Liturgically Speaking: What is the Liturgy?

Over the next several months, I'll be focusing on the liturgy, and specifically the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Since the Eucharist is the source and the summit of the Christian life, it makes sense to reflect often on the meaning of the Church’s liturgical prayer and its place in our lives.

We’ll begin by asking, what is the liturgy?  Asking what something is, is important because action follows upon being.  For instance, I put gasoline in my car and get regular oil changes based on the nature of its engine.  I water my house plants, and without water they die because they are vegetative life.  For something to fully flourish, action must follow upon being.  If actions are taken contrary to a thing’s being, that thing may languish or perish.  Hence, entering into the liturgy and making decisions about carrying out the liturgy (action) must always be made in light of the nature (being) of the liturgy.  Hence the question, “What is the liturgy?” 

Pope Pius XII offered this description of the liturgy in 1947:  “The sacred liturgy is, consequently, the public worship which our Redeemer as Head of the Church renders to the Father, as well as the worship which the community of the faithful renders to its Founder, and through Him to the heavenly Father. It is, in short, the worship rendered by the Mystical Body of Christ in the entirety of its Head and members” (Mediator Dei, 20). 

The Second Vatican Council added this point as part of its description of the liturgy:  “Rightly, then, the liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ” (SC 7).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “The word ‘liturgy’ originally meant a ‘public work’ or a ‘service in the name of/on behalf of the people.’ In Christian tradition it means the participation of the People of God in ‘the work of God.’ Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church” (CCC 1069).

Church law (Canon Law) states that “Such worship takes place when it is carried out in the name of the Church by persons legitimately designated and through acts approved by the authority of the Church” (CIC 834 §2).

So, “What is the Liturgy?

·         Liturgy is public worship.  That is, liturgy is the worship of the whole Church, and is distinguished from our private prayer or private devotions such as the rosary, novenas, chaplets, etc.

·         The one carrying out the work of the liturgy is primarily Jesus Christ Himself.

·         The liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ.  Christ’s work as priest was (and remains) the worship of God the Father and our sanctification.  So through the liturgy, Christ continues that work: the worship of God the Father, and dispensing God’s grace to make His people holy. 

·         The liturgy is primarily the celebration of Christ’s paschal mystery.  What is signified and made present in the liturgy is primarily Christ’s work on our behalf: his suffering, death and resurrection that sets us free from sin and reconciles us to God.

·         Liturgy is our participation in ‘the work of God.’ We, as members Christ’s Mystical Body the Church, participate in Christ’s work of worshiping the Father.  Through the liturgy Christ also continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church.

·         The liturgy must be carried out by the designated ministers using those prayers found in the liturgical books of the Church.  We can’t just make up the liturgy as we go along.  The liturgy is a part of our tradition - something that we receive, not something we create.

·         Hence, while we often speak of the Mass as “the Liturgy,” “liturgy” includes more than just the Mass.  Liturgy includes all of the sacraments as well as things like funeral rites, exorcisms, certain blessings, and the Liturgy of the Hours.