Catholic liturgy consists of all of the prayers, acts, and services of the Church, as the Mystical Body of Christ, united with Jesus as its Head, along with the Holy Spirit as the Soul, in worship of God the Father.
From the Greek word leitourgia, liturgy referred to a public work of the people, but in a Christian context it means the participation of the faithful in what Jesus, the principle liturgist, is doing on behalf of his people for their salvation.
Christian liturgy is also the work of God in which the people participate by worshipping God by imitating his love, mercy, and forgiveness through sacred actions and words. This liturgical imitation transforms man into an instrument of God’s love.
Liturgy is the right and duty of Catholics to join in the service of God through his Church, not merely as spectators seeking to be entertained, but as active and deliberate participants in the public prayer of the community.
When Catholics speak about liturgy, they are usually referring to the Mass where they participate as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, joining with the work of Jesus, who is both the Eternal High Priest and the Sacrificial Victim.
During the Liturgy of the Word, God speaks to Catholics through Sacred Scripture and the faithful are nourished by the Word of God. Catholics profess their faith and offer prayers for the local community and the world.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the Sacrifice of the Mass where bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Catholics consume the Eucharist to be in communion, or spiritually connected, with Jesus and his Church.
Described as an extension of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours is the public prayer of the Church prayed throughout the day by Catholics all over the world. Also known as the Divine Office, it is comprised of Sacred Scripture and writings of the saints.
Liturgy also refers to the other sacraments and many other ways of worshipping God through a variety of annual, seasonal, weekly, and daily public prayers, rites, and rituals of the Catholic Church.
Any of the signs, symbols, or items that contribute to Catholic liturgy are described as liturgical. This includes the calendar, words, music, colors, objects, and actions.
Active participation in the work of the Church:
Liturgy is corporate worship:
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the Apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 42-47
Interacting with God through words and actions:
Celebrating in the presence of Jesus:
Along with the Church, therefore, her Divine Founder is present at every liturgical function: Christ is present at the august sacrifice of the altar both in the person of His minister and above all under the eucharistic species. He is present in the sacraments, infusing into them the power which makes them ready instruments of sanctification. He is present, finally, in prayer of praise and petition we direct to God, as it is written: “Where there are two or three gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” 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.
Pope Pius XII, Mediator Dei, 20 November 1947
Working with the one eternal High Priest:
An action of the whole Christ:
United to the sacrifice of Jesus:
The dual dimension of the Christian liturgy as a response of faith and love to the spiritual blessings the Father bestows on us is thus evident. On the one hand, the Church, united with her Lord and “in the Holy Spirit,” blesses the Father “for his inexpressible gift in her adoration, praise, and thanksgiving. On the other hand, until the consummation of God’s plan, the Church never ceases to present to the Father the offering of his own gifts and to beg him to send the Holy Spirit upon that offering, upon herself, upon the faithful, and upon the whole world, so that through communion in the death and resurrection of Christ the Priest, and by the power of the Spirit, these divine blessings will bring forth the fruits of life “to the praise of his glorious grace.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1083
The triple nuance of the liturgy:
The Catholic Church puts much emphasis on this work:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
So weird in the world’s eyes:
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