy Sacrament: The Perfection of Every Perfection”
3
Recommended Readings
•
Code of Canon Law (1983), Title III: The Most Holy Eucharist, canons 897-958
•
Pope Paul VI, Encyclical on the Holy Eucharist Mysterium fidei (3 September 1965)
•
Pope Benedict XVI, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist as the Source and
Summit of the Church’s Life and Mission Sacramentum caritatis (22 February 2007)
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III, qq. 73-83
Topic 8: Language of Sacred Liturgy and the New Mass Translations
Required Readings
•
Pope John XXIII, Apostolic Constitution Veterum sapientia (22 February 1962)
•
Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Motu proprio Latina lingua (10 November 2012)
•
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Fifth Instruction For
the Right Implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican
Council Liturgiam authenticam (28 March 2001)
Recommended Readings
•
Consilium for Implementing the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy [ICEL], Comme le
prévoit – On the Translation of Liturgical Texts for Celebrations with a Congregation (25
January 1969)
•
Bruce A. Harbert, “The Roman Rite and the English Language,” Antiphon 9.1 (2005) 16-29
•
Peter J. Elliott, “Liturgical Translation: A Question of Truth,” Antiphon 10.3 (2006) 228-238
Topic 9: Critical Reviews
Required Readings
•
Read the critical reviews of your fellow students, and discuss them on the board
Recommended Readings
•
Any of the works reviewed by your fellow students
PART 4. The Sacraments of Healing
Topic 10: Penance and Reconciliation
Required Readings
•
Council of Trent, Session 14: The Most Holy Sacraments of Penance and Extreme Unction
(section on extreme unction)
•
Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, Introduction to the New Order of Penance
Misericordiam suam (2 December 1973), in The Rites, vol. 1, pp. 525-544.
•
Rite of Penance, in The Rites, vol. 1, pp. 545-563 and pp. 591-624
•
CCC §§1420-1498
•
Van Slyke, chap. Chap. 5, “The Sacrament of Penance: The Masterpiece of God’s
Goodness and Mercy”
Recommended Readings
•
Code of Canon Law (1983), Title IV: The Sacrament of Penance, canons 959-991
4
•
Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter/Motu Proprio on Certain Aspects of the Celebration of
the Sacrament of Penance Misericordia Dei (7 April 2002)
•
Congregation for the Clergy, The Priest, Minister of Divine Mercy: An Aid for Confessors
and Spiritual Directors(9 March 2011), §§1-63, and Appendices I and II
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III, qq. 84-90 and III sup., qq. 1-16
Topic 11: Anointing of the Sick
Required Readings
•
Council of Trent, Session 14: The Most Holy Sacraments of Penance and Extreme Unction
(section on extreme unction only)
•
Pope Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution on the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick Sacram
unctionem infirmorum (30 November 1972)
•
Part I: Pastoral Care of the Sick, in The Rites, vol. 1, pp. 778-843 (includes Visits to the
Sick; Visits to a Sick Child; Communion of the Sick; and Anointing of the Sick)
•
CCC §§1499-1532
•
Van Slyke, chap. 6, “Anointing of the Sick: Suffering and Dying With Christ”
Recommended Readings
•
Code of Canon Law (1983), Title V: The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, canons 9981007
•
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Note on the Minister of the Sacrament of the
Anointing of the Sick, with commentary (11 February 2005)
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III sup., qq. 29-33
PART 5. Sacraments at the Service of Communion
Topic 12: Holy Orders, part I
Required Readings
•
Council of Trent, Session 23: The True and Catholic Doctrine Concerning the Sacrament of
Order
•
Pope Pius XII, Apostolic Constitution on the Sacrament of Order Sacramentum ordinis(30
November 1947)
•
Ordination of Deacons, Priests, and Bishops, in Rites of the Catholic Church, vol. 2, pp. 1778
•
CCC §§1533-1600
•
Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone Ordinatio
sacerdotalis
•
Van Slyke, chap. 7, “Holy Orders: Consecrated to Serve”
Recommended Readings
•
Code of Canon Law (1983), Title VI: Orders, canons 1008-1054
•
Pope Paul VI, Motu proprio of General Norms for Restoring the Permanent Diaconate in
the Latin Church Sacrum diaconatus ordinem(18 June 1967)
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III sup., qq. 34-40
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Topic 13: Holy Orders, part II: Minor Orders and Ministries
Required Readings
•
Pope Paul VI, Apostolic Letter/Motu Proprio on First Tonsure, Minor Orders, and the
Subdiaconate Ministeria quaedam (15 August 1972)
•
Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the
Sacraments, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life,
Congregation for Legislative Texts, Congregation for the Clergy, Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Pontifical Council for
the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, Pontifical Council for the Laity, Instruction on Certain
Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry
of Priest Ecclesiae de mysterio (15 August 1997)
Recommended Readings
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III sup., q. 37, arts. 2-3
Topic 14: Matrimony
Required Readings
•
Council of Trent, Session 24: Doctrine of the Sacrament of Matrimony
•
The Rite of Marriage, in Rites of the Catholic Church, vol. 1, pp. 715-758
•
CCC §§1601-1666
•
Van Slyke, chap. 8, “Matrimony: The Image of Divine Fidelity”
•
Van Slyke, conclusion, “Christian Life and the Seven Sacraments”
Recommended Readings
•
Code of Canon Law (1983), Title VII: Marriage, canons 1055-1165
•
Pope Pius XI, Encyclical on Christian Marriage Casti connubii (31 December 1930)
•
Pope Paul VI, Encyclical on the Regulation of Birth Humanae vitae (25 July 1968)
•
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, III sup., qq. 41-50
Topic 15: Research Articles
RESEARCH ARTICLES DUE
† The professor reserves the right to make substitutions, deletions, or additions to the schedule of
readings.
4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Discussion Board Postings: 40% – 13 in total

Quizzes: 30% – 13 in total

Critical Review 10%

Research Article 20%
Readings

Read the assigned readings listed on the Course Calendar above. They will also be listed in
the “Assignments” folder for each week of the course and on the Interactive Online Course
Syllabus.
6

Read also any study notes provided in the Assignments folder for the week and review any
other materials in the Assignments folder.

All discussion board postings and quizzes are directly based upon the assigned readings of
the week and any other materials that may be listed in the weekly Assignments folder.
Discussion Board Postings

Post on the Discussion Board at least three (3) times each week.

First, post at least one answer to one of the discussion questions or topics. Discussion
questions are given each week under “Assignments” on the course menu. Complete answers
require a minimum of three sentences.

Second, post at least one response to the entries of your classmates. Responses to
classmates can provide brief follow-up questions, make additional points, or politely offer
alternative responses. Responses do not need to be more than one or two sentences.

Each of your posts should include at least one reference to or quotation from one of the
assigned readings for the week.

You are invited but not required to continue following the class discussion and to make further
contributions after your three required postings.

Both your answer and your response must be posted by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the
week. It is highly recommended, however, that answers be posted at least several days before
the due date; this provides more opportunity for student interaction. Late postings without
excuse will not receive any credit.

See “Grading Criteria for Online Discussions” below
Quizzes

Each week, there will be an open-book online quiz. The quiz will appear in the “Assignments”
folder at the beginning of the week.

Quiz questions are drawn from assigned readings and materials provided in the appropriate
“Assignments” folder.

You may open the quiz and print it, save it, and return later to submit your answers. Once you
press the submit button you will immediately receive your grade as well as feedback on any
questions you missed.

Each quiz must also be taken by the end of the week devoted to the topic covered by that quiz.
Once the quizzes are removed from Populi, they cannot be taken and no credit for them can
be received.
Critical Review

Goal of assignment. This assignment is an exercise in critically appropriating secondary or
scholarly works. The first purpose of the assignment is to develop skill in discerning what is
worthwhile and what is not in secondary literature on liturgy and sacramental theology in
general. The discussion of the works during week 9 also will introduce all students to the
influence, scope, strengths, and weaknesses of the chosen examples of secondary literature.
A secondary purpose of this assignment is to assist in the preparation of your research article.
To this end, you should choose a scholarly work that directly pertains to your research topic.
7

Choose a secondary or scholarly source – an article, short book, or chapter from a longer book
– on one of the seven sacraments or on some question concerning the sacraments in general.
The source should pertain directly to the topic of your research article.

In an email, run your choice by your professor for approval.

Obtain the article or essay. It is the student’s responsibility to acquire a copy of the article or
essay in question.

Method
o A critical review must demonstrate thorough appropriation of the work chosen along
with insight and, where appropriate, criticism.
o A critical review must demonstrate thorough appropriation of the work chosen along
with insight and, where appropriate, criticism.
o Questions to be asked include:

Who is the author?

What is the author’s thesis?

What is the author’s purpose or goal (stated or unstated)?

What sources does the author use?

Is the author’s argumentation sound (in other words, are there any leaps in logic,
guiding assumptions, etc.)?

Does the author betray any noteworthy biases or presuppositions that affect the
argument?

What can a reader expect to find in this work?
o Do not be intimidated by scholarly articles. Judge them on their own terms.
o Merely summarizing the work is insufficient. Moreover, the student should take care that
summarizing the work, if that is desirable, does not take up too much time, effort, and
space.

Discussion. On the discussion board for week 9, be sure to address all comments and
questions regarding your critical review or the work that you reviewed.

Formatting specifications:
o Four (4) pages, doubled spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman font.

Due date:
o Reviews may be submitted at any time during the semester before Week 9. The final
time for submission is 11:59 p.m. on Friday of Week 9. That provides an opportunity for
the class to discuss the reviews during the final days of Week 9.
o Late reviews will be penalized at a rate of 5 percentage points per day.
o Each student’s review will be made available to the entire class on Populi, and
discussed on the Board during Week 9.
Research Article

Choose any specific topic regarding the history, theology, or celebration of any one of the
seven sacraments.
8
o The professor is available for consultation via email, or times for discussion can be set
by email.
o The recommended works on the course calendar may provide starting points for
discerning a topic for the research paper.

Research Prompts. At various points throughout the semester, the professor will inquire via
discussions and/or emails regarding the progress of your research paper. Responses to these
inquiries will impact your final grade for the research article.

Write an article on your choice of topic formatted as follows:
o Seven (7) pages, doubled spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 pt. Arial font.
o A bibliography on a final, seventh page.
o Footnotes and bibliographies must be formatted according to Holy Apostles College and
Seminary Guidelines for Papers, Projects, and Theses.

This is a research article.
o A minimum of seven sources must be cited.

Due date: By the end of Week 15.
o Late penalties will be applied to papers received after the final due date. These papers
will be penalized at the rate of four percentage points per week day; papers will not be
accepted more than seven days after the due date.

See the “Aid in Preparing Written Assignments/Grading Criteria” below.
5. REQUIRED READINGS and RESOURCES:

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. Washington DC: USCCB, 2000. [CCC]

Van Slyke, Daniel G. Liturgy 101: The Sacraments and Sacramentals. Ligouri, MO: Ligouri
Press, 2010.

Rites of the Catholic Church. Prepared by the International Commission on English in the
Liturgy. Vols. 1 and 2. Collegeville, MN: Pueblo, 1990-1991.

Further Required Readings are available on the Internet and linked through Populi and on this
syllabus.
6. EVALUATION
(Basis of evaluation with explanation regarding the nature of the assignment and the percentage of
the grade assigned to each item below). Students who have difficulty with research and composition
are encouraged to pursue assistance with the Online Writing Lab (available at
http://www.holyapostles.edu/owl).
GRADING SCALE:
A 94-100; A- 90-93; B+ 87-89; B 84-86; B- 80-83; C+ 77-79; C 74-76; C- 70-73 D 60-69; F 59 and below
Grading Criteria for Online Discussions
1. Content
A: Postings demonstrate knowledge of and insight into the readings, and are conducive to
prompting online discussions. All contributions remain on topic.
9
B: Postings demonstrate serious contact with the readings, but are lacking in insight. Contributions
generally remain on topic, but occasionally go adrift.
C: Postings demonstrate only slight contact with the readings, or stray from the topic.
D/F: Postings demonstrate neither contact with the readings nor insight, and do not stay on the
topic at hand. The participant does not contribute to the discussion.
2. Civility
A: The participant helps clarify or synthesize other group members’ ideas. If disagreeing with
another group member, the participant states his or her disagreement or objections clearly and
politely.
B and C: Contributions demonstrate inadequacies in this area.
D and F: The participant is rude or abusive.
3. Style
A: Well written, free of significant errors, and pleasant to read. Proofread with care, not simply
computer spell-checked.
B: Competently written, with relatively few errors, and not unpleasant to read. No more than 3 to 5
proofreading errors.
C: Readable, but flawed by some significant stylistic errors. Not proofread.
D/F: Hard to read, vitiated by serious errors, all but incoherent. Not proofread.
Aid in Preparing Written Assignments / Grading Criteria
1. Content
A: Clear, sharp line of argument that displays a degree of insight into the topic, and would be
intelligible to a normal thoughtful person. In other words, do not write for the professor, but for an
educated and thoughtful member of a St Louis parish.
B: Competent argumentation, but not entirely compelling.
C: Not really a careful argument, but more a recitation of facts or a repetition of the material
covered in class or readings. May have some fallacious arguments, but should still be reasonable.
Arguments may just hit on fundamental points without much development.
D/F: No developed arguments, or egregiously fallacious ones.
2. Organization
A: Clear organization, with natural flow of arguments, smooth transitions, and effective
introduction and conclusion. Carefully ordered.
B: Competent form, but either a little too mechanical or a little too loose, though not really
disorganized. Lacking a clear introduction and a clear conclusion; perhaps beginning or ending
somewhat abruptly.
C: May exhibit one or the other of two opposing faults: either a structure so rigid that it reads more
like an outline than an essay, or a noticeable tendency to ramble with no obvious structure.
D/F: Essentially disorganized.
3. Style
A: Well written, free of significant errors, and pleasant to read. Proofread with care, not simply
computer spell-checked. Conforms to assignment description indicated on the syllabus, and to the
10
Style Sheet.
B: Competently written, with relatively few errors, and not unpleasant to read. No more than 3 to 5
proofreading errors, including lack of attention to the specifications indicated on the syllabus.
C: Readable, but flawed by some significant stylistic errors. Not proofread.
D/F: Hard to read, vitiated by serious errors, all but incoherent. Not proofread.
4. Texts
A: Contains all the following:
•
Generous quantity of texts;
•
Quoted material is well chosen and are well integrated into the paper (so as not to read like
a string of texts);
•
Multiple sources are cited;
•
Proper style in footnotes (endnotes not allowed). For clear instructions on properly
formatting footnotes, see HACS Style Sheet. See also plagiarism policies below;
•
A properly formatted bibliography.
B: Lacking in one of the above 5 items
C: Lacking in two or more of the above 5 items
D: Sparse use of texts
F: No texts used
The professor calculates the final paper grade as follows:
A: an A in each area, with allowance for a B in one area other than content;
B: a B or better in all areas, with allowance for a C in one area other than content;
C: a C in all areas, with allowance for a D in one area other than content;
D/F: failure to meet the criteria above.
7. DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY
Holy Apostles College & Seminary is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational
opportunities and full participation in higher education for persons with disabilities who qualify for
admission to the College. Students enrolled in online courses who have documented disabilities
requiring special accommodations should contact Bob Mish, the Director of Online Student Affairs, at
[email protected] or 860-632-3015. In all cases, reasonable accommodations will be made to
ensure that all students with disabilities have access to course materials in a mode in which they can
receive them. Students who have technological limitations (e.g., slow Internet connection speeds in
convents) are asked to notify their instructors the first week of class for alternative means of delivery.
8. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Students at Holy Apostles College & Seminary are expected to practice academic honesty.
Avoiding Plagiarism
In its broadest sense, plagiarism is using someone else's work or ideas, presented or claimed as
your own. At this stage in your academic career, you should be fully conscious of what it means
to plagiarize. This is an inherently unethical activity because it entails the uncredited use of
11
someone else's expression of ideas for another's personal advancement; that is, it entails the use
of a person merely as a means to another person’s ends.
Students, where applicable:

Should identify the title, author, page number/webpage address, and publication date of
works when directly quoting small portions of texts, articles, interviews, or websites.

Students should not copy more than two paragraphs from any source as a major
component of papers or projects.

Should appropriately identify the source of information when paraphrasing (restating) ideas
from texts, interviews, articles, or websites.

Should follow the Holy Apostles College & Seminary Stylesheet (available on the Online
Writing Lab’s website at http://www.holyapostles.edu/owl/resources).
Consequences of Academic Dishonesty:
Because of the nature of this class, academic dishonesty is taken very seriously. Students
participating in academic dishonesty may be removed from the course and from the program.
9. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Even though you are not required to be logged in at any precise time or day, you are expected to
login several times during each week. Because this class is being taught entirely in a technologymediated forum, it is important to actively participate each week in the course. In a traditional
classroom setting for a 3-credit course, students would be required, per the federal standards, to be
in class three 50-minute sessions (or 2.5 hours a week) and prepare for class discussions six 50minute sessions (or 5 hours) a week. Expect to devote at least nine 50-minute sessions (or 7.5 quality
hours) a week to this course. A failure on the student’s part to actively participate in the life of the
course may result in a reduction of the final grade.
10. INCOMPLETE POLICY
An Incomplete is a temporary grade assigned at the discretion of the faculty member. It is typically
allowed in situations in which the student has satisfactorily completed major components of the
course and has the ability to finish the remaining work without re-enrolling, but has encountered
extenuating circumstances, such as illness, that prevent his or her doing so prior to the last day of
class.
To request an incomplete, distance-learning students must first download a copy of the Incomplete
Request Form. This document is located within the Shared folder of the Files tab in Populi. Secondly,
students must fill in any necessary information directly within the PDF document. Lastly, students
must send their form to their professor via email for approval. “Approval” should be understood as the
professor responding to the student’s email in favor of granting the “Incomplete” status of the student.
Students receiving an Incomplete must submit the missing course work by the end of the sixth week
following the semester in which they were enrolled. An incomplete grade (I) automatically turns into
the grade of “F” if the course work is not completed.
Students who have completed little or no work are ineligible for an incomplete. Students who feel they
are in danger of failing the course due to an inability to complete course assignments should withdraw
from the course.
A “W” (Withdrawal) will appear on the student’s permanent record for any course dropped after the
end of the first week of a semester to the end of the third week. A “WF” (Withdrawal/Fail) will appear
12
on the student’s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the third week of a
semester and on or before the Friday before the last week of the semester.
11. ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR
Daniel G. Van Slyke, S.T.L., Ph.D. is Dean of Online Learning
and Associate Professor of Theology at Holy Apostles College
and Seminary. He has taught on-campus and researched at the
University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, the Liturgical Institute of the
University of St Mary of the Lake in Illinois, Ave Maria College in
Michigan, Caldwell College in New Jersey, Kenrick-Glennon
Seminary in St Louis, Missouri, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Seminary in Nebraska, and the programs of formation for
permanent diaconate candidates in St Louis and in Tulsa,
Oklahoma. Dr Van Slyke has taught distance-learning courses for over a decade through programs such
as Catholic Distance University and the Paul VI Pontifical Institute of the Archdiocese of St Louis.
Holding certificates in research design and online teaching through the Catholic Distance Learning
Network, Dr Van Slyke also helps to train other theological teaching faculty in the use of pedagogical
technology.
With training in historical theology (Ph.D., Saint Louis University), systematic sacramental theology
(S.T.L., Mundelein Seminary), moral theology (M.A., University of Dallas), and civil law (J.D., pending,
Texas A&M School of Law), Dr Van Slyke has made numerous contributions to scholarship. His articles
have appeared in various venues, including Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal, Dumbarton Oaks
Papers, Ephemerides Liturgicae, The Josephinum Journal of Theology, New Blackfriars, Providence,
Usus Antiquior, The New Catholic Encyclopedia (2nd ed. and Supplement), The New Westminster
Dictionary of Church History, and the T&T Clark Companion to Liturgy.
An active member in several professional organizations, Dr Van Slyke has delivered numerous papers
at scholarly conferences and workshops, and reviewed dozens of books. For eight years he sat as an
elected member on the board of directors of the Society for Catholic Liturgy. For five years he served on
the editorial staff of Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal, and he currently serves on the editorial
staff of the Seminary Journal.
Dr. Van Slyke lives in the Dallas-Ft Worth area of the great state of Texas with his wife and their seven
children. He is pictured in the photo above with his lovely wife, Laura, on the Shenandoah River in
August of 2014.
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