Introduction to Introduction to LiturgyLiturgy

Evolution of the word Evolution of the word LITURGYLITURGY

1. ETYMOLOGY1. ETYMOLOGY GREEKGREEK

LaosLaos (people) (people) ErgonErgon (work/activity) (work/activity)

Therefore: Liturgy means ACTIVITY OF Therefore: Liturgy means ACTIVITY OF THE PEOPLE THE PEOPLE (FOR THE COMMON (FOR THE COMMON GOOD)GOOD)

2. Early Church 2. Early Church

Everything that Christians did to take Everything that Christians did to take part of God’s work, the “divine plan” :part of God’s work, the “divine plan” :

proclamation of the Gospel and service to proclamation of the Gospel and service to one’s neighbor. one’s neighbor.

‘‘rubrics’ – what the priest does around the rubrics’ – what the priest does around the altar in the ceremonial worship.altar in the ceremonial worship.

3. Scripture3. Scripture OLD TESTAMENT OLD TESTAMENT

bk of Leviticus - the worship of Yahwehbk of Leviticus - the worship of Yahweh NEW TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT

Lk 1.23 Lk 1.23 ritual and priestly duty (Zechariah)ritual and priestly duty (Zechariah) Acts 13.32Acts 13.32 Worship of the LordWorship of the Lord Rom 13.16 Rom 13.16 Work or material serviceWork or material service Rom 15.16 Rom 15.16 Preaching the Good NewsPreaching the Good News 2 Cor 9.12 2 Cor 9.12 Service to othersService to others Heb 8.2 Heb 8.2 Christ’s sacrificial or priestly offering Christ’s sacrificial or priestly offering

whereby he became the liturgist whereby he became the liturgist of of the sanctuarythe sanctuary

Rom 15.16 Rom 15.16 The spiritual sacrifice of ChristiansThe spiritual sacrifice of Christians Acts 13.12Acts 13.12 The cultic celebration of the The cultic celebration of the

Christians who “made liturgy to Christians who “made liturgy to the the Lord” at Antioch.Lord” at Antioch.

4. MEDIATOR DEI4. MEDIATOR DEI # 25: # 25: “The public worship which our “The public worship which our

RedeemerRedeemer as head of the Church as head of the Church renders to the Fatherrenders to the Father, as well as the , as well as the worship which the community of the worship which the community of the faithful renders to the Founder,faithful renders to the Founder, and and through him to the heavenly Fatherthrough him to the heavenly Father.”.”

It is the worship rendered by the It is the worship rendered by the Mystical Body of Christ in the entirety of Mystical Body of Christ in the entirety of its head and members.its head and members.

5. VATICAN II: 5. VATICAN II: Sacrosanctum Consilium #7:Sacrosanctum Consilium #7: An exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ An exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ

asas Full public worship is performed by the Mystical Full public worship is performed by the Mystical

Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his members”, and asmembers”, and as

An action of Christ Priest and his Body which is An action of Christ Priest and his Body which is the Churchthe Church

BASIC CONCEPT OF THE PRESENCE OF BASIC CONCEPT OF THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST:CHRIST:

Celebration of the MassCelebration of the Mass The SacramentsThe Sacraments Word of GodWord of God Divine OfficeDivine Office

Center of Christ LiturgyCenter of Christ Liturgy ((EUCHARIST)EUCHARIST) PASCHAL MYSTERYPASCHAL MYSTERY

PassionPassion Death Death ResurrectionResurrection

Therefore in the Holy MASSTherefore in the Holy MASS Christ offers himself through the hands of Christ offers himself through the hands of

the priest, who formerly offered himself on the priest, who formerly offered himself on the crossthe cross

What are the active role played by What are the active role played by Christ in the exercise of his priestly Christ in the exercise of his priestly ministry?ministry?

1.1. preached the Good Newspreached the Good News

2.2. healed the sickhealed the sick

3.3. freed those in bondagefreed those in bondage

4.4. culminated his death on the cross, culminated his death on the cross, resurrected from the dead and bestowed resurrected from the dead and bestowed the Holy Spirit upon his apostles.the Holy Spirit upon his apostles.

The Church Ministerial Role in the LiturgyThe Church Ministerial Role in the Liturgy ““through the hands of the priest”through the hands of the priest” ““when a person baptizes”when a person baptizes” ““when the holy scriptures are read”when the holy scriptures are read” ““when the Church prays and sings”when the Church prays and sings”

Therefore: the LITURGY being an action of Therefore: the LITURGY being an action of Christ, “is a sacred action surpassing all Christ, “is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other action of the Church can equal others; no other action of the Church can equal its effectiveness by the same title to the same its effectiveness by the same title to the same degree.”degree.”

Essential Components of Essential Components of Liturgy: Liturgy:

Sacred SripturesSacred Sriptures1.1. the readings are given and explained in the the readings are given and explained in the

homilyhomily2.2. psalms are sungpsalms are sung3.3. the prayers, collects, and liturgical songs are the prayers, collects, and liturgical songs are

scriptural in their inspirationscriptural in their inspiration4.4. it is from the Scriptures that actions and signs it is from the Scriptures that actions and signs

derive their meaning. In consequence the derive their meaning. In consequence the celebration of the liturgy, whether of the celebration of the liturgy, whether of the MASS, SACRAMENTS, SACRAMENTAL, or MASS, SACRAMENTS, SACRAMENTAL, or the LITURGY OF THE HOURS always the LITURGY OF THE HOURS always includes the proclamation of God’s Word.includes the proclamation of God’s Word.

ULTIMATE AIM OF ULTIMATE AIM OF LITURGY: LITURGY:

““Perfect glorification of God and the Perfect glorification of God and the sanctification of those who celebrate it.sanctification of those who celebrate it.

These are signified and brought about These are signified and brought about “by means of signs perceptible to the “by means of signs perceptible to the senses.”senses.”

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS give the liturgy a SIGNS AND SYMBOLS give the liturgy a sacramental dimension, sacramental dimension, that is, that is, they they contain and reveal the presence of Christ contain and reveal the presence of Christ and the mystery which Christ celebrates.and the mystery which Christ celebrates.

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS in SIGNS AND SYMBOLS in the LITURGY:the LITURGY:

words:words: sacramental formularies sacramental formularies gestures:gestures: hand laying hand laying materials:materials: water, bread, wine, oil water, bread, wine, oil

the difference that exists among signs the difference that exists among signs gives rise to the different forms of liturgical gives rise to the different forms of liturgical celebrationscelebrations

FUNDAMENTAL FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF LITURGYPRINCIPLES OF LITURGY

1. SC # 10 - “culmen te fons”1. SC # 10 - “culmen te fons” The liturgy is the The liturgy is the summit toward which the summit toward which the

activity of the Church is directedactivity of the Church is directed; at the same ; at the same time time the source or fount which all the the source or fount which all the Church’s power flows.Church’s power flows.

2. SC #14 : considers “the full, conscious and 2. SC #14 : considers “the full, conscious and active participation in the liturgy active participation in the liturgy aim of the conciliar reform and the promotion aim of the conciliar reform and the promotion of liturgy. Active participation is the right and of liturgy. Active participation is the right and duty of the faithful “by reason of their baptismduty of the faithful “by reason of their baptism

4. SC 26: declares that “Liturgical services 4. SC 26: declares that “Liturgical services are not private functions, but are are not private functions, but are celebrations belonging to the Church.”celebrations belonging to the Church.”

5. SC 38: speaks of “substantial unity” of 5. SC 38: speaks of “substantial unity” of the liturgy in opposition to “rigid the liturgy in opposition to “rigid uniformity.” The liturgy is celebrated in uniformity.” The liturgy is celebrated in the concrete situation of the the concrete situation of the worshipping community and hence worshipping community and hence takes into consideration their culture takes into consideration their culture and traditions.and traditions.

LOCAL SITUATIONLOCAL SITUATION

For FILIPINO CATHOLICS, liturgy For FILIPINO CATHOLICS, liturgy means being caught up in the yearly means being caught up in the yearly cycle of liturgical seasons like Advent, cycle of liturgical seasons like Advent, Lent, Holy Week, Easter Time, Ordinary Lent, Holy Week, Easter Time, Ordinary Time and in Time and in celebrating feast days like celebrating feast days like Pentecost, Christ the King, Immaculate Pentecost, Christ the King, Immaculate Conception and others.Conception and others.

LITURGICAL CALENDARLITURGICAL CALENDAR The chart shows the 52 weeks of the year The chart shows the 52 weeks of the year

situated around and centers in the paschal situated around and centers in the paschal mystery represented by the cross (death) and mystery represented by the cross (death) and Easter candle (resurrection). The signs Easter candle (resurrection). The signs alpha alpha and and omega omega mean mean Christ is the beginning Christ is the beginning (alpha) and the end (omega) of everything.(alpha) and the end (omega) of everything.

The lines in the circle mark the Sundays The lines in the circle mark the Sundays directed towards the symbols of the paschal directed towards the symbols of the paschal mystery because Christians celebrate the mystery because Christians celebrate the Lord’s death and resurrection every Sunday. Lord’s death and resurrection every Sunday. Each Sunday is therefore a little Easter Each Sunday is therefore a little Easter Feast, the original day, the foundation and Feast, the original day, the foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year (SC 106).kernel of the whole liturgical year (SC 106).

Every Sunday and important liturgical events Every Sunday and important liturgical events derive their themes from biblical readings derive their themes from biblical readings particularly from the Gospels which are read particularly from the Gospels which are read in more or less a continuous manner in more or less a continuous manner throughout the Sundays of a year. There is a throughout the Sundays of a year. There is a three-year cycle: Year A, B, & C.three-year cycle: Year A, B, & C.

Year A – main source is the gospel of MatthewYear A – main source is the gospel of Matthew Year B – main source is the gospel of MarkYear B – main source is the gospel of Mark Year C – main source is the gospel of LukeYear C – main source is the gospel of Luke

Gospel of JOHN is used to supplement that Gospel of JOHN is used to supplement that of Mark during the Lenten season as well as of Mark during the Lenten season as well as in the Easter season of every year and to in the Easter season of every year and to some special occasions.some special occasions.

There are two special cycles in the There are two special cycles in the chart: Christmas Cycle (weeks 1-7) chart: Christmas Cycle (weeks 1-7) and Easter Cycles. The Christmas and Easter Cycles. The Christmas cycle is composed of Advent and the cycle is composed of Advent and the Christmas season. The Ester cycle has Christmas season. The Ester cycle has its center and high point in the Paschal its center and high point in the Paschal Triduum beginning Holy Thursday Triduum beginning Holy Thursday evening and lasting until Easter evening and lasting until Easter Sunday. This is preceded by Lent and Sunday. This is preceded by Lent and followed by the Easter season.followed by the Easter season.

The remaining weeks of the year is the The remaining weeks of the year is the so-called “Ordinary Time” or the time so-called “Ordinary Time” or the time throughout the year in which no throughout the year in which no particular aspect of the mystery of particular aspect of the mystery of Christ is celebrated but rather the Christ Christ is celebrated but rather the Christ event revealed in the saints. It has two event revealed in the saints. It has two blocks: Part I is between Christmas blocks: Part I is between Christmas and Lent and Part II is the longer period and Lent and Part II is the longer period between Easter and Advent.between Easter and Advent.

Each cycle has a particular liturgical Each cycle has a particular liturgical color:color:

Ordinary TimeOrdinary Time Advent and LentAdvent and Lent Christmas and Easter (white)Christmas and Easter (white) Feast of martyrsFeast of martyrs Marian celebrationsMarian celebrations

To sum it all, the Liturgical Year is To sum it all, the Liturgical Year is divided intodivided into

A - dventA - dvent C - hristmas C - hristmas O – rdinary Time IO – rdinary Time I L - entL - ent P – aschal TriduumP – aschal Triduum E – aster TimeE – aster Time O – rdinary Time IIO – rdinary Time II

SUMMARY:SUMMARY:

By virtue of our baptism, all Christians By virtue of our baptism, all Christians have the right and duty to full, active and have the right and duty to full, active and conscious worshipping and celebrating conscious worshipping and celebrating people, a priestly people. This people, a priestly people. This priesthood is expressed in our full and priesthood is expressed in our full and active participation in liturgical and active participation in liturgical and sacramental celebrations, in prayer and sacramental celebrations, in prayer and thanksgiving, in active charity, in offering thanksgiving, in active charity, in offering spiritual exercises.spiritual exercises.

We are all called to carry our and express the We are all called to carry our and express the priestly nature of our baptism throughpriestly nature of our baptism through regular massregular mass celebration of the sacramentscelebration of the sacraments bible sharing (home and community)bible sharing (home and community) celebration of the liturgy of the word in the chapel (if celebration of the liturgy of the word in the chapel (if

there’s no mass or if our community is far from the there’s no mass or if our community is far from the parish church)parish church)

patronal fiestapatronal fiesta popular devotions such as rosary, novena, etcpopular devotions such as rosary, novena, etc prayers for the deadprayers for the dead rituals for harvestingrituals for harvesting

From the definition of the liturgy, we were From the definition of the liturgy, we were able to identify our rights and duties in able to identify our rights and duties in the liturgy by virtue of our baptism. All of the liturgy by virtue of our baptism. All of you here are hoping to be commissioned you here are hoping to be commissioned to serve Christ in the liturgy. I hope and to serve Christ in the liturgy. I hope and pray that Jesus the true liturgist will keep pray that Jesus the true liturgist will keep that desire to serve him burning in your that desire to serve him burning in your heart. And we all say: THAT IN ALL heart. And we all say: THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED.THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED.