Monstrance on the altar in Benet Chapel.
  • Program Type
    Minor
  • School
    School of Arts & Sciences

Enrich your faith and worldview through the study of theology and sacred music.

What You’ll Learn

Our students train deeply in the theology and practice of the Church’s rituals and sacraments. You can study the historical tradition of sacred music from the New Testament to the present day.

Complement your major.

The liturgy minor is an ideal complement to a major in theology or Catholic studies.

Strengthen your understanding of the Benedictine tradition.

You’ll examine the influence of Saint Benedict and the Benedictines on the Church, history, and human thought and culture.

Read the classic spiritual texts.

You’ll engage with the great works, both past and contemporary — from St. Augustine’s “Confessions” to C. S. Lewis’ “Surprised by Joy” and St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s “Story of a Soul.”

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Careers & Outcomes

Employment Trends

The liturgy minor is well-suited for students preparing for employment in parishes as liturgists and musicians, as well as those exploring vocations to the priesthood or religious life.

Career Paths

  • Liturgist
  • Parish Musician
  • Priest or Religious
  • Youth Ministry Director
  • Religious Educator
  • Religion Journalist

Featured Faculty

Philip Porter, ThD

Chair of Theology Program, Assistant Professor of Theology

I am a theologian whose interests include philosophical theology, Latin patristics, the theology of death, and ordinary language philosophy. As an undergraduate, I attended the University of California, Berkeley earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2006. After graduation, I was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I studied in the Master of Theological Studies program at Loyola University Maryland, graduating in 2015. I completed my doctoral studies at Duke University’s Divinity School in 2020. When not reading and writing theology, I spend time with my wife and four children.

Michon M. Matthiesen, PhD

Associate Professor of Theology, Gregorian Scholars Honor Program Mentor

Before arriving at the University of Mary, I taught at Providence College (RI), Loyola Marymount University (CA), and St. Patrick’s Seminary and University (CA). Though rooted in the thought of Thomas Aquinas, I enjoy reading theologians of the early twentieth century who were keen to retrieve the rich and majestic thought of the early Church Fathers. My oldest and enduring love of literature lead me to studies in liturgical and sacramental theology. My primary research and teaching interests are in the areas of eucharistic theology, Christian spirituality, theology and literature, and the liturgical movement. I live with my marvelously athletic standard poodle, Roman, and enjoy gardening, raptor-watching, cooking, and good wine.

Take Your Next Step in Liturgy