Course Outline Autumn 2025

Course Outline: The Catholic Mass – Rediscovering the Sacred in 14 Lessons

1. September 24, 2025: Introduction: The Catholic Mass (H.E. Bishop Athanasius Schneider/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
An overview of the spiritual and theological foundation of the Mass as presented by Bishop Schneider and co-author Aurelio Porfiri. Why the Mass is the heart of Catholic life.

2. October 1, 2025: The Mass is Prayer (Abt. Philip Anderson/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Learn how the Mass is the Church’s supreme prayer—ordered, structured, and directed toward God.

3. October 8, 2025: The Mass is Adoration (Dr. Edward Schaefer/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Explore how the liturgy is primarily an act of worship, not performance, placing God at the center.

4. October 15, 2025: The Mass is Ritual (Dr. Kevin Magas/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Understand how ritual safeguards mystery, allowing the faithful to enter more deeply into the divine.

5. October 22, 2025: The Mass is Sacrifice (H.E. Bishop Athanasius Schneider/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Rediscover the truth of the Mass as the re-presentation of Christ’s one eternal sacrifice on Calvary.

6. October 29: 2025: The Mass is Splendor (H.E. Bishop Athanasius Schneider/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
See how beauty in liturgy—through music, vestments, and art—elevates the soul toward the heavenly.

7. November 5, 2025: The Mass is Sacred Action (H. E. Bishop Athanasius Schneider/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Unpack the meaning of the gestures, signs, and postures that constitute the sacred work of the liturgy.

8. November 12, 2025: The Mass is Thanksgiving (Dr. Kevin Magas/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Delve into the Eucharistic nature of the Mass: gratitude as the core of our relationship with God.

9. November 19, 2025: The Mass is Listening (Dr. Edward Schaefer/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Learn the importance of silence, receptivity, and attentiveness to the Word of God and liturgical texts.

10. November 26, 2025: The Mass is the Church’s Life (Fr. Roberto Spataro/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Understand how the liturgy is the heartbeat of the Church’s existence and identity.

11. December 3, 2025: The Mass is the Salvation’s Source (Dr. Robert Fastiggi/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Reflect on how grace flows from the altar, nourishing and sanctifying the faithful.

12. December 5, 2025: The Mass is Sacred Service (Abt. Philip Anderson/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Consider the priestly role in service to the altar and how all faithful are called to interior participation.

13. December 10, 2025: The Mass is the Wedding Feast (Dr. Robert Fastiggi/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
Explore the nuptial mystery of the Mass, where Christ the Bridegroom offers Himself to His Bride, the Church.

14. December 19, 2025: Conclusion: The Centrality of God (Fr. Roberto Spataro/ Mº Aurelio Porfiri)
A final call to reorient our lives and our liturgy toward God, who is the source and end of all worship.

Bishop Athanasius Schneider

He is auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Mary most Holy in Astana (Kazakistan). He is author of several books, that include The Catholic Mass (with Aurelio Porfiri) and When the Harps Went Still (with Aurelio Porfiri and Guido Milanese).

M° Aurelio Porfiri

He is a composer, conductor, educator and writer. His compositions are published in Italy, United States, Germany, China and France. He is author of more than 70 books translated in different languages.

Abbot Philip Anderson

Born in 1953, is the current abbot of the Benedictine monastery, Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, situated in Hulbert, Oklahoma. Born and raised in a Unitarian family, he converted to Catholicism during his university years and later pursued a monastic life. After serving in monasteries in France, Anderson helped establish Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, which is known for its adherence to traditional monastic life and liturgy, including the 1962 Roman Missal and Gregorian chant.

Dr. Robert Fastiggi

Bishop Kevin M. Britt Chair of Dogmatic Theology and Christology, has been at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 1999. Prior to coming to Detroit, he taught at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas from 1985-1999. Dr. Fastiggi received an A.B. in Religion (summa cum laude) from Dartmouth College in 1974; a M.A. in Theology from Fordham University in 1976; and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Fordham in 1987. He has done private research in Paris and Montréal, and he took part in a study-tour of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain sponsored by the National Council for U.S.-Arab relations. During his time at Sacred Heart, Dr. Fastiggi has taught courses in Ecclesiology, Christology, Mariology, church history, sacramental theology, and moral theology. He is a member of the Society for Catholic Liturgy, the Mariological Society of America, the International Marian Association, and an ordinary member of the Pontifical Marian Academy International (P.A.M.I).

Dr. Kevin Magas

M.T.S., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame. Assistant Professor in the Department of Dogmatic Theology; Director of the Liturgical Institute. Former Department Chair of Theology and Ministry at Holy Family College, Manitowoc, WI. Research interests include modern liturgical history, especially the 19th and 20th century Liturgical Movements, biblical and patristic ressourcement, and liturgical theology. His articles and reviews have appeared in Worship, Antiphon, and Adoremus Bulletin. Member of Societas Liturgica, and the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. Board member of the Society for Catholic Liturgy.

Dr. Edward Schaefer

Edward Schaefer is president of The Collegium, a position to which he brings 40 years of experience in higher education. His academic formation was in music; he has an expertise in Carolingian chant.

Fr. Roberto Spataro

Don Roberto Spataro is a Salesian priest who, after teaching Church History in Jerusalem, was also a professor of Latin and Greek Language and Literature at the Pontifical Salesian University. He is also known as a promoter of the Ritus Romanus Antiquior and was appointed by Benedict XVI as Secretary of the Pontifical Academy for Latin (2012–2019).

How to Join the Course

Course Fee: $250 USD
Early Bird Discount: Pay only $200 USD if you register before July 1.
Class Format: All 14 lessons will be in live streaming and also recorded and made available for viewing at your convenience after live streaming.
Start Time: Classes will start at 6:00 PM CET.
Limited Seats: Spots are limited — we encourage you to register as soon as possible.
How to Pay:
You can make your payment via:
📩 PayPal to: cantoresromaeterna@gmail.com
🏦 Bank transfer to:

Name: Associazione Culturale Romaeterna Cantores

Bank: UNICREDIT

IBAN: IT66K0200805319000107324989

BIC/SWIFT: UNCRITM1E35

After Payment:
Please send an email to cantoresromaeterna@gmail.com with confirmation of your payment and your name. It will not possible to refund the payment, once it is done.

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