An Introduction To Liturgy of The Catholic Church
An Introduction To Liturgy of The Catholic Church
An Introduction to Liturgy
of the Catholic Church
Primary Source Material on the
Liturgy of the Catholic Church
Catechism of the Catholic Church (Part Two: The Celebration of
the Christian Mystery)
1983 Code of Canon Law
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Vatican II
Introductory notes to the Roman Missal, and the Rites of Baptism, Confirmation,
etc.
Our fundamental duty as
people … is to direct the
whole of our life and activity
toward God as Creator and
Savior.
In broadest terms we call this
activity worship, as it pertains
to that honor and praise due to
God in either our private or
communal lives.
The word 'liturgy' comes from the
Greek leitourgia [from leos for
people, and ergon for work.]
Prior to the time of Christ, it meant
any public duty or service, or in
Jewish terms, service in the temple.
In Christian terms liturgy refers to
the official public worship of the
Church
… especially as distinguished from
private devotions.
Liturgy …
Liturgy is particularly directed
toward giving proper honor to
God and making us more holy
and acceptable to God.
It is always God-centered,
and God directed.
Liturgy is where Christian
meets Christ in the fullness
of his redeeming activity.
Nuances of Liturgy
Us
Liturgy is
Multi-dimensional
God
Us
Liturgy is
God
Multi-dimensional
…united in a single act of
public, communal
worship.
Us
Rites
A rite is an established, ceremonious,
usually religious act. Rites fall into
three major categories:
-rites of passage, generally changing
an individual's social status, such as
marriage, baptism, or graduation.
Rites
-rites of worship, where a
community comes together to
worship, such as the Mass.
-rites of personal devotion, where
an individual worships, including
prayer and retreats, etc.
Ritual
Kinds of rituals: public, private,
secret
Religious:
Public; liturgy
Private: devotions, novena
Secret:
Secular:
public rituals: graduation, investiture,
private: cleansing
Secret: