The Spirit of the Liturgy

I can't say that I understood this entire book. However, it had much insight and went much deeper into the theology which underlies the liturgy than anything else I ever read. Although, I do have numerous books which explain the theology of the Eucharist, but that seems to be a bit more concrete than the nuances of the liturgy and its development over the centuries. There are extremely-traditionalistic groups which would have us believe that the Tridentine (Latin) Mass was the original Mass that was instituted by Christ and no other rites are valid. The irony is that we are still the Latin Rite, albeit in the vernacular language. Indeed, Greek was the original language of the liturgy. It just seems logical since the New Testament was penned in Greek. Even though I would prefer the Tridentine Mass, there is much value and beauty in the vernacular. I would say the Tridetine has the emphasis of Christ's presence in the Eucharist, whereas, the Novus Ordo has placed its emphasis on the image of God in mankind, the community. I would like to pass on a few bits of insight which I found fascinating in this book. The first point is the misunderstanding of the Direction of Liturgical Prayer. I have heard it said numerous times, and this is how it has been phrased: "Vatican II changed how the priest used to have his back against the people, or towards the people, so that now he faces the people." If we were to ever discuss the pros and cons of both ends, a phrasing such as what we just read, begs the question of why the preferred posture is facing the people. The word "against" implies a negativity. In other words, it is "wrong" to have your back towards someone. It colors the perspective of the audience. Almost as if saying, how would you like to have someone's back on you the whole time? This is an incorrect way of looking at the ancient posture of the priest. The traditional posture was indeed having the priest's back facing the people, but the underlying symbolism which most folks fail to realize is that the priest faced WITH the people in common orientation towards the Lord who meets us in the Eucharistic sacrifice. Cardinal Ratzinger teaches us not just this specific symbolism of posture, but also connects it with the cosmic dimension of it all. The East has always been a symbol of God's direction for it is where the sun rises and implies the future. Therefore Christ was the common point of reference. Even in this sense, when overlapped with modern lay-philosophy, there is a greater premium on community or common-unity, thus the priest was not separating himself from us, but was leading us in a common prayer which we all participated in. In a recent interview in 2003, with EWTN news host, Raymond Arroyo, Cardinal Ratzinger mentioned that this common orientation, a return to the ancient practice of facing the East MAY help in the catechesis of the faithful. Through osmosis, I believe, people may be able to rediscover what the Eucharist truly is, the

Cardinal Ratzinger, newly elected as Pope Benedict XVI, is perhaps one of the greatest intellectuals in the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy since the second world war. Examples of his ability in the historical and theological disciplines abound, but perhaps a more practical expression of this intelligence is contained in this book, `The Spirit of the Liturgy'. The subject of this book is the central rite of the church, the Eucharistic feast, and the liturgy - the word `liturgy' actually translates into `work of the people', and this includes clergy and laity alike. The first section of the book works to connect liturgy in the church with the wider world, and indeed the entire cosmos. Ratzinger draws on ideas East and West, from philosophical traditions in the church as well as the biblical witness (both Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament). He sees Jesus as both a role model as well as the central figure in the Eucharist, drawing on all of these sources to make the point of the way worship is done, and what meaning can be derived from it. Following this introductory section, Ratzinger continues to look at the practical aspects, everything from the language used and the movements done to the architectural implications and the musical elements. Ratzinger was a leading figure in the Second Vatican Council, but navigates an interesting line between some of the traditional elements and the more recent innovations in liturgical worship. He is suspicious of the idea of changing music in service to being popular forms simply for the sake of relating to the culture, seeing that as somewhat of a sell-out to changing forms; he generally disapproves of rock-concert-type music in the liturgy, for example, because it is less a part of the worship as it is a part of the general culture outside. There is a metaphor that Ratzinger uses near the beginning of the book about the liturgy being akin to a fresco which has been uncovered from the accumulations over time. While the picture is now more visible and able to be participated in by viewers, it is also now more susceptible to damages and ravages of the elements. Ratzinger emphasises both pieces, ultimately straddling the fence between traditional and modern. During Vatican II, Ratzinger was considered one of the liberal theologians of the church. Now, he is considered as the newly-elected pope the champion of conservative views. This book gives an insight into the way he thinks, and how we might be in for an interesting time; those who think Ratzinger a knee-jerk conservative might be in for a surprise, as may be those who are hopeful for changes in various areas of his thought. Regardless, this book demonstrates the quality of mind and clarity of expression Ratzinger has. This is must read for those who want insight into directions of the new pope.

This book is simply a must-have for educated Catholics, and even for non-Catholics who want to find a rational (and Scriptural) basis worship, especially the sacramental.Cardinal Ratzinger shows that worship is not merely something we do to show gratitude to God or to appease his wrath. Rather, worship is where we find the meaning of our existence, and live it to the fullest. Perhaps this book would be best read in conjunction with Josef Pieper's "Lesisure: The Basis of Culture."The book is pretty deep, and sometimes hard to follow (this is to be expected from any work that is a translation from another language). Still, even those less intellectually inclined can get something out of it.If you want to see where Modernist liturgical experimentation has gone awry, and what needs to be done, and what principles need to be rediscovered, to get back the magnificent worship most of us have been deprived of, then read this book. And give it to others who need it!

In this book, Cardinal Ratzinger has raised and answered some of the most essential issues any Catholic, or for that matter any Christian, can face. He treads where only a deep faith founded in clear understanding can lead him, and through him, us. The essential nature of this book is seen right from the beginning. On page 17 he introduces the critial necessity of worshiping God as God desires, not as man desires. It is why God led Israel through the desert, why He prescribed precisely how He was to be worshiped, and why this is true for us today. God has an absolute right to be worshiped as He chooses. Our response is to obey. This creates the relationship between man and God. When we decide to worship God as we want, when we make worship, we clutch empty space and create a self-affirmation, a form of entertainment instead of a faithful worship of God. How God demands we worship Him, and why, is the central thread of this book, and is a critical point for every Christian to understand. If we do otherwise, we unbalance our relationship with God by injecting too much self, putting entertainment and "feeling good" ahead of the will of God, and in doing so we create disorder in all else we do. Every Christian needs this book.

I am old enough to have witnessed what was called "Liturgical Renewal" post Vat II style as a non-liturgist amongst the many others in the pews. We scratched our heads and wondered at the nonchalance with which changes were instituted: "That's old hat and it has to go." Since that time, I was ordained a Deacon(1975), and somewhat to my own surprise, I was forced to truly become a student of Vat II because of the challenges with which I was continually being confronted.What as an amateur I had always suspected, Cardinal Ratzinger in THE SPIRIT OF THE LITURGY has, as a professional, proven to me to be true. Full Liturgical renewal has yet to happen. And it cannot be so until all are aware of what it is that we are about when we celebrate the Liturgy.THE SPIRIT OF THE LITURGY gives us(clergy and laity alike) the foundation and raison d'etre for our most solemn moment of prayer, the Eucharistic Sacrifice. He solidly and with obvious expertise grounds our appreciation for the Mass in Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Fathers of the Church. One example: The Eucharistic Celebration's close ties to the Jewish Synagogue Service helps tremendously to understand its division into Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and at the same time explains the age old practice of priest and people facing in the same direction(ad orientem). One could walk through this little book citing example after example, page after page, of how ones appreciation of the Mass could not fail to be deepen with the turning of yet another page. It has hugely enhanced my own appreciation for the richness of the Liturgy.It is a must read for all clergy; a sine qua non for Liturgists especially. At the same time, I cannot too highly recommend it to the Laity to help them understand that some of the silliness they see in the Liturgy is just that, silliness, and in some cases much worse. This book comes as a big dose of sanity and reasonableness.The Spirit of the Liturgy is interestingly presented in a quite readable format. It is not a "Sunday afternoon" novel but for anyone with a modicum of ability and tenacity, it is very manageable.Most of all, it is obviously written by a man of deep faith and a sense of piety; one for whom worshipping in spirit and truth is a reality. May it be so for me(and you) as well!