St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Divinity (School of)
  • Divinity
  • Divinity Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Divinity (School of)
  • Divinity
  • Divinity Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Divinity (School of)
  • Divinity
  • Divinity Theses
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Resounding radiance : iconisation of creation in Joseph Ratzinger's theology of sacred music

View/Open
Thesis-Joel-Clarkson-complete-version.pdf (3.321Mb)
Thesis-Joel-Clarkson-complete-version.pages (2.899Mb)
Date
16/06/2023
Author
Clarkson, Joel Isaacs
Supervisor
Corbett, George
Ferguson, Michael
Keywords
Joseph Ratzinger
Pope Benedict XVI
Sacred music
Catholic theology
Musical theology
Theological aesthetics
Theological cosmology
Christology
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Vatican II
Liturgical reform
Liturgical movement
Ressourcement
Nouvelle théologie
Cosmic liturgy
Eucharistic theology
Eschatology
Metadata
Show full item record
Altmetrics Handle Statistics
Altmetrics DOI Statistics
Abstract
This thesis analyses the historical and conceptual foundations of the “cosmic” in Joseph Ratzinger’s (1927-2022) theology of sacred music, and considers its implications for liturgical music as a Christological iconisation of creation. Ratzinger was a key voice in liturgical reform in the Roman Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), especially during his pontificate as Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013). Expressing frequent concern that many reformers implementing Vatican II had misinterpreted the Council’s intentions, Ratzinger outlined a “hermeneutic of reform” as an alternative way forward. Ratzinger also wrote extensively about sacred music as a locus in which questions of reform are brought to bear in a potent way. While Ratzinger’s musical theology has engendered enthusiasm amongst some of those interested in musical reform, that discourse is often centred on genres, instrumentation, and other practical aspects. The way Ratzinger’s larger theological system of thought relates to his musical theology has been left largely unexamined. This thesis addresses that gap in scholarship. In part I, I examine the historical foundations of that theology, first outlining liturgical and musical reform in twentieth-century Catholicism (Chapter 1); I then consider Ratzinger’s “hermeneutic of reform,” and how he turned to the “cosmic” as a way to express universality in regard to musical renewal (Chapter 2). Part II explicates the conceptual foundations of Ratzinger's musical theology. I show how Ratzinger’s understanding of the “cosmic” is derived from a “Eucharistic” cosmology influenced by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Chapter 3). I then argue that Ratzinger adapts Hans Urs von Balthasar’s theological aesthetics to help make sense of the phenomenological implications of that cosmology in worship (Chapter 4). Finally, I explicate Ratzinger’s musical theology, showing how, in light of the historical and conceptual aspects explored earlier in the thesis, Ratzinger implies, I suggest, that sacred music Christologically iconises the cosmos in liturgy, and I examine a practical outworking of that musical theology in the congregational music of composer Sir James MacMillan (Chapter 5). This thesis offers thereby an examination of Ratzinger’s Eucharistic cosmology and musical theology, situating them within his larger theological project. It also presents an analysis of the cosmic theology that underpins Ratzinger’s practical provisions for music, and may hopefully contribute, in this way, to the ongoing debates about, and implementation of, Ratzingerian musical reform.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17630/sta/462
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Rights
Embargo Date: 2028-05-05
Embargo Reason: Thesis restricted in accordance with University regulations. Restricted until 5th May 2028
Collections
  • Divinity Theses
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/27604

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Related items

Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

  • A critical assessment of the theology of Camilo Torres in the light of Latin American theology : a theological paradigm for peace with justice for Colombia 

    Núñez-Coba, Milton (University of St Andrews, 2015-01-19) - Thesis
    The thesis aims to provide a critical assessment of Camilo Torres’ concept of efficacious love in the light of a hermeneutics and ethics of liberation, to contribute theoretically to theological reflection upon the mission ...
  • Stanley Hauerwas and ‘Chan Tai-man’ : an analysis of Hong Kong laypeople's lived theology and Hong Kong theologians’ engagement with Stanley Hauerwas's political theology from a practical theology perspective 

    Chu, Ann Gillian (2023-03-21) - Journal article
    Hong Kong Christian communities often draw upon theological resources from the West. But can Western theological sources be meaningfully applied to Hong Kong? Western theological sources stem from Western epistemologies, ...
  • The dramatising of theology : humanity’s participation in God’s drama with particular reference to the theologies of Hans Urs von Balthasar and Karl Barth 

    Farlow, Matthew S. (University of St Andrews, 2011-11-30) - Thesis
    The aim of this project is to investigate the proper response of theology to the Christian God who, as revealed through revelation, is Being-in-act. This project takes seriously the idea posited by Shakespeare, that totus ...
Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter