Christopher M. O’Brien, PhD

Biography

Christopher M. O’Brien, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology at the Franciscan School of Theology. He received his doctorate from The Catholic University of America in 2025 in Liturgical Studies/ Sacramental Theology. Prior to his time at CUA, he received a B.S. in Physics and an M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and an M. Div. from the University of Notre Dame. He also spent five years teaching physics and mathematics, mostly at Catholic high schools. His research, writing, and teaching aims to put liturgical-sacramental history and theology into conversation with lived experience of Christian worship. His articles on topics such as Christian initiation, Eucharist, children and liturgy, liturgical sacramental theology, ecclesiology, and ecumenism have been published in liturgical, theological, and ecumenical journals. His forthcoming book explores the history and theology of the practice of infant communion in Roman Catholicism.

Degrees

• Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies/ Sacramental Theology – The Catholic University of America
• M. Phil. in Liturgical Studies/ Sacramental Theology – The Catholic University of America
• M. Div. – University of Notre Dame
• M.A. in Education – Stanford University
• B.S. in Physics – Stanford University

Publications

Infant Communion in Roman Catholicism (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press Academic). [forthcoming, 2026]

“Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children, Another Look: Context, Text, Reception, and Evaluation.” Ecclesia Orans 40, no. 2 (2023): 279-305.

“Ecology and the Eucharist: Pope Francis’ Liturgical Theology of Caring for Our Common Home.” Studia Liturgica 53, no. 2 (2023): 279-305.

“Children and the Eucharist at the Council of Trent.” Theological Studies 83, no. 3 (2022): 379-399. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405639221113461.

“‘Urbi et Orbi’ and Digitally Mediated Liturgy: Embodied Participation and Ecclesial Formation.” Anaphora 15, nos. 1-2 (2021): 59-70.

A full list of his publications can be found here: https://fst-us.academia.edu/ChristopherOBrien