Catholic Liturgy Explained

Definition of Liturgy

• Liturgy is the public worship and communal celebration of faith in the Catholic Church.
• This includes sacraments and the Eucharist.
• The word "liturgy" comes from the Greek word "leitourgia," which means "public work" or "service on behalf of the people."
• Liturgy signifies the participation of the People of God in God's work.
• Christ continues his work of redemption through the Church.
• Liturgy is the celebration of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit within His Church.
• In funerals, liturgy celebrates hope in the resurrection, God's forgiveness, and gratitude to Christ.
• God the Father reconciled the world through His Son.
• The Father's initiative allows us to celebrate with gratitude for active love.
• Liturgy always celebrates the Paschal Mystery, this includes the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ.
• Authentic liturgy is enabled through the Holy Spirit, who makes prayers effective.
• Liturgy is an act of the Church community.
• It should be celebrated communally rather than individually, wherever possible.
• In every liturgical act, there is an element of joy and hope.
• Christian funerals celebrate the hope of resurrection and life, even during sorrow.

The Etymology of Liturgy

• In secular Greek, the word meant an activity undertaken for the public good.
• The word λειτουργοσ comes from the Greek words Λαοσ (people) and εργον (work).
• In the Old Testament, it meant divine worship and the ministry of the Levites.
• Christ is called a minister (λειτουργοσ) of the sanctuary.
• Liturgy is communal and distinct from private prayer and popular devotions.
• Liturgy has vertical and horizontal dimensions, involving both God and the community.

Dimensions of Liturgy

• Mankind communicates with God through liturgy.
• God speaks to His people, and people respond through song and prayer (SC 33).
• This includes praise, thanksgiving, petition, intercession, expiation, vows, and promises.
• Man expresses thoughts and feelings using symbols, gestures, voice, etc.
• Sanctification by God is achieved.
• God grants favors, forgiveness, blessing, and eternal life.

Horizontal Dimension of Liturgy

• The horizontal dimension is the communal aspect of liturgy relating to the worshipping community.
• It involves the entire community of believers, including the Militant Church.
• Non-Christians are involved through the intercessions of worshippers.
• The Triumphant Church and Angels are involved through intercession.
• The Church Suffering (souls in Purgatory) look to the prayers and suffrages of the Church.
• The liturgy must be orderly, planned, and prepared.
• Harmony in singing means people should listen to each other.
• The liturgy should respect a hierarchy of ministries, each with assigned roles.
• Liturgical content is guided by established regulations called rubrics.

Liturgy as a Unified Act of Love

• Liturgy is an expression of love.
• Celebration of the liturgy means seeking contact with a God who is love.
• Liturgy is a loving response to a loving God.
• Listening to the Word involves paying attention to the instruction of a loving God.
• Taking in the Eucharist means receiving the gift of the Son.
• Reconciliation is necessary to be worthy of God.
• Praying the Divine Office means participating in the salvific work of Christ.
• Striving to live by what is heard in the liturgy pleases God.

The Importance of Liturgy

• Christ continues his saving activity through the liturgy.
• It surpasses all other Church activities, as the Church is a vehicle of salvation.
• Liturgy is a participation in and foretaste of heaven.
• True joy consists of beholding and praising God's beauty, which is already done in the liturgy.
• Liturgy is a constant union with the divine, experienced sacramentally.
• Liturgy is the summit and source of the Church's activities.
• All Church activity should lead to union with God.
• Through this union, the Church is empowered to continue its mission.
• Liturgy occupies a major area in the life of a priest.
• Priests should be competent and happy carrying out liturgical actions.
• Liturgy can be a source of a priest's happiness.
• People often judge priests by how they celebrate the liturgy.
• A pastor must constantly seek to be competent at the liturgy and to make it meaningful.
• There is no substitute for good preparation of each celebration.