The Spirit of the Liturgy

by Joseph Ratzinger

Hardcover, 2000

Status

Available

Call number

LIT RAT 2000

Collection

Liturgy

Publication

Ignatius Press (2000), Edition: First, 232 pages

Description

Explains of the significance of the Liturgy today, exploring its nature as the central expression of faith, its form, the importance of time and space in it, the role of music and art in relation to it, and the need for renewal.

User reviews

LibraryThing member vpfluke

This is an excellent book. It shows a wide-ranging thought on the meaning and "spirit" of the liturgy, which is primarily the Eucharist. Ratzinger introduces in the first chapter the sense of "play" that the Eucharist has. This is a surprise due to his presumptive watchdog status as cardinal. Now

that he is Pope, we see a greater dimension of this man. His love for and absorption in the liturgy is obvious. He introduces the sense of our participation in the exitus and reditus that is common in many religions and is found in theBible. The sense of leaving or being put out there, and the sense of coming back. The life of Jesus Christ is just one example. He also deals with the ideas of sacred place and sacred time. He discusses images and music, and their necessity in the liturgy, He finishes with the interaction of body and spirit in the liturgy.

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LibraryThing member CACPua

The discussion of Liturgy within the Church is endless: norms, structures, guidelines, etc. Through this book by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, there is a deeper and closer look of what really is celebrated as Christian public worship. The Spirit of the Liturgy, coming from its title,

poses the essential from the actual, an ideal of reality. Looking at historical developments of the liturgy, this book is a good read for pastors, religious and lay. It is in understanding the celebration, not just from its ritualistic actions but through a spiritual lens of perceiving the transcendental events within each action. It is in this book that we see how the prelate depicts the celebration as a two-way interaction of God to man and man to God.

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