An Introduction to the Sacred Liturgy

A beginner’s guide to understanding the Catholic Mass.

This course introduces the theological and pastoral dimensions of the sacred liturgy. Specifically, it uncovers the spiritual reality of every liturgical celebration, considers the ritual medium employed by liturgical celebrations, and examines the various sacramental signs and symbols that contribute to a liturgical rite, such as objects, actions, words, time, ministers, music, and architecture.


Your Instructor


Mr. Chris Carstens
Mr. Chris Carstens

Christopher Carstens is Director of the Office for Sacred Worship in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, an adjunct faculty member at the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois, and editor of the Adoremus Bulletin. He is author of A Devotional Journey into the Mass and A Devotional Journey into the Easter Season, as well as Principles of Sacramental Theology: Forming a Sacramental Vision, and The Seven Gifts of the Spirit of the Liturgy. Along with Father Douglas Martis, Chris is the co-author of Mystical Body, Mystical Voice: Encountering Christ in the Words of the Mass. He lives in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, with his wife and eight children.


Watch the first 5 minutes of this course

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
How do I receive a certificate of completion for this course?
If you are interested in obtaining a certificate of completion for this course, you must pass this quiz. A passing grade is 14 correct answers or higher. Once you have passed this quiz, you will receive your certificate via e-mail.
Do you offer bulk discounts if I have a large group of people that want to take the class?
Yes, we do have bulk discounts available. Please give us a call to inquire: 847.837.4542
How long is this course?
This course is comprised of 5 one-hour classes. You can pause it at any time and resume where you left off.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
Teachable Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing technical issues, please try these steps: 1) Click "Complete and continue" at the top of the lecture in order to move forward. If “Click and Complete” is not available: a) Confirm that you have watched at least 90% of the video without skipping any sections; b) Check to see if there is a browser error by opening a private browsing or Incognito window, logging into the course, and pressing play on the video again. You should see the "Complete and continue" button go live, allowing you to move to the next lecture. 2) The phone app is currently not compatible with the Course Compliance and the lectures. 3) For any other issues, please check out the Knowledge Base article that has some more tips: https://support.teachable.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000115971-Common-Technical-Issues-Troubleshooting?source=search
Viewing Completed Quizzes
Quiz questions and answers are unable to be viewed after completing the course quiz. Once you have passed the quiz, you will receive your certificate of completion via e-mail.
Do these courses count as credits towards a degree?
These courses are stand-alone resources and will not count as credit towards a degree. However, you can use these courses for Continuing Education Units. Each course will count as .5 CEUs.

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